Maintenance Indicator: Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Dodge Sprinter. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The ASSYST engine oil maintenance indicator microprocessor uses numerous criteria besides time and mileage to evaluate vehicle maintenance requirements. Time data is taken from the electronic digital clock integral to the instrument cluster. Vehicle distance data is obtained from the Controller Antilock Brake (CAB) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus. Coolant temperature, engine oil temperature, engine oil level, engine oil quality, engine speed, and engine load data are obtained from the Engine Control Module (ECM) over the CAN data bus. Using all of the available data and internal programming, the ASSYST microprocessor then calculates the estimated time and distance to the next required engine oil maintenance interval. The ASSYST uses the multi-function indicator LCD to display that data and, when necessary, issues audible alerts to the vehicle operator through the electronic tone generator on the cluster circuit board.

See the owner's manual in the vehicle glove box for more information on the features, use, operation and resetting procedures for the ASSYST maintenance computer. Proper diagnosis and testing of the ASSYST engine oil maintenance computer, the CAN data bus and the electronic data bus message inputs to the EMIC that are used by the ASSYST computer for its calculations requires the use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to BODY DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES .