Grand Caravan V6-4.0L (2008)
Low Fuel Lamp/Indicator: Description and Operation
Operation
OPERATION
The low fuel indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the level of fuel in the fuel tank becomes low. This indicator is controlled by a
transistor on the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic fuel level messages received by the cluster from the
Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus.
The low fuel 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 low fuel indicator for the following reasons:
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Bulb Test - Each time the ignition switch is turned to the ON position the low fuel indicator is illuminated for about three seconds as a bulb test.
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Less Than 11 Percent Tank Full Message - The TIPM provides a constant current source to the fuel level sending unit and monitors a return
input on a fuel level sense circuit. The resistance through the fuel level sending unit increases as the fuel level rises and decreases as the fuel level
falls causing changes in the fuel level sense input voltage. The TIPM then sends the appropriate electronic fuel level messages to the cluster. Each
time the fuel level messages to the cluster indicate the fuel tank is about 11 percent full or less for 10 consecutive seconds and the vehicle speed is
zero, or for 60 consecutive seconds and the vehicle speed is greater than zero, the gauge needle is moved to the appropriate position on the gauge
scale, the low fuel indicator is illuminated, and a single chime tone is sounded. The low fuel indicator remains illuminated until the fuel level
messages indicate that the fuel tank is greater than about 14 percent full for 10 consecutive seconds and the vehicle speed is zero, or for 60
consecutive seconds and the vehicle speed is greater than zero, or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first.
The chime tone feature will only repeat during the same ignition cycle if the low fuel indicator is cycled OFF and then ON again by the appropriate
messages from the TIPM.
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Less Than Empty Stop Message - Each time the cluster receives a fuel level message indicating the fuel level in the fuel tank is less than the E
(or Empty) gauge needle stop position for five consecutive seconds, the gauge needle is moved to the low end of the gauge scale and the low fuel
indicator is illuminated immediately. This input would indicate that the fuel level sense input to the TIPM is a short circuit.
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More Than Full Stop Message - Each time the cluster receives a fuel level message indicating the fuel level in the fuel tank is more than the F
(or Full) gauge needle stop position for ten consecutive seconds, the gauge needle is moved to the low end of the gauge scale and the low fuel
indicator is illuminated immediately. This input would indicate that the fuel level sense input to the TIPM is an open circuit.
The TIPM continually monitors the fuel tank sending unit to determine the level of fuel in the fuel tank. The TIPM then sends the proper electronic fuel
level message to the ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) (also known as the Cab Compartment Node/CCN) and other electronic modules in
the vehicle over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus. The TIPM will store a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for any fault detected in the fuel
level sense circuit.
For proper diagnosis of the fuel tank sending unit, the TIPM, the EMIC, the CAN data bus or the electronic communication related to low fuel indicator
operation or fuel level data processing a diagnostic scan tool is required.
