Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) - System Operation and Component Description: Gauges

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2018 Ford EcoSport. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

AWD Gauge

The AWD gauge is a virtual gauge that displays the level of power applied to front and rear wheels. The IPC uses the following inputs to determine the AWD gauge display:

AWD service required
LH front wheel fill percent
LH rear wheel fill percent
RH front wheel fill percent
RH rear wheel fill percent

As power is applied to the wheels, the area directly to the side of each displayed wheel begins to fill in. The lowest power displayed is the closest to the front of the fill area. As the amount of power sent to the wheels increases, the area next to the wheel fills rearward. Both front wheels fill equally for increased front wheel power and when power is applied to the rear wheels, the area next to the rear wheels fill in equally.

The IPC receives all required messages from the GWM over the HS-CAN3. The GWM receives all required messages from the PCM over the HS-CAN1.

Fuel Gauge

The IPC sends a reference voltage to the fuel level sender. As the fuel level changes, a float actuates the variable resistor fuel level sender, raising or lowering the fuel level signal voltage. The IPC monitors the changes in voltage from the fuel level sender and commands the fuel gauge with a corresponding movement of the pointer.

After a fuel fill up, the time for the fuel gauge to move from empty (E) to full (F) ranges from 2 seconds to 55 minutes depending on which operating mode the fuel gauge is in.

The IPC uses 4 different operating modes to calculate the fuel level:

Anti-slosh (default mode)
Key OFF fueling
Key ON fueling
Recovery

The default fuel gauge mode is called the anti-slosh mode. To prevent fuel gauge changes from fuel slosh (gauge instability due to changes in fuel sensor readings caused by fuel moving around in the tank), the fuel gauge takes approximately 40 minutes to go from empty (E) to full (F).

The key OFF fueling mode (2 seconds to read empty [E] to full [F]) requires 3 conditions to be met:

The ignition must be in the OFF mode when refueling the vehicle.
At least 6% of the vehicle's fuel capacity must be added to the fuel tank.
The IPC must receive a valid ignition ON fuel sensor reading within one second of the ignition being put into the RUN mode. The key ON sample readings are considered valid if the fuel sensor reading is between 10 ohms +/- 2 ohms and 180 ohms +/- 4 ohms.

If these conditions are not met, the fuel gauge stays in the anti-slosh mode, which results in a slow to read full (F) event.

The key ON fueling mode (approximately 60 seconds to read empty [E] to full [F]) requires the following conditions be met:

The transmission is in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
The ignition is in the RUN mode.
At least 6% of the vehicle's fuel capacity must be added to the fuel tank

In key ON fueling mode, a 30-second timer activates after the transmission is put into the PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) position. When the 30-second time has elapsed and at least 9% of the vehicle's fuel capacity has been added, the fuel gauge response time is 60 seconds to read from empty (E) to full (F). When the transmission is shifted out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), the fuel gauge strategy reverts to the anti-slosh mode. The key ON fueling mode prevents slow to read full events from happening if the customer refuels the vehicle with the ignition in the RUN mode.

Recovery mode is incorporated into the IPC strategy to recover from a missing fuel level input after a refueling event. Missing fuel level inputs result from intermittent opens in the fuel sensor or its circuits. Recovery mode (empty [E] to full [F] approximately 17 minutes) is initiated when the following 2 conditions are met:

The IPC is in the anti-slosh (default) mode.
The actual fuel level in the tank is 5% different from what is being displayed by the fuel gauge.

Speedometer

The IPC receives the vehicle speed data from the GWM over the HS-CAN3. The GWM receives the vehicle speed message from the PCM over the HS-CAN1.

The PCM receives the wheel speed data through the GWM over the HS-CAN1. The GWM receives the wheel speed data from the ABS module over the HS-CAN2.

The PCM uses tire size stored in the vehicle configuration file along with wheel speed inputs to generate a vehicle speed signal.

For North America, the IPC provides a tolerance that allows the speed indication to display between 3% below and 7% above the actual vehicle speed. This means that with an actual vehicle speed of 97 km/h (60 mph), the speedometer can indicate between 94-103 km/h (58-64 mph). Incorrect tire size or tire size configuration could potentially affect the speedometer accuracy.

For markets except North America, the IPC provides a tolerance that allows the speed indication to display between 0% below and 10% above the actual vehicle speed. This means that with an actual vehicle speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), the speedometer can indicate between 100-110 km/h (62-68 mph). Incorrect tire size or tire size configuration could potentially affect the speedometer accuracy.

Tachometer

The IPC receives the engine rpm data message from the GWM over the HS-CAN3. The GWM receives the engine rpm data message from the PCM over the HS-CAN1.

Temperature Gauge

The IPC uses 2 messages to control the temperature gauge. The first is the engine coolant temperature, which provides the current engine temperature input to the PCM. The second message is the engine overheat indication request, which is sent by the PCM to the IPC when an overheating condition exists. When the IPC receives the engine overheat indication request message, the IPC sends the temperature gauge to full hot and turns on the over-temperature warning indicator.

The IPC receives both temperature gauge input messages from the GWM over the HS-CAN3. The GWM receives the engine coolant temperature and the engine overheat indication request messages from the PCM over the HS-CAN1.