Automotive Electronic Systems

We’ve designed this flow chart to help customers correctly diagnose the reason behind their Drivers Information
Module (DIM) shutdowns. Here’s the scenerio: Your instrument cluster shuts down and you assume there is some-
thing wrong with the DIM. You conclude that you must send your DIM for repair. Not so fast! We are receiving a
number of DIMs that are in fact not faulty, and the problem is actually somewhere else in the network. Especially if
you own a 2004 model; there is a 90% chance that the DIM’s operation is impeded by a faulty Central Electronic
Module (CEM). Carefully follow the steps below and in the end you will save yourself time and money.

My DIM has at least one of the

My DIM is not working and following faults: erratic gauges,
completely dead. What type of DIM scrambled message screen, turn
failure are you signal indicators don’t work.
experiencing?

Start the car. Is the check

engine light illuminated in My DIM works on and off. Remove the DIM and
the bottom right?
send it to us.

REPAIR

NO NO

YES Is your DIM working at

YES
this time? CEM Heat Stress Test:
Is your car a The purpose of this test is to find out if
Volvo XC90? Try to open your your CEM fails at higher temperatures.
door windows and
YES Remove the DIM Start the engine. Using a hair dryer heat
sunroof. Do they and send it to us. up the CEM for about 5 minutes (see
YES work? fig. 1). Did you hear some of the relays
NO Open and repair
REPAIR “clicking” on the CEM? Did the DIM stop
the CAN communi-
working? Did the door windows, sunroof,
cation wires in the
climate control stop working?
Check fuse #21 NO door harness.
located on driver’s
side of the dash. Is Check the radio
the fuse blown? Check fuse #24 Slowly open and (ICM). Test if you YES NO
located on driver’s close the driver’s YES can change stations
side of the dash. Is door. Did the DIM or switch the radio
the fuse blown? start to work? on and off. Does it
YES NO appear to work
YES properly? Remove the CEM Repeat the stress
YES
NO NO and send it to us. test. Did the failure
symptoms show up
REPAIR this time?
Replace the 10A Is your car a NO
fuse. Test DIM for Remove the DIM. Volvo XC90? YES
proper operation. Leave the engine
Did the fuse blow? running and the green NO YES NO
plug connected. Use NO
test light or voltmeter.
YES If not, your Do you have power to NO
problem is term #1 (violet/white ICM Bypass:
solved! Wait until your
wire)? Remove the ICM (instructions can be
Lower the CEM. Locate DIM shuts off and
and remove the DIM found in the “technical resources” section
follow the “DIM not
This fuse powers up the relay in position CMI on our website). Unplug the green
YES NO working” procedure.
DIM, Power Seat Module, 22. Connect voltmeter connector at the back of the ICM. Jump
and Climate Control Module. across terminals 1 and the twisted white wire in pin #5 to twisted
In order to find out which 2 (see fig. 2). Do you white wire in pin #6 with a paper clip.
have at least 12V? Using a second paper clip, jump the
module is blowing the fuse, Now check if you
you need to unplug one have ground at pin twisted green wire in pin #3 with twisted
module at a time. #14 (brown wire). Is green wire in pin #4. Start the car. Does Remove the ICM
ground present? YES the DIM work? and send it to us.
REPAIR
Remove the DIM YES NO Replace the YES
and send it to us. Insert a jumper NO
DIM relay
between the large
REPAIR terminals (see fig. 3).
Check the Does the DIM work? YES
Open circuit between the
ground terminal. DIM relay and the DIM.
 Automotive Electronic Systems

Fig. 1 Fig. 2.1

Use a hair dryer or electric heat gun to heat up the CEM Close up of DIM relay.
for 5 minutes.

TERM 1 TERM 2

Fig. 2.2 Fig. 2.3

Remove DIM relay in position CMI 22. Connect voltmeter across terminals 1 and 2.

Fig. 3.2
Use a paperclip for the jumper

Fig. 3.1
Insert a jumper between the large terminals.