Grand Caravan V6-3.8L (2009)
Fuel Gauge: Description and Operation
Fuel Gauge - Description
DESCRIPTION
A fuel gauge is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. This gauge is located on the left side of the instrument cluster on all vehicles. However, on
Dodge vehicles with the optional premium instrument cluster, the fuel gauge and the engine temperature gauge each occupy one vertical half of the left
gauge dial face in the cluster overlay. The gauge consists of a movable gauge needle or pointer controlled by the instrument cluster circuitry. On Dodge
vehicles with a premium cluster, a fixed 90 degree gauge scale on the cluster overlay reads bottom-to-top from E (or Empty) to F (or Full). On Dodge
vehicles with a base cluster and all Chrysler vehicles, the gauge reads left-to-right from E (or Empty) to F (or Full). An International Control and Display
Symbol icon for Fuel is located on the cluster overlay, adjacent to the hub of the gauge needle. An arrowhead pointed to the left side of the vehicle is
imprinted on the cluster overlay next to the Fuel icon on the gauge to provide the driver with a reminder as to the location of the fuel filler access.
On Dodge vehicles with the base cluster, the fuel gauge graphics are gray and black against a black field except for a single red graduation at the low end
of the gauge scale. On Dodge vehicles with a premium cluster, the gauge graphics are gray and black against a white field except for a single red
graduation at the low end of the gauge scale. On Chrysler vehicles, the gauge graphics are gray and black against a silver field except for a single red
graduation at the low end of the gauge scale. In each case, the graphics are clearly visible within the instrument cluster in daylight. When illuminated
from behind by the panel lamps dimmer controlled cluster illumination lighting with the exterior lamps turned ON, the Dodge gauges all retain their
unilluminated colors and appearance, while the Chrysler gauge fields acquire a blue-green appearance from the blue-green colored electro-luminescent
lighting.
The Dodge base cluster uses an orange gauge needle that has internal optical illumination. Gauge illumination for this cluster is provided by Light
Emitting Diode (LED) units soldered onto the instrument cluster electronic circuit board. The Dodge premium cluster gauge needle are black, and
illumination is provided by electro-luminescent lamps. The Chrysler clusters also use black gauge needles, and are not illuminated. These clusters are
illuminated by an integral electro-luminescent lamp, which illuminates the gauge field and causes the gauge graphics and gauge needle to appear
silhouetted against the field when the exterior lighting is turned ON.
The fuel gauge is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.
