Dodge Nitro. Manual - part 797

Fig. 37: Identifying Glow Plug Relay (Module), ECM Mounting Bracket, Electrical Connector & Pin 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

The glow plug relay (module) (1) is located in the engine compartment. It is attached to the ECM mounting 
bracket (2). 

1. Connect electrical connector (3) to relay (1).  

2. Position relay to mounting bracket (2) and install pin (4). 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ENGINE Ignition Control - Service Information - Nitro

  

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT

Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro 

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 

DESCRIPTION 

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 

Fig. 1: Identifying Cluster Bezel & Instrument Cluster 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

The instrument cluster (2) for this vehicle is an Electro Mechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) that is located in 
the instrument panel above the steering column opening, directly in front of the driver. The remainder of the 
EMIC, including the mounts and the electrical connections, are concealed within the instrument panel below the 
cluster bezel (1). The instrument cluster for this vehicle also includes the hardware and software necessary to 
serve as the electronic body control module and is sometimes referred to as the Cab Compartment Node or 
CCN. 

Besides analog gauges and indicators, the EMIC module incorporates one standard blue-green digital Vacuum 
Fluorescent Display (VFD) unit. A second optional VFD unit is available in some vehicles. The standard VFD 
is a fixed segment unit for displaying odometer information, automatic transmission gear selector position 
(PRNDL), and several other indicators. The optional compass/temperature VFD unit is a large fixed segment 
display. The optional Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) VFD unit is a large reconfigurable display 
unit. These optional VFD units serve as the visual display for the compass, the outside temperature, the trip 
computer, the audio system settings as well as the user interface for the customer programmable features, 
numerous textual warning or reminder indicators and certain diagnostic information depending upon vehicle 
equipment. 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro

  

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro

  

Fig. 2: Identifying Plastic Rear Cover, Cluster Housing, Plastic Cluster Lens & Mask Unit 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

The EMIC gauges and indicators are visible through three dedicated openings in the cluster bezel and are 
protected by a clear plastic cluster lens (5). Nine integral latch formations on the lens secure it to the cluster 
hood and mask unit (4) as well as the cluster housing (2). Just behind the cluster lens is the cluster hood and 
integral mask, which is constructed of molded black plastic. The hood serves as a visor and shields the face of 
the cluster from ambient light and reflections to reduce glare, while the cluster mask serves to separate and 
define the individual gauges and trims the outside perimeter of the cluster overlay. The hood and mask unit has 
eight integral latch features that secure it to the outer perimeter of the cluster housing. The hood and mask unit 
also has two integral mounting tabs on the lower corners that combine with the tabs integral to the cluster 
housing to secure the bottom of the EMIC to the molded plastic instrument panel cluster carrier with two 
screws. 

The rear of the cluster housing and the EMIC electronic circuitry are protected by a molded white plastic rear 
cover (1), which is also secured to the cluster housing by integral latch features. The rear cover includes 
clearance holes for the four cluster connector receptacles. The connector receptacles on the back of the cluster 
electronic circuit board connect the EMIC to the vehicle electrical system through four take outs with 
connectors from the instrument panel wire harness. 

Sandwiched between the rear cover and the lens and hood unit is the cluster housing. The molded white plastic 
cluster housing serves as the carrier for the cluster circuit board and circuitry, the cluster connector receptacles, 
the two major and two minor gauges, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) for each cluster indicator, the VFD display 
units, an audible tone transducer, several LED units for general cluster illumination, the cluster overlay, and the 
gauge pointers. The standard equipment molded black plastic odometer/trip odometer switch button (3) extends 
from the face of the cluster housing through dedicated holes in the cluster mask and the cluster lens adjacent to 
their respective VFD units. A black rubber grommet seals the switch button to the clearance hole in the lens. 
The cluster housing also has four integral mounting tabs, one on each upper and lower corner of the housing. 

The cluster overlay is a laminated plastic unit. The dark, visible, outer surface of the overlay is marked with all 
of the gauge dial faces and graduations, but this layer is also translucent. The darkness of this outer layer 
prevents the cluster from appearing cluttered or busy by concealing the cluster indicators that are not 
illuminated, while the translucence of this layer allows those indicators and icons that are illuminated to be 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro

  

readily visible. The underlying layer of the overlay is opaque and allows light from the LED for each of the 
various indicators and illumination lamps behind it to be visible through the outer layer of the overlay through 
predetermined stencil-like cutouts. Openings in the overlay at the base of the tachometer and the minor gauge 
set dial faces have smoked clear lenses through which the illuminated VFD units can be viewed. 

Several versions of the EMIC module are offered on this vehicle. These versions accommodate all of the 
variations of optional equipment and regulatory requirements for the various markets in which the vehicle is 
offered. The microprocessor-based EMIC utilizes integrated circuitry and information carried on the Controller 
Area Network (CAN) data bus and the Local Interface Network (LIN) data bus along with several hard wired 
analog and multiplexed inputs to monitor sensors and switches throughout the vehicle. In response to those 
inputs, the internal circuitry and programming of the EMIC allow it to control and integrate many electronic 
functions and features of the vehicle through both hard wired outputs and the transmission of electronic 
message outputs to other electronic modules in the vehicle over the CAN and LIN data busses. Refer to 
DESCRIPTION . 

Besides typical instrument cluster gauge and indicator support, the electronic functions and features that the 
EMIC supports or controls include the following: 



Audible Warnings - The EMIC electronic circuit board is equipped with an audible tone transducer and 
programming that allows it to provide various audible alerts to the vehicle operator. These alerts include 
single chime tones and continuous slow or fast tones. An electromechanical relay is also soldered onto the 
circuit board to produce audible clicks that are used to emulate the sound of a conventional turn signal or 
hazard warning flasher.  



Compass/Temperature Display Support - The EMIC provides support for each of the functions and 
features of the compass/temperature display, as well as for the odometer push button switch, which also 
provides user inputs to control the compass/temperature display options.  



Electronic Vehicle Information Center Display Support - The EMIC provides support for each of the 
functions and features of the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) display. This includes 
support for the compass, thermometer and audio system mode, customer programmable features, textual 
warnings, premium Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM), trip computer, U-Connect™ Hands-Free 
communication and the switch inputs from the two EVIC rocker switches located on the front surface of 
the steering wheel spokes that are used to control and configure many of the displays. This also includes 
display arbitrator programming, which controls the priorities, sequences, and transition of information 
that is displayed in the EVIC display, particularly when multiple display requests are received 
simultaneously.  



Enhanced Accident Response Support - The EMIC monitors inputs from the Occupant Restraint 
Controller (ORC) and the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to automatically turn ON the interior 
lighting after an airbag deployment event, 10 seconds after the vehicle speed is zero. The interior lighting 
remains illuminated until the key is removed from the ignition switch lock cylinder, at which time the 
interior lighting returns to normal operation and control. These Enhanced Accident Response System 
(EARS) features are each dependent upon a functional vehicle electrical system following the vehicle 
impact event.  



Exterior Lighting Switch Support - The EMIC monitors electronic exterior lighting switch , and turn 
signal switch status messages from the Steering Control Module (SCM) on the steering column over the 
LIN data bus and transmits the appropriate electronic exterior lighting and turn signal request messages 
to the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) over the CAN data bus to support the exterior lighting 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Instrument Cluster - Service Information - Nitro