Commander 4WD V8-4.7L VIN N (2006)
Cruise Control Indicator Lamp: Description and Operation
CRUISE INDICATOR
DESCRIPTION
A cruise indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. However, on vehicles not equipped with the optional speed control system, this
indicator is electronically disabled. This indicator is located within the fixed segment Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display unit. The cruise
indicator consists of the text CRUISE in the upper right corner of the OLED display.
The fixed segment OLED display unit is soldered onto the instrument cluster electronic circuit board, and is visible through a window with a smoked
clear lens located on the lower edge of the speedometer gauge dial face of the cluster overlay. The dark lens over the OLED prevents it from being
clearly visible when it is not illuminated. The cruise indicator text appears in a blue-green color and at the same lighting level as the odometer
information when it is illuminated by the instrument cluster electronic circuit board.
During daylight hours (exterior lamps are OFF) the fixed segment OLED is illuminated at full brightness for clear visibility. At night (exterior lamps are
ON), the OLED lighting level is adjusted with the other cluster illumination lamps using the panel lamps dimmer function of the interior lighting control
sleeve on the left multi-function switch control stalk. However, a Parade mode position of the control sleeve allows the OLED to be illuminated at full
brightness if the exterior lamps are turned ON during daylight hours.
The cruise indicator is serviced as a unit with the fixed segment OLED display unit in the instrument cluster.
OPERATION
The cruise indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the speed control system is turned On, regardless of whether the speed control is
engaged. This indicator is controlled by the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the
cluster from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus.
The cruise indicator 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 indicator will always be off when
the ignition switch is in any position except On or Start. The indicator only illuminates when it is energized by the instrument cluster logic circuit. The
instrument cluster will turn on the cruise indicator for the following reasons:
-
Cruise Lamp-On Message - Each time the cluster receives a cruise lamp-on message from the PCM indicating the speed control system has been
turned On, the cruise indicator is illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until the cluster receives a cruise lamp-off message from the PCM
or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.
-
Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the cruise indicator will be turned on, then off again during the OLED
portion of the test in order to confirm the functionality of the OLED and the cluster control circuitry.
The PCM continually monitors the speed control switches to determine the appropriate outputs to the speed control servo. The PCM then sends the
proper cruise indicator lamp-on and lamp-off messages to the instrument cluster. For proper diagnosis of the speed control system, the PCM, the CAN
data bus, or the electronic message inputs to the instrument cluster that control the cruise indicator, a diagnostic scan tool is required.
