Message Center Displays

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2017 Lincoln Navigator and 2017 Ford Expedition. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The message center switch (part of the LH steering wheel switch) is hardwired to the SCCM. The IPC receives the steering wheel message center switch message from the SCCM.

Compass Display (Without Touchscreen And With Touchscreen, Except North America)

The compass signal originates with the GPSM. The IPC receives the GPS direction from the BCM. There is no calibration or zone adjustment required since the compass heading is based on the GPS signal. For additional information on the GPSM, Refer to the appropriate Information and Entertainment Systems article for the procedure.

Compass Display (Touchscreen North America Only)

The compass signal originates with the APIM, which sends the compass direction data to the IPC over the I-CAN. There is no calibration or zone adjustment required since the compass heading is based on the GPS signal.

Digital Speedometer Display (If Equipped)

The IPC provides a redundant digital speedometer display in the message center. The digital speedometer display operates using the same vehicle speed inputs used to control the analog speedometer.

NOTE: There may be a difference between the speed indicated by the speedometer and the digital speedometer display due to the tolerances allowed for the speedometer indication.

The PCM calculates the vehicle speed from the wheel count message sent by the ABS module and from the tire size and axle ratio configuration in the PCM VID block. The PCM provides the IPC with a vehicle speed message to command the digital display.

DTE

The DTE is calculated in the IPC using the Running Average Fuel Economy (RAFE), which is the fuel economy over the last 480 km (300 miles), and the fuel level input from the fuel sender(s) to determine how many miles the vehicle can be driven based on the remaining fuel in the tank. The DTE can vary in the short term by up to 50 miles, but is usually within 10 miles. Even if the fuel economy is relatively constant, the DTE can be off over a 50 mile range by -24% to +38%. The DTE display and the fuel gauge both use the fuel level input from the fuel tank to provide their respective functions. If the fuel gauge doesn't function correctly, both the fuel gauge and the DTE display are affected.

The IPC defaults to around 18 mpg when the battery is initially connected and changes based on driving habits and conditions. Generally, the driver should be getting somewhere between 13-21 mpg.

NOTE: The actual DTE can be higher or lower than the DTE displayed in the message center due to changes in driving conditions. It is important to understand how the DTE is calculated and the factors that impact the DTE display when determining how to address any DTE concerns.

Since the DTE is calculated and averaged over a longer period of time (480 km [300 miles]), varying driving conditions can have a significant impact on the current or short term DTE as opposed to the displayed DTE. This difference often leads to customer complaints of incorrect or invalid DTE. The following list provides some (not all) of the driving conditions that may lead to an incorrect or fluctuating DTE concern:

Changing between towing/not towing
Changing driving between city and highway
Allowing the vehicle to idle for long periods of time
Using the remote start feature frequently to allow the vehicle to warm up, particularly when parked on a grade
Parking or driving on grades
Inconsistent use of gasoline or E85 fuels
Over-fueling or not filling the tank completely (partial refueling)

To better illustrate the affects of how driving conditions can affect DTE, refer to the following 2 examples. The first example below illustrates how the following observations are normal and expected since the low fuel reminder is triggered from a fuel volume and not from a fixed distance to empty.

If while driving, the low fuel reminder (low fuel indicator and low fuel warning message) displays when the DTE equals 94.4 km (59 miles) and the driver adds 11.36 L (3 gallons) of fuel, the new DTE may become 124.8 km (78 miles). After continued driving, the low fuel reminder may now display when the DTE equals 83.2 km (52 miles).

The second example (below) illustrates what occurs when idling on an incline. In this example, the customer should be made aware of how the condition will correct after a few minutes of idling on a level surface.

If the customer stops and parks the vehicle on an incline in a driveway, then in the morning remote starts the vehicle, allowing the engine to idle, the DTE may now equal 184 km (115 miles). As the customer drives, the low fuel reminder displays when the DTE equals 148.8 km (93 miles). Finally, after 5 more minutes of driving, the DTE is back to 80 km (50 miles).

Engine Hour And Engine Idle Hour Displays (If Equipped)

The IPC provides engine hour and engine idle hour displays in the message center. The IPC receives the engine speed message for both displays from the PCM. The engine idle hour displays also uses vehicle speed to identify whether the engine is simply idling or if the vehicle is being driven. The IPC receives the vehicle speed message from the PCM.

Engine Oil Pressure (If Equipped)

The engine oil pressure display provides a text-based display to supplement the low engine oil pressure warning indicator or Reconfigurable Telltale (RTT). The IPC receives the oil pressure warning indicator message from the PCM. Refer to the Owner's Literature for the message center menu navigation to display the engine oil pressure display.

Engine Oil Temperature (If Equipped)

The engine oil temperature display provides a text-based engine oil temperature status to the driver. The IPC receives the engine oil temperature message from the PCM. Refer to the Owner's Literature for the message center menu navigation to display the engine oil temperature display.

Keypad Factory Code Display

The message center can display the original keypad factory code when requested. The IPC receives the keycode status request from the BCM. Refer to Handles, Locks, Latches and Entry Systems Description and Operation (D&O) for the procedure to display the keypad factory code.

Off Road Display (If Equipped)

The IPC provides a display screen in the message center to inform the customer of vehicle conditions such as vehicle roll and pitch when driving off road in rough terrain. The IPC uses multiple messaged inputs to control the following off road display components:

Hill descent control status
Stability-traction control status
Vehicle pitch
Vehicle roll
Vehicle speed
4x4 status

The IPC receives the hill descent message display, electronic stability control mode, vehicle roll and vehicle pitch messages from the ABS module.

The IPC receives the vehicle speed from the PCM and the 4x4 indicator message from the TCCM.

Oil Change Minder

The message center provides an oil change minder to inform the driver an oil change is required. When the remaining oil life is between 1%-5%, the message center displays the change oil soon message. When the remaining oil life is at 0%, the message center displays the oil change required message. The duration of the interval between oil changes is calculated in the PCM and varies due to driving conditions. The PCM assumes a base mileage of 16, 090 km (10, 000 mi) or 1 year for normal driving. However, this number is adjusted down for conditions such as high engine temperature, high engine Revolutions Per Minute (RPM), use of flex fuel and low oil level (if equipped). The PCM calculates and provides an engine oil life percent message to the IPC.

When the oil is changed and the oil life is reset through the message center menu, the IPC sends the engine oil life reset request to the PCM.

Outside Air Temperature Display (If Equipped)

The AAT sensor is hardwired to the PCM through separate input and return circuits. The PCM provides a reference voltage to the AAT sensor and monitors the change in voltage resulting from changes in resistance as determined by outside air temperature. The PCM messages the outside air temperature data to the HVAC module through the BCM. The HVAC module filters the temperature data and sends the updated outside air temperature data back to the BCM. The BCM in turn messages the outside air temperature in degrees Celsius (metric) to the IPC. When the Fahrenheit (English) display is selected by the driver, the IPC converts the Celsius to Fahrenheit and displays the temperature in the message center.

NOTE: The outside air temperature is only displayed in the base IPC.

The HVAC module is programmed to update the messaged outside air temperature data at different rates depending on several criteria to prevent false temperature displays due to a condition known as heat soaking. Heat soaking is where the outside air temperature is hotter in the location of the AAT sensor than the actual outside air temperature.

When the sensed outside temperature rises, the display updates slowly at varying rates based on vehicle speed. When the sensed outside temperature drops, the display updates more quickly following the drop experienced by the AAT sensor.

PRNDL/Progressive Range Select And SelectShift ® Displays

The IPC receives the transmission gear position message from the PCM. The IPC also uses a park detect switch (part of the selector lever) input to signal the IPC the shift lever is fully seated in the PARK (P) position. The IPC compares the park detect switch input with the park status in the transmission gear position message sent from the PCM. The IPC provides a battery reference voltage to the park detect switch. When the selector lever is in PARK (P), the park detect switch routes the reference voltage to ground, pulling the circuit low to the IPC. When the selector lever is moved out of PARK (P), the park detect switch opens to ground, sending the reference voltage high.

The progressive range select display provides a numerical display of the lower transmission ranges and indicates to the driver which gear is currently selected when the driver has manually shifted to a lower range (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6). The IPC receives the transmission gear display status message from the PCM.

The SelectShift ® display indicates to the driver which gear is currently selected when the transmission is in the SelectShift ® mode. The IPC receives the transmission gear display status message from the PCM. When the transmission is in SelectShift ® mode, the gear number is displayed in the SelectShift ® display area.

For additional information related to the progressive range select or SelectShift ® features, refer to the Owner's Literature.

Transmission Temperature (If Equipped)

The IPC provides a text-based transmission fluid temperature display to indicate the transmission operating temperature. The IPC receives the transmission fluid temperature message from the PCM. The PCM filters the transmission fluid temperature signal to remove fluctuations that would affect the transmission temperature display. Refer to the Owner's Literature for the message center menu navigation to display the transmission fluid temperature display.