the UP arrow in the instrument cluster

[APersondek]

As you can see in my signature, I have a NV5600 6 spd. However when the sun shines on my dash (usually late in the day) I can see the numbers that tell you what gear you are in if you have an auto transmission. Just to the right of 1st gear indicator there is an arrow pointing up. Does anyone know what that is used for on the autos?

 

[Scrappy]

it is the upshift indicator for the gasser manual trucks. if you do the gauge test it will light up but won't any other time.

 

[rbattelle]

but won't any other time.

Thank God. I hate those things.



-Ryan

 

[bighornram]

Service Manual description-Upshift indicator

From the service manual:

An upshift indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. However on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, this indicator is electronically disabled. The upshift indicator consists of an upward pointed arrow icon, which appears on the right side fo the electronic gear selector indicator Vacuum Flourescent Display (VFD) unit. The 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 teh speedometer guage dial face of the cluster overlay. The dark lens over the VFD prevents the indicator from being clearly visible when it is not illuminated. The icon appears in a 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 upshift indicator is serviced as a unit with teh instrument cluster.

OPERATION

The upshift indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the manual transmission should be upshifted to the next highest gear in order to achieve the best fuel economy. 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) on vehicles with a gasoline engine, or from the Engine Control Module (ECM) on vehicles with a diesel engine over the Programmable Communicaitons Interface (PCI) data bus. The upshift indicator is completely controlled by the instrument clluster logic circuit, and that logic will only allow this indicator to operate when the instrument cluster receives a battery current input on teh 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 switched to ground by the instrument cluster circuitry. The instrument cluster will turn on the upshift indicator for the following reasons:

*Upshift Lamp-On Message - Each time the cluster receives an upshift lamp-ON message from the PCM or ECM indicating the engine speed and load conditions are right for a transmission upshift to occur, the upshift indicator is illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until the cluster receives an upshift lamp-OFF message from the PCM or ECM, or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first. The PCM or ECM will normally send an upshift lamp-OFF message three to five seconds after a lamp-on message, if an upshift is not performed. The indicator will then remain off until the vehicle stops accelerating and is brought back into the range of indicator operation, or until the transmission is shifted into another gear.

*Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the upshift indicator will be turned on, then off again durnig the VFD portion fo teh test to confirm the functionality of the VFD and the cluster control circuitry.

On vehicles with a gasoline engine, the VCM continually monitors the engine speed and load conditions to determine the proper fuel and ignition requirements. On vehicles with a diesel engine, the ECM continually monitors the engine speed and load conditions to determine the proper fuel requirements. The PCM or ECM then sends the proper upshift indicator lamp-on and lamp-off messages to teh instrument cluster.

 

[jwduke]

Thank God. I hate those things.



-Ryan

Oh come on Ryan, don't you like a computer telling you when to shift??? (LOL)

 

[evldsl]

As you can see in my signature, I have a NV5600 6 spd. However when the sun shines on my dash (usually late in the day) I can see the numbers that tell you what gear you are in if you have an auto transmission. Just to the right of 1st gear indicator there is an arrow pointing up. Does anyone know what that is used for on the autos?

We have a automatic tran's gear counter on our 2004. 5 3500 truck's?.

 

[RMalone]

Dang something must be wrong with my auto transmission the dash arrow never tells me when to upshift!

 

[67guzzler]

My Ford Escort Wagon has the upshift indicator light. I hate it. I forget about it and then when it illuminates, out of the corner of my eye I see it and I think I'm seeing a check engine indicator. To be sure what it is, I have to look down. Just a PIA if you ask me.

 

[APersondek]

Thanks for the replies.

The only time I think I would want to enable that feature for a short time, is if I had to teach someone how to drive a stick, and for whatever reason they wanted to use my truck.

Believe me I would go to great lengths to try and find another vehicle to learn on, but if all else fails and my truck had to be used, that’s what I would do.

 

[nickleinonen]

it is the upshift indicator for the gasser manual trucks. if you do the gauge test it will light up but won't any other time.

my 03 1500 gasser with 5 speed manual had the same indicator, and it never lit up... i raced with it a few times and hit the rev limiter a few times too [4. 7v8] and that lamp never lit up... ?????



again, my 04 it ias never lit up either other than during the self test. . waste of space on the cluster i think.

 

[evldsl]

"Man", I forgot to mention that my 2001 TJ Wrangler has a freaking shift arrow that bug's me all the time and it's a manual 5 speed. :-laf

 

[APersondek]

ok so curiosity has me wondering..... if the indicator was enabled in the ECM, I wonder what RPM range the ECM / engineers think we should shift our trucks at... . If I had access to a DRBIII I would be tempted to enable it to find out... . drive around the block and then disable it again.