Mountaineer 4WD V6-4.0L VIN E (1999)
Driver/Vehicle Information Display: Description and Operation
Principles of Operation (How Does It Work?)
Display Dimming
The dimming of the indicator display is controlled by the pulse width dimmer module. The voltage on Pin 2 controls the brightness of the message center
display. When the exterior lamps are off, this voltage will be zero volts and the message center display will be at maximum brightness. When the exterior
lamps are on, this voltage will be controlled by the pulse width dimmer module and will be between 2.5 volts and battery voltage. The message center
display will be brighter as this voltage approaches battery voltage. If there is a warning on the message center display, the display will not dim to its
lowest level.
When the headlamps or parking lamps are OFF, the display of the message center indicator will be maximum brightness and the labels for the center five
switches of the message center switch module will not be illuminated.
When the headlamps or parking lamps are ON, the brightness of the display of the message center indicator and the labels for the center five switches of
the message center switch module will be controlled by the pulse width dimmer module.
English/Metric Mode
The ENGLISH/METRIC switch controls the display mode for both the message center indicator and the electronic automatic temperature control. A
press of the ENGLISH/METRIC switch will change both displays between english mode and metric mode.
Vehicle Speed Signal
The vehicle speed signal is generated by the rear anti-lock brake sensor and sent to the 4-Wheel Anti-lock Brake System (4WABS) module. The
4WABS module sends the vehicle speed signal via circuit 679 (GY/BK) to all systems which require a vehicle speed signal input.
Fuel Computer-Range
The RANGE feature has two displays: the distance that can be traveled before refueling, and the distance that was traveled since the last trip odometer
reset. The RANGE switch will change the message center indicator between the two displays.
The RANGE (distance to empty) feature is calculated using the fuel flow signal from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), the speed signal from the
4WABS module and the fuel level signal from the fuel level sender.
The fuel flow and speed signals are used to calculate a Running Average Fuel Economy (RAFE), which is multiplied by the fuel remaining to give the
range.
RAFE is not the same number as the Average Fuel Economy displayed by the message center indicator.
RAFE is based on the past driving history and can only be reset by disconnecting the battery.
When the range decreases to 80 km (50 mile) to empty, the message center will display the LOW FUEL LEVEL warning.
With a fuel tank full of fuel (160 ohm signal from fuel sender) and after a battery disconnect, the RANGE should be approximately 644 km (400 miles)
to empty.
The RANGE (trip odometer) feature is calculated using the speed signal from the 4WABS module. It can be reset to zero by pressing the reset switch
while the trip odometer is displayed on the message center.
Fuel Computer-Status
The STATUS feature has two displays: Fuel-to-Empty and Fuel-Used. The STATUS switch will change the message center indicator between the two
displays.
The fuel-to-empty calculation is achieved using the fuel level signal from the fuel level sender.
The fuel-used feature is calculated using the fuel flow signal from the PCM and can be reset to zero by pressing the RESET switch while the fuel-used
feature is displayed on the message center.
Fuel Computer-Economy
The economy (ECON) feature has two displays: average and instant.
Depressing the ECON switch changes the message center indicator between both displays.
The economy is calculated using the fuel flow signal from the powertrain control module and the speed signal from the 4WABS module.
