Aspen 2WD V8-4.7L (2007)
Door/Trunk Ajar Indicator/Lamp: Description and Operation
Gate Ajar Indicator
Description
DESCRIPTION
A gate ajar indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. This indicator is located within the odometer/trip odometer Vacuum Fluorescent
Display (VFD) unit. However, on vehicles equipped with the optional Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) the gate ajar indicator in the
odometer VFD is electronically suppressed so as not to duplicate indications that are provided by the EVIC. The gate ajar indicator consists of the text
GATE, which appears in place of the odometer/trip odometer information in the odometer VFD unit.
The odometer VFD is soldered onto the cluster electronic circuit board, and is visible through a window with a smoked clear lens located on the lower
edge of the tachometer gauge dial face of the cluster overlay. The dark lens over the VFD prevents it from being clearly visible when it is not
illuminated. The gate ajar indicator appears in the same blue-green color and at the same lighting level as the odometer/trip odometer information when
it is illuminated by the instrument cluster electronic circuit board.
The gate ajar indicator is serviced as a unit with the VFD unit in the instrument cluster.
Operation
OPERATION
The gate ajar indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator that the rear liftgate may be open or not completely latched. This indicator is controlled
by the instrument cluster logic circuit based upon cluster programming and a hard wired input received by the cluster from the liftgate ajar switch
integral to the liftgate latch unit.
The gate ajar indicator function of the Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) 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 VFD gate ajar indication will always be OFF when the ignition switch is in any position except ON or START. The instrument cluster will
turn ON the gate ajar indicator for the following reasons:
-
Liftgate Ajar Switch Input - Each time the cluster detects ground on the liftgate ajar switch sense circuit (liftgate ajar switch closed = gate is
open or not completely latched) the gate ajar indicator will be illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until the liftgate ajar switch sense
input to the cluster is an open circuit (liftgate ajar switch open = liftgate fully closed), until the cluster has completed an interior lamps load shed (
about five minutes), or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first.
The ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) continually monitors the liftgate ajar switch to determine the status of the liftgate. For further
diagnosis of the liftgate ajar indicator or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls the indicator.
The hard wired liftgate ajar switch and circuits related to gate ajar indicator operation may be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and
procedures. Refer to the appropriate wiring information.
