Chrysler 300/300 Touring/300C, Dodge Magnum. Manual — part 487

OPERATION

The microprocessor-based EMIC hardware and software uses various inputs to control the gauges and indicators
visible on the face of the cluster. Some of these inputs are hard wired, but most are in the form of electronic mes-
sages that are transmitted by other electronic modules over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus. (Refer to
8 - ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES/COMMUNICATION - OPERATION).

The EMIC microprocessor smooths the input data using algorithms to provide gauge readings that are accurate,
stable and responsive to operating conditions. These algorithms are designed to provide gauge readings during
normal operation that are consistent with customer expectations. However, when abnormal conditions exist such as
high coolant temperature, the algorithm can drive the gauge pointer to an extreme position and the microprocessor
can sound a chime through the on-board audible tone transducer to provide distinct visual and audible indications of
a problem to the vehicle operator. The EMIC may also produce audible warnings for other electronic modules in the
vehicle based upon electronic tone request messages received over the CAN data bus. Each audible warning is
intended to provide the vehicle operator with an audible alert to supplement a visual indication.

The EMIC circuitry operates on battery current received through a fused B(+) fuse on a non-switched fused B(+)
circuit, and on battery current received through a fused ignition switch output (run-start) fuse on a fused ignition
switch output (run-start) circuit. This arrangement allows the EMIC to provide some features regardless of the igni-
tion switch position, while other features will operate only with the ignition switch in the On or Start positions. The
EMIC circuitry is grounded through a ground circuit of the instrument panel wire harness.

The EMIC also has a self-diagnostic actuator test capability (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER -
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING), which will test each of the CAN bus message-controlled functions of the cluster by
lighting the appropriate indicators, positioning the gauge needles at several predetermined calibration points across
the gauge faces, and illuminating all segments of the odometer/trip odometer and gear selector indicator Vacuum-
Fluorescent Display (VFD) units.

GAUGES

All gauges receive battery current through the EMIC circuitry only when the ignition switch is in the On or Start
positions. With the ignition switch in the Off position battery current is not supplied to any gauges, and the EMIC
circuitry is programmed to move all of the gauge needles back to the low end of their respective scales. Therefore,
the gauges do not accurately indicate any vehicle condition unless the ignition switch is in the On or Start positions.

All of the EMIC gauges are air core magnetic units. Two fixed electromagnetic coils are located within each gauge.
These coils are wrapped at right angles to each other around a movable permanent magnet. The movable magnet
is suspended within the coils on one end of a pivot shaft, while the gauge needle is attached to the other end of the
shaft. One of the coils has a fixed current flowing through it to maintain a constant magnetic field strength. Current
flow through the second coil changes, which causes changes in its magnetic field strength. The current flowing
through the second coil is changed by the EMIC circuitry in response to messages received over the CAN data bus.
The gauge needle moves as the movable permanent magnet aligns itself to the changing magnetic fields created
around it by the electromagnets.

ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE

This gauge is controlled by the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic mes-
sages received by the cluster from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) over the Controller Area Network (CAN)
data bus.

The engine coolant temperature gauge is an air core magnetic unit that receives battery current on the instrument
cluster electronic circuit board through the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit whenever the ignition switch
is in the On or Start positions. The cluster is programmed to move the gauge needle back to the low end of the
scale after the ignition switch is turned to the Off position. The instrument cluster circuitry controls the gauge needle
position and provides the following features:

•

Engine Temperature Message - Each time the cluster receives a message from the PCM indicating the
engine coolant temperature is between the low end of normal [about 54° C (130° F)] and the high end of
normal [about 122° C (252° F)], the gauge needle is moved to the actual relative temperature position on the
gauge scale.

•

Engine Temperature Low Message - Each time the cluster receives a message from the PCM indicating the
engine coolant temperature is below the low end of normal [about 54° C (130° F)], the gauge needle is held
at the “C” increment at low end of the gauge scale. The gauge needle remains at the low end of the gauge

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scale until the cluster receives a message from the PCM indicating that the engine temperature is above about
54° C (130° F), or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.

•

Engine Temperature High Message - Each time the cluster receives a message from the PCM indicating the
engine coolant temperature is above about 122° C (252° F), the gauge needle is moved into the red zone on
the gauge scale, the engine temperature indicator is illuminated, and a single chime tone is sounded. The
gauge needle remains in the red zone and the engine temperature indicator remains illuminated until the clus-
ter receives a message from the PCM indicating that the engine temperature is below about 122° C (252° F),
or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first. The chime tone feature will only
repeat during the same ignition cycle if the engine temperature indicator is cycled off and then on again by the
appropriate engine temperature messages from the PCM.

•

Communication Error - If the cluster fails to receive an engine temperature message, it will hold the gauge
needle at the last indication for about five seconds or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position,
whichever occurs first. After five seconds, the cluster will move the gauge needle to the low end of the gauge
scale.

•

Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the engine coolant temperature gauge
needle will be swept to several calibration points on the gauge scale in a prescribed sequence in order to
confirm the functionality of the gauge and the cluster control circuitry.

The PCM continually monitors the engine coolant temperature sensor to determine the engine operating tempera-
ture. The PCM then sends the proper engine coolant temperature messages to the instrument cluster. For further
diagnosis of the engine coolant temperature gauge or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls the gauge, (Refer
to 8 - ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING). If the instrument cluster turns on the
engine temperature indicator due to a high engine temperature gauge reading, it may indicate that the engine or the
engine cooling system requires service. The engine coolant temperature gauge is serviced as a unit with the instru-
ment cluster.

FUEL GAUGE

The fuel gauge gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the level of fuel in the fuel tank. This gauge is con-
trolled by the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and a hard wired input received by
the cluster from the fuel level sending unit on the fuel pump module in the fuel tank.

The fuel gauge is an air core magnetic unit that receives battery current on the instrument cluster electronic circuit
board through the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the On or Start
positions. The cluster is programmed to move the gauge needle back to the low end of the scale after the ignition
switch is turned to the Off position. The instrument cluster circuitry controls the gauge needle position and provides
the following features:

•

Fuel Level Sending Unit Input - The cluster provides a constant current source to the fuel level sending unit
and monitors a return input on a fuel level sense circuit. The resistance through the fuel level sending unit
increases as the fuel level falls and decreases as the fuel level rises causing changes in the sense input volt-
age. The cluster programming applies an algorithm to calculate the proper fuel gauge needle position based
upon the fuel level sense input, then moves the gauge needle to the proper relative position on the gauge
scale. This algorithm is used to dampen gauge needle movement against the negative effect that fuel sloshing
within the fuel tank can have on accurate inputs from the fuel tank sending unit to the cluster.

•

Less Than Ten Percent Tank Full Input - Each time the fuel level sense input to the cluster indicates the fuel
tank is about ten percent full or less for ten consecutive seconds and the vehicle speed is zero, or for sixty
consecutive seconds and the vehicle speed is greater than zero, the gauge needle is moved to about the
one-eighth graduation on the gauge scale, the low fuel indicator is illuminated, and a single chime tone is
sounded. The low fuel indicator remains illuminated until the fuel level sense input indicates that the fuel tank
is greater than about thirteen percent full for ten consecutive seconds and the vehicle speed is zero, or for
sixty consecutive seconds and the vehicle speed is greater than zero, or until the ignition switch is turned to
the Off position, whichever occurs first. The chime tone feature will only repeat during the same ignition cycle
if the low fuel indicator is cycled off and then on again by the appropriate inputs from the fuel level sending
unit.

•

Less Than Empty Stop Input - Each time the cluster receives a fuel level sense input that indicates the fuel
level in the fuel tank is less than the Empty gauge needle stop position, the gauge needle is moved to the low
end of the gauge scale and the low fuel indicator is illuminated immediately. This input would indicate that the
fuel level sense input to the cluster is a short circuit.

•

More Than Full Stop Input - Each time the cluster receives a fuel level sense input that indicates the fuel
level in the fuel tank is more than the Full gauge needle stop position, the gauge needle is moved to the low

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end of the gauge scale and the low fuel indicator is illuminated immediately. This input would indicate that the
fuel level sense input to the cluster is an open circuit.

•

Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the fuel gauge needle will be swept to
several calibration points on the gauge scale in a prescribed sequence in order to confirm the functionality of
the gauge and the cluster control circuitry.

The instrument cluster continually monitors the fuel tank sending unit to determine the level of fuel in the fuel tank.
The cluster then sends the proper fuel level messages to other electronic modules in the vehicle over the Controller
Area Network (CAN) data bus. For further diagnosis of the fuel gauge or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls
the gauge, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING). The fuel gauge is
serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.

SPEEDOMETER

The speedometer gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the vehicle road speed. This gauge is controlled by
the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the clus-
ter from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus.

The speedometer is an air core magnetic unit that receives battery current on the instrument cluster electronic cir-
cuit board through the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the On or Start
positions. The cluster is programmed to move the gauge needle back to the low end of the scale after the ignition
switch is turned to the Off position. The instrument cluster circuitry controls the gauge needle position and provides
the following features:

•

Vehicle Speed Message - Each time the cluster receives a vehicle speed message from the PCM it will cal-
culate the correct vehicle speed reading and position the gauge needle at that relative speed position on the
gauge scale. The cluster will receive a new vehicle speed message and reposition the gauge pointer accord-
ingly about every 88 milliseconds. The gauge needle will continually be positioned at the relative vehicle speed
position on the gauge scale until the vehicle stops moving, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off
position, whichever occurs first.

•

Communication Error - If the cluster fails to receive a speedometer message, it will hold the gauge needle at
the last indication for about three seconds, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever
occurs first. After three seconds, the gauge needle will return to the left end of the gauge scale.

•

Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the speedometer needle will be swept
to several calibration points on the gauge scale in a prescribed sequence in order to confirm the functionality
of the gauge and the cluster control circuitry.

The PCM continually monitors the vehicle speed sensor to determine the vehicle road speed. The PCM then sends
the proper vehicle speed messages to the instrument cluster. For further diagnosis of the speedometer or the instru-
ment cluster circuitry that controls the gauge, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS
AND TESTING). The speedometer is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.

TACHOMETER

The tachometer gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the engine speed. This gauge is controlled by the
instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the cluster
from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus.

The tachometer is an air core magnetic unit that receives battery current on the instrument cluster electronic circuit
board through the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the On or Start
positions. The cluster is programmed to move the gauge needle back to the low end of the scale after the ignition
switch is turned to the Off position. The instrument cluster circuitry controls the gauge needle position and provides
the following features:

•

Engine Speed Message - Each time the cluster receives an engine speed message from the PCM it will
calculate the correct engine speed reading and position the gauge needle at that relative speed position on the
gauge scale. The cluster will receive a new engine speed message and reposition the gauge pointer accord-
ingly about every 88 milliseconds. The gauge needle will continually be repositioned at the relative engine
speed position on the gauge scale until the engine stops running, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off
position, whichever occurs first.

•

Communication Error - If the cluster fails to receive an engine speed message, it will hold the gauge needle
at the last indication for about three seconds, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever
occurs first. After three seconds, the gauge needle will return to the left end of the gauge scale.

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•

Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the tachometer needle will be swept to
several calibration points on the gauge scale in a prescribed sequence in order to confirm the functionality of
the gauge and the cluster control circuitry.

The PCM continually monitors the crankshaft position sensor to determine the engine speed. The PCM then sends
the proper engine speed messages to the instrument cluster. For further diagnosis of the tachometer or the instru-
ment cluster circuitry that controls the gauge, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS
AND TESTING). The tachometer is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.

The gauges are diagnosed using the EMIC self-diagnostic actuator test (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING). Proper testing of the CAN data bus and the electronic data bus message
inputs to the EMIC that control each gauge require the use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to the appropriate diag-
nostic information.

VACUUM-FLUORESCENT DISPLAYS

The Vacuum-Fluorescent Display (VFD) units are soldered to the EMIC electronic circuit board. With the ignition
switch in the Off or Accessory positions, the odometer display is activated when the driver door is opened (Rental
Car mode) and is deactivated when the driver door is closed. Otherwise, both display units are active when the
ignition switch is in the On or Start positions, and inactive when the ignition switch is in the Off or Accessory posi-
tions.

The illumination intensity of the VFD units is controlled by the EMIC circuitry based upon an input from the head-
lamp switch and a dimming level input received from the panel dimmer switch. The EMIC synchronizes the illumi-
nation intensity of other VFD units with that of the units in the EMIC by sending electronic dimming level messages
to other electronic modules in the vehicle over the CAN data bus.

While in the odometer mode with the ignition switch in the On position and the engine not running, depressing the
odometer/trip odometer switch for about six seconds will display the engine hours information. Holding this switch
depressed while turning the ignition switch from the Off position to the On position will initiate the EMIC self-diag-
nostic actuator test. Refer to the instrument cluster diagnosis and testing service information for additional details on
this cluster function. The EMIC microprocessor remembers which display mode is active when the ignition switch is
turned to the Off position, and returns the VFD display to that mode when the ignition switch is turned On again.

The VFD units are diagnosed using the EMIC self-diagnostic actuator test (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING). Proper testing of the CAN data bus and the electronic data bus message
inputs to the EMIC that control some of the VFD functions requires the use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to the
appropriate diagnostic information.

TRANSMISSION RANGE INDICATOR

The electronic transmission range indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the transmission gear that
has been selected with the automatic transmission gear selector lever. This indicator is controlled by the instrument
cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received from the Powertrain Control
Module (PCM) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus.

The transmission range indicator information is displayed by a dedicated Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) unit
soldered onto the instrument cluster electronic circuit board, and the VFD will not display the transmission range
indicator information after the ignition switch is turned to the Off position. Each time the cluster is disconnected from
battery current for more than about five minutes, it must configure itself for the automatic transmission model that is
in the vehicle once it is reconnected to battery current. The instrument cluster circuitry operates the transmission
range indicator VFD to provide the following features:

•

Selected Gear Message - Each time the cluster receives a selected gear message from the PCM, a box will
be illuminated around the appropriate character in the gear selector indicator VFD. The box will remain illumi-
nated until the cluster receives a different selected gear message, or until the ignition switch is turned to the
Off position, whichever occurs first.

•

Communication Error - If the cluster fails to receive a selected gear message from the PCM within three
seconds, the instrument cluster circuitry will display all gear selector positions boxed (selected) until a valid
selected gear message is received 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 gear selector indicator VFD will
display all of its characters at once, then step through each character segment individually during the VFD
portion of the test to confirm the functionality of the VFD and the cluster control circuitry.

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