Dodge Nitro. Manual — part 802

Fig. 11: Identifying Airbag Indicator
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

An airbag indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. However, the instrument cluster can be
programmed to disable this indicator on vehicles that are not equipped with the airbag system, which is not
available in some markets. This indicator is located near the bottom of the speedometer dial face of the cluster
overlay, just left of center.

The airbag indicator consists of a stencil-like cutout of the International Control and Display Symbol icon for
Airbag 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 airbag indicator is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.

OPERATION

AIRBAG INDICATOR

The airbag indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the airbag system, or a circuit or
component of the system is ineffective. The airbag 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
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus.

The airbag 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 airbag indicator for
the following reasons:

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro



Bulb Test - Each time the ignition switch is turned to the ON position the airbag indicator is illuminated
for about six to eight seconds. The entire bulb test is a function of the ORC.



Airbag Indicator Lamp-On Message - Each time the cluster receives an electronic airbag indicator
lamp-ON message from the ORC, the airbag indicator will be illuminated. The indicator remains
illuminated for about 12 seconds or until the cluster receives a lamp-OFF message from the ORC,
whichever is longer. This indicator will also be extinguished when the ignition switch is turned to the
OFF position.



Communication Error - If the cluster receives no lamp-ON or lamp-OFF messages from the ORC for 10
consecutive message cycles, the airbag indicator is illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until
the cluster receives a single lamp-OFF message from the ORC.



Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the airbag 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 actuator test illumination of the airbag indicator is a function of the
instrument cluster.

The ORC continually monitors the airbag system circuits and sensors to decide whether the system is in good
operating condition. The ORC then sends the proper lamp-ON or lamp-OFF message to the Electro Mechanical
Instrument Cluster (EMIC) (also known as the Cab Compartment Node/CCN). If the ORC sends a lamp-ON
message after the bulb test, it indicates that the ORC has detected a system malfunction or that the airbags and
seat belt tensioners may not deploy when required, or may deploy when not required. The ORC will store a
Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for any malfunction it detects. Each time the airbag indicator fails to illuminate
due to an open or short in the cluster airbag indicator circuit, the cluster sends a message notifying the ORC of
the condition, then the instrument cluster and the ORC will each store a DTC.

For proper diagnosis of the airbag system, the ORC, the EMIC, the CAN data bus or the electronic
communication related to airbag indicator operation a diagnostic scan tool is required. Refer to the appropriate
diagnostic information.

AJAR INDICATORS

DESCRIPTION

AJAR INDICATORS

Door and liftgate ajar indicators are standard equipment on all instrument clusters. The ajar indications appear
within the fixed segment odometer Vacuum-Fluorescent Display (VFD) unit. However, on vehicles equipped
with an optional Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC), the ajar indications in the odometer VFD are
electronically suppressed so as not to duplicate indications that are provided by the EVIC. The odometer VFD
ajar indicators are textual messages that appear in place of the odometer/trip odometer information.

The odometer VFD unit is soldered onto the cluster electronic circuit board, and is visible through a window
with a smoked clear lens located at the base of the cluster overlay tachometer dial face. The dark lens over the
VFD prevents it from being clearly visible when it is not illuminated. The ajar indicator textual messages appear
in the same blue-green color and at the same lighting level as the other information displayed in the odometer
VFD when it is illuminated by the instrument cluster electronic circuit board.

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro

The ajar indicators are serviced as a unit with the odometer VFD unit in the instrument cluster.

OPERATION

AJAR INDICATORS

The ajar indicators give an indication to the vehicle operator that one or more of the passenger compartment
doors or the liftgate may be open or not completely latched. These indicators are controlled by the instrument
cluster logic circuit based upon cluster programming and electronic ajar switch status messages received by
the cluster from the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data
bus.

The ajar indicator function of the odometer Vacuum-Fluorescent Display (VFD) unit 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 B(+) circuit. Therefore, the VFD ajar indications
can occur regardless of the ignition switch position. The instrument cluster will turn ON the ajar indicator for
the following reasons:



Ajar Switch Message Input - Each time the cluster receives a door or liftgate ajar switch status message
indicating that a door, the liftgate or any combination of these is open or not completely latched with the
ignition switch in any position, the appropriate ajar textual message will be illuminated. If the cluster
detects a vehicle speed input greater than zero (kilometers or miles-per-hour) while the ignition switch is
in the ON or START positions, the ajar indication will be accompanied by a single chime tone. When the
ignition switch is in any position except ON or START, any and all ajar indications will time out after
about five minutes.

The TIPM continually monitors the door and liftgate ajar switches to determine the status of the doors and
liftgate. The TIPM then sends the proper ajar switch status messages to the EMIC. The door and liftgate ajar
switches and their circuits may be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and methods. Refer to the
appropriate wiring information.

BRAKE/PARK BRAKE INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION

BRAKE INDICATOR

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro

Fig. 12: Identifying Brake/Park Brake Indicator
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC

A brake indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. This indicator is located near the bottom of
the speedometer dial face of the cluster overlay, to the right of center.

The brake indicator consists of a stencil-like cutout in the opaque layer of the instrument cluster overlay. The
word BRAKE is cutout for vehicles manufactured for sale in the U.S. market, or the International Control and
Display Symbol icon for Brake Failure is cutout for vehicles manufactured for all other markets. 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 brake indicator is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.

OPERATION

BRAKE INDICATOR

The brake indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the parking brake is applied, when there
are certain brake hydraulic system malfunctions as indicated by a low brake hydraulic fluid level condition, or
when the brake fluid level switch is disconnected. The brake indicator can also give an indication when certain
faults are detected in the Antilock Brake System (ABS). This indicator is controlled by a transistor on the
instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming, electronic messages received by the cluster
from the Controller Antilock Brake (CAB) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus, and a hard wired
input from the park brake switch.

The brake 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 brake indicator for the
following reasons:

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro