Overdrive Off Indicator: Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Jeep Liberty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The overdrive off indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the Off position of the overdrive off switch has been selected, disabling the electronically controlled overdrive feature of the automatic transmission. This indicator is controlled by a transistor on the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the cluster from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) over the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus.

The overdrive off indicator Light Emitting Diode (LED) is completely controlled by the instrument cluster logic circuit, and that logic will only allow this indicator to operate when the instrument cluster receives a battery current input on the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit. Therefore, the LED will always be off when the ignition switch is in any position except On or Start. The LED only illuminates when it is provided a path to ground by the instrument cluster transistor. The instrument cluster will turn on the overdrive off indicator for the following reasons:

Overdrive Off Lamp-On Message - Each time the cluster receives an overdrive off lamp-on message from the PCM indicating that the Off position of the overdrive off switch has been selected, the overdrive off indicator will be illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until the cluster receives an overdrive off lamp-off message from the PCM, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.
Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the overdrive off indicator will be turned on, then off again during the bulb check portion of the test to confirm the functionality of the LED and the cluster control circuitry.

The PCM continually monitors the overdrive off switch to determine the appropriate outputs to the automatic transmission. The PCM then sends the proper overdrive off lamp-on and lamp-off messages to the instrument cluster. For further diagnosis of the overdrive off indicator or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls the indicator, (Refer to ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING) .

For proper diagnosis of the overdrive control system, the PCM, the PCI data bus, or the electronic message inputs to the instrument cluster that control the overdrive off indicator, a diagnostic scan tool is required. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.