GATE AJAR INDICATOR
DESCRIPTION
A gate ajar indicator is standard equipment on all
instrument clusters. This indicator is located within the
odometer/trip odometer Vacuum Fluorescent Display
(VFD) unit. However, on models equipped with the
optional Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
the gate ajar indicator in the odometer VFD is electronically suppressed so as not to duplicate indications that are
provided by the EVIC.
The gate ajar indicator consists of the text “GATE”, which appears in place of the odometer/trip odometer informa-
tion in the odometer VFD unit. The odometer VFD is soldered onto the cluster electronic circuit board and is visible
through a window with a smoked clear lens located on the lower edge of the tachometer gauge dial face of the
cluster overlay. The dark lens over the VFD prevents the indicator from being clearly visible when it is not illumi-
nated. The “GATE” text appears in the same blue-green color and at the same lighting level as the odometer/trip
odometer information when it is illuminated by the instrument cluster electronic circuit board.
The gate ajar indicator is serviced as a unit with the VFD unit in the instrument cluster.
OPERATION
The gate ajar indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator that the rear tailgate may be open or not com-
pletely latched. This indicator is controlled by the instrument cluster logic circuit based upon cluster programming
and electronic messages received by the cluster from the Body Control Module (BCM) over the Programmable
Communications Interface (PCI) data bus.
The gate ajar indicator function of the Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) 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 VFD gate ajar indication will
always be off when the ignition switch is in any position except On or Start. The instrument cluster will turn on the
gate ajar indicator for the following reasons:
•
Gate Ajar Lamp-On Message - Each time the cluster receives a gate ajar lamp-on message from the BCM
indicating that the rear tailgate is open or not completely latched, the gate ajar indicator will be illuminated. If
the ignition switch is in the On position and the vehicle is not moving when the gate ajar lamp-on message is
received, the VFD will repeatedly and sequentially cycle the gate ajar indication in two second intervals with
the odometer/trip odometer information and any other active warnings including: door ajar, glass ajar, and low
washer fluid. If the vehicle is moving, or once the cluster of a non-moving vehicle receives an electronic vehi-
cle speed message from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) indicating a speed greater than zero, the warn-
ing sequence will consist of three complete display cycles with an audible single chime tone accompanying
each cycle, then revert to only the visual gate ajar indication and odometer/trip odometer display cycling until
the tailgate ajar switch is cycled. The gate ajar indicator will also be extinguished when the cluster receives a
gate ajar lamp-off message from the BCM, or if the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever
occurs first. The VFD can be reverted to the odometer display and any currently displayed textual messages
suspended by momentarily depressing and releasing the odometer/trip odometer reset switch button on the
front of the cluster.
The BCM continually monitors the tailgate ajar switch to determine the status of the rear tailgate. The BCM then
sends the proper gate ajar lamp-on and lamp-off messages to the instrument cluster. For further diagnosis of the
gate ajar indicator or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls the indicator, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/INSTRU-
MENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING).
For proper diagnosis of the tailgate ajar switch and circuit, the BCM, the PCI data bus, or the electronic message
inputs to the instrument cluster that control the gate ajar indicator, a diagnostic scan tool is required. Refer to the
appropriate diagnostic information.
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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
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