FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
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Information And Message Center




Information And Message Center

NOTE: The Smart Junction Box (SJB) is also known as the Generic Electronic Module (GEM).

The message center is a fixed format Vacuum Fluorescent (VF) display, integrated into the Instrument Cluster (IC). The message center functions are controlled by the message center switches. The message center displays important vehicle information by constantly monitoring different vehicle systems. The message center informs the driver of vehicle operations and notifies the driver of vehicle conditions or potential problems by displaying a warning message pertaining to the system in which the driver may require information or if a system fault has been detected.

The message center provides the following features:

- Information displays
- Setup displays
- System check messages
- System warning messages

The message center information can be selected through a set of 3 buttons:

- INFO
- SETUP
- RESET

Message Center Configuration

The message center has the capability to configure items such as units (English or metric), autolamp delay, to enable/disable a variety of options such as autolock, auto-unlock and easy entry/easy exit (if equipped), or to carry out calibrations/settings on items such as the compass.

On configurable items such as autolock, auto-unlock or easy entry/easy exit, the message center indicates the appropriate selection (ON/OFF) by bracketing the selection. For example, if the driver selects the autolock feature on, the message would display as follows: AUTOLOCK [ON] OFF. If the driver selects the autolock off, the message would display as follows: AUTOLOCK AID ON [OFF].

Compass Display

The message center provides a compass display and uses directional information sent from a compass module, integrated into the auto-dimming interior mirror.

Oil Life and Oil Life Start Value

The oil life is displayed in percentages and is preset to a maximum of approximately 12,070 km (7,500 miles) or 180 days. The oil life start value is used to increase or decrease the starting point of the oil life. The value can be changed back to the maximum of approximately 12,070 km (7,500 miles) if the value was previously changed or to lower the value by 10% increments down to 30%. Each 10% reduction lowers the oil life in both mileage and the days.

For example, if the oil life start value is lowered to 50%, the maximum mileage is 6,035 km (3,750 miles) or 90 days. The oil life remains at the selected setting (50% in this example) until the driver changes the oil life start value. When the oil life (not oil life start value) is reset back to 100% following an oil change, the oil life resets to 6,035 km (3,750 miles). For configuration of the oil life and oil life start value, refer to Message Center Configuration Service and Repair.

Information Displays

The information displays are non-timed modes. The selected mode remains on until the driver presses a message center button to change the mode or it is overridden by another mode.

The information (INFO button) display modes are:

- Odometer
- Compass
- Trip odometer A or B
- Distance To Empty (DTE)
- Average fuel economy
- Trip elapsed drive time

Setup Displays

The setup (SETUP button) displays are timed modes and terminate after a finite interval. The setup display modes are:

- System check
- Oil life reset
- Units English/metric
- Autolamp delay in seconds (if equipped)
- Autolock on/off (if equipped)
- Auto-unlock on/off (if equipped)
- Power liftgate on/off (if equipped)
- Easy entry/easy exit seat on/off (if equipped)
- Compass zone
- Compass calibration
- Language

System Check

The system check provides a check of all the monitored systems on the vehicle. The system check scrolls through each of the monitored systems and provides a visual indication to report out the status of each system. The message center displays OK for approximately 2 seconds if the system check does not detect a fault in the system and displays a warning message for approximately 2 seconds if the system check detects a fault in the system. Press the RESET button to scroll through the system check messages.

The systems monitored during the system check are:

- Oil life
- Charging system
- Washer fluid level
- Door ajar status
- Brake system status
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) status
- Fuel level/Distance To Empty (DTE)

System Warning Messages

The system warning messages alert the operator to possible problems or malfunctions in the vehicle operating systems. The message center displays the last selected feature if there are no additional warning messages. Once a warning message has been displayed, the message must be acknowledged to allow full functionality of the message center. Press the RESET to acknowledge and clear the warning message. The warning messages are divided into 3 basic categories:

- Cannot be cleared until the condition is corrected.
- Reappears 10 minutes from pressing the RESET button.
- Reappears if the condition clears then reoccurs within the same ignition cycle ON-OFF cycle.

The warning messages that cannot be reset are:

- DRIVER DOOR AJAR
- PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
- REAR LEFT DOOR AJAR
- REAR RIGHT DOOR AJAR
- DOOR AJAR

The warning messages that reoccur 10 minutes after pressing the RESET button are:

- CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM
- CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM
- PARK BRAKE ENGAGED
- XXX MILES/km TO E FUEL LEVEL LOW

The warning messages that display whenever the ignition switch is turned from the OFF position to the ON position (when the condition exists) are:

- BRAKE FLUID LEVEL LOW
- LOW TIRE PRESSURE
- TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR FAULT
- TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT
- TRUNK AJAR
- LIFTGATE AJAR
- WASHER FLUID LEVEL LOW
- OIL CHANGE REQUIRED
- XXX% OIL LIFE CHANGE SOON

Service Procedure Displays

The message center displays messages that indicate a system state during repair procedures related to the TPMS. The displayed messages are as follows:

- TRAIN RIGHT FRONT TIRE
- TRAIN LEFT FRONT TIRE
- TRAIN RIGHT REAR TIRE
- TRAIN LEFT REAR TIRE
- TRAIN SPARE TIRE
- TRAINING COMPETE
- TIRES NOT TRAINED - REPEAT

The message center displays messages that indicate a system state during repair procedures related to the compass display. The displayed messages are as follows:

- RESET FOR ZONE
- ZONE XX RESET = CHANGE
- RESET FOR CALIBRATION
- CIRCLE SLOWLY TO CALIBRATE
- CALIBRATION COMPLETED

The message center displays the IKT KEY COULD NOT PROGRAM message to indicate a concern programming the Integrated Keyhead Transmitter (IKT).