Dodge Nitro. Manual — part 811

Fig. 31: Seatbelt Indicator
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

A seatbelt indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. This indicator is located near the top of the
cluster overlay, between the fuel gauge and the engine temperature gauge.

The seatbelt indicator consists of a stencil-like cutout of the International Control and Display Symbol icon for
Seat Belt in the opaque layer of the instrument cluster overlay. The dark outer layer of the overlay prevents the
indicator from being clearly visible when it is not illuminated. A red Light Emitting Diode (LED) behind the
cutout in the opaque layer of the overlay causes the indicator to appear in red through the translucent outer layer
of the overlay when it is illuminated from behind by the LED, which is soldered onto the instrument cluster
electronic circuit board.

The seatbelt indicator is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.

OPERATION

SEATBELT INDICATOR

The seatbelt indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the status of the driver side front seat belt.
This indicator is controlled by a transistor on the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster
programming and a hard wired input from the seatbelt switch on the driver side front seat belt retractor through
the seat belt switch sense circuits.

The seatbelt indicator also includes a programmable enhanced seatbelt reminder or BELTMINDER feature that
is enabled when the vehicle is shipped from the factory. This BELTMINDER feature can be disabled and
enabled by the customer using a specific programming event sequence, or by the dealer using a diagnostic scan

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro

tool.

The seatbelt 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 seatbelt indicator
for the following reasons:



Seatbelt Reminder Function - Each time the cluster receives a battery current input on the fused ignition
switch output (run-start) circuit, the indicator will be illuminated as a seatbelt reminder for about six
seconds, or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first. This reminder
function will occur regardless of the status of the seatbelt switch inputs to the cluster.



Front Seatbelt Not Buckled - Beltminder Active - Following the seatbelt reminder function, each time
the cluster detects an open circuit on the front seat belt switch sense circuit (seatbelt switch open =
seatbelt unbuckled) with the ignition switch in the START or ON positions, the indicator will be
illuminated. In addition, if the front seat belt remains unbuckled about 4 seconds after the conclusion of
the seatbelt reminder function, the seatbelt indicator will begin to cycle between flashing ON and OFF for
3 seconds, then lighting solid for 2 seconds. The seatbelt indicator will continue to cycle between flashing
and solid illumination for 13 complete cycles, until the seat belt switch sense input to the cluster is a
closed circuit to ground (seatbelt switch closed = seatbelt buckled), or until the ignition switch is turned to
the OFF position, whichever occurs first.



Front Seatbelt Not Buckled - Beltminder Inactive - Following the seatbelt reminder function, each
time the cluster detects an open circuit on the seat belt switch sense circuit (seatbelt switch open =
seatbelt unbuckled) with the ignition switch in the START or ON positions, the indicator will be
illuminated. The seatbelt indicator remains illuminated until the seat belt indicator input to the cluster is a
closed circuit to ground (seatbelt switch closed = seatbelt buckled), 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 seatbelt 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 seatbelt switch is connected in series between ground and the seat belt switch sense circuit input to the
Electro Mechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) (also known as the Cab Compartment Node/CCN). The seatbelt
switch input to the instrument cluster circuitry may be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and
procedures. Refer to the appropriate wiring information.

STANDARD PROCEDURE

ENHANCED SEATBELT REMINDER PROGRAMMING

The seatbelt indicator also includes a programmable enhanced seatbelt reminder or BELTMINDER feature that
is enabled when the vehicle is shipped from the factory. This BELTMINDER feature provides extended and
modified visual seatbelt indicator and audible chime warning responses to an unbuckled driver side front seat
belt. The BELTMINDER feature may be disabled or enabled by the customer using the programming sequence
that follows, or by the dealer using a diagnostic scan tool.

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro

CUSTOMER PROGRAMMING SEQUENCE

1. With all doors closed and the ignition switch in any position except ON or START, buckle the driver side

front seat belt.

2. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and wait for the seatbelt indicator reminder function to

conclude (about six seconds).

3. Unbuckle and buckle the driver side front seat belt three or more times, ending with the belt buckled.

4. Turn the ignition switch to any position except ON or START to toggle the BELTMINDER feature from

its current setting (from active to inactive, or from inactive to active). A single chime tone will provide an
audible confirmation that the programming sequence has been successfully completed.

SECURITY INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION

SECURITY INDICATOR

Fig. 32: Security Indicator
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

A security indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. However, on vehicles not equipped with
the optional Vehicle Theft Security System (VTSS), this indicator is electronically disabled. This indicator is
located near the base of the speedometer needle hub on the cluster overlay, just left of center.

The security indicator consists of a small round cutout in the opaque layer of the instrument cluster overlay. The

NOTE:

The following sequence of events must occur within 60 seconds of the ignition
switch being placed in the ON position in order for the programming to be
completed successfully.

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro

dark outer layer of the overlay prevents the indicator from being clearly visible when it is not illuminated. A red
Light Emitting Diode (LED) behind the cutout in the opaque layer of the overlay causes the indicator to appear
in red through the translucent outer layer of the overlay when it is illuminated from behind by the LED, which
is soldered onto the instrument cluster electronic circuit board.

The security indicator is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.

OPERATION

SECURITY INDICATOR

The security indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the Vehicle Theft Security System
(VTSS) is arming or is armed. On vehicles equipped with the Sentry Key Immobilizer System (SKIS), the
security indicator also gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the status of the SKIS. This indicator is
controlled by a transistor on the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming, and electronic
security indicator request messages received by the cluster from the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM)
or the Sentry Key REmote Entry Module (SKREEM) (also known as the Wireless Control Module/WCM) over
the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus.

The security indicator Light Emitting Diode (LED) is completely controlled by the instrument cluster logic
circuit, and that logic will allow this indicator to operate whenever the instrument cluster receives a battery
current input on the fused B(+) circuit. Therefore, the LED can be illuminated regardless of the ignition switch
position. The LED only illuminates when it is provided a path to ground by the instrument cluster transistor.
Depending upon the programmed condition, the indicator can be illuminated solid, flashed at a slow rate (0.5
Hertz, 12.5 percent duty cycle), or flashed at a fast rate (1 Hertz, 50 percent duty cycle). The instrument cluster
will turn ON the security indicator for the following reasons:



Bulb Test - Each time the ignition switch is turned to the ON position the security indicator illuminates
for about two seconds as a bulb test. The entire bulb test is a function of the SKREEM.



Security Indicator Lamp-On Message - During the 16 second VTSS arming function, the TIPM will
request the cluster flash the security indicator ON and OFF repeatedly at a steady, fast rate to indicate that
the VTSS is in the process of arming. Following successful VTSS arming, the TIPM will request the
cluster flash the security indicator ON and OFF continuously at a slower rate to indicate that the VTSS is
armed. The security indicator continues flashing at the slower rate until the VTSS is disarmed or
triggered. If the VTSS has alarmed and rearmed, the TIPM will request the cluster flash the security
indicator at a steady, slow rate for about 30 seconds after the VTSS is disarmed.



SKIS Indicator Lamp-On Message - Each time the cluster receives an electronic SKIS indicator lamp-
ON message from the SKREEM, the security indicator will be illuminated. The indicator can be flashed
ON and OFF, or illuminated solid, as dictated by the SKREEM message. The indicator remains
illuminated solid or continues to flash until the cluster receives a lamp-OFF message from the SKREEM,
or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first. For more information on
the SKIS and the security indicator control parameters, refer to OPERATION .



Communication Error - If the cluster receives no lamp-ON or lamp-OFF messages from the TIPM or
the SKREEM for 10 consecutive message cycles, the security indicator is illuminated by the instrument
cluster. The indicator remains controlled and illuminated by the cluster until a valid lamp-ON or lamp-
OFF message is received from the SKREEM.



Actuator Test - Each time the instrument cluster is put through the actuator test, the security indicator

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro