Instrument Cluster: Odometer: Description

An odometer and trip odometer are standard equipment in all instrument clusters. The odometer and trip odometer information are displayed in a common electronic, blue-green Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD). The VFD is soldered onto the cluster electronic circuit board and is visible through a window with a smoked clear lens located near the lower edge of the cluster overlay between the tachometer and speedometer. The dark lens over the VFD prevents it from being clearly visible when it is not illuminated. However, the odometer, and trip odometer information are not displayed simultaneously. The trip odometer reset switch on the instrument cluster circuit board toggles the display between odometer and trip odometer modes by depressing the odometer/ trip odometer switch button that extends through the lower edge of the cluster lens, just right of the odometer VFD.

The odometer and trip odometer information is stored in the instrument cluster memory. This information can be increased when the proper inputs are provided to the instrument cluster, but the information cannot be decreased. The odometer can display values up to 999,999 kilometers (999,999 miles). The odometer latches at these values, and will not roll over to zero. The trip odometer can display values up to 9,999.9 kilometers (9,999.9 miles) before it rolls over to zero. The odometer display does not have a decimal point and will not show values less than a full unit (kilometer or mile), while the trip odometer display does have a decimal point and will show tenths of a unit (kilometer or mile). The unit of measure (kilometers or miles) for the odometer and trip odometer display is not shown in the VFD. The unit of measure for the instrument cluster odometer/trip odometer is selected at the time that it is manufactured, and cannot be changed. If the instrument cluster has a speedometer with a primary scale in kilometers-per-hour, the letters "KM" are printed on the cluster mask next to the VFD window to indicate the odometer unit of measure.

The odometer has a "Rental Car" mode, which will illuminate the odometer information in the VFD whenever the driver side front door is opened with the ignition switch in the Off or Accessory positions. During daylight hours (exterior lamps are Off) the VFD is illuminated at full brightness for clear visibility. At night (exterior lamps are On) the VFD lighting level is adjusted with the other cluster illumination lamps using the panel lamps dimmer control ring on the control stalk of the left multi-function switch. However, a "Parade" mode position of the panel lamps dimmer control ring allows the VFD to be illuminated at full brightness if the exterior lamps are turned On during daylight hours.

The VFD, the trip odometer switch, and the trip odometer switch button are serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster. The rubber trip odometer reset knob boot that seals the hole in the cluster lens through which the reset knob protrudes is available for individual service replacement.