Dakota 4WD V8-4.7L VIN J (2007)
Transmission Shift Position Indicator Lamp: Description and Operation
Description
DESCRIPTION
An electronic automatic transmission gear selector indicator is standard factory-installed equipment on this vehicle. However, on vehicles not equipped
with an optional automatic transmission, this indicator is electronically disabled. The gear selector indicator information is displayed in an electronic,
blue-green Vacuum-Fluorescent Display (VFD) unit. This VFD unit is soldered onto the cluster electronic circuit board and is visible through a window
with a smoked clear lens located below the tachometer in the lower right area of the cluster overlay. The dark lens over the VFD prevents the indicator
from being clearly visible when it is not illuminated.
The gear selector indicator displays the following characters from left to right: P, R, N, D, 2, and 1. Each character appears in a blue-green color and at
the same lighting level as the odometer information. Respectively, these characters represent the PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, DRIVE, second gear,
and first gear positions of the transmission gear selector lever on the steering column. The indicator also illuminates a rectangular box around the
character that represents the currently selected lever position.
During daylight hours (exterior lamps are OFF) the gear selector indicator is illuminated at full brightness for clear visibility. At night (exterior lamps are
ON), the indicator lighting level is adjusted with the other cluster general illumination lamps using the panel lamps dimmer thumbwheel on the headlamp
switch. However, a PARADE mode position of the panel lamps dimmer thumbwheel allows the indicator to be illuminated at full brightness if the
exterior lamps are turned ON during daylight hours.
The gear selector indicator is serviced as a unit with the VFD unit in the instrument cluster.
