Do you worry about your driver information center buttons not working?
Basically, your driver information center or DIC buttons are critical components of your vehicle. These are found on your steering wheel, right underneath your tachometer. There are about 4 to 8 buttons in total that must be in full gear as you drive.
When you notice that your DIC buttons are not working as they should, you may start to panic. However, you can take it easy and ease your mind that there are certain actions you can take.
Today, we will talk about the reasons why your driver information center buttons are not working and what you can do about it.
Causes Of Driver Information Center Buttons Not Working
There are a few reasons why you may be encountering some problems with your driver information center buttons. For instance, it may be incompatible with the steering wheel of your vehicle. Thus, you will have to take your vehicle to a mechanic to have it checked and diagnosed for possible issues.
Basically, your DIC is what allows you to select information you prefer to be displayed as you drive your vehicle. This system communicates to you via the data displayed to you. The buttons are controls used in regulating your DIC. Hence, every time you choose your preferred DIC, you will have to control these buttons.
Depending on the vehicle model, the number of DIC buttons tend to vary. Some cars may have 4 while others have 8 buttons. There are also some vehicles with a stem designed in them, which can be found in their instrument cluster. The function is pretty much the same as what these DIC buttons do.
Now, when you have a problem with getting the DIC buttons to work, it helps to understand the cause of the problem. A faulty switch is the most common reason for this malfunction. These are basically your resistor networks found on your IPC circuit board. When you have a malfunctioning DIC switch wiring, the switch then starts to act up.
However, if nothing appears to be out of the ordinary after you have pulled your IPC to inspect the switch, then the circuit grounds are the next things to look for.
When it comes to fixing a malfunctioning DIC switch, there are a few steps to take.
First, switch the engine off. Pump your gas pedal thrice and see if this solves the problem. If it persists, disconnect your battery for about 10 minutes and check if this helps with the buttons resuming their function.
Now, if the issue is with your switch cluster, you can perform other steps to fix this component. Basically, these buttons are not supposed to stay in your switch buttons. Otherwise, this can trigger a ground interface each time your buttons hit against this component.
To take care of your cluster, you can disconnect it and check your wire signals. You can also use a diagnostic tool to further check the cluster. This allows you to obtain a code of the particular cluster displayed. Then, you can come up with a better solution.
But if this does not result in any favorable outcome, the next step is to have a technician replace or repair your cluster.
There are also cases where the DIC buttons may be incompatible with your steering wheel. This is why the steering wheel may malfunction. It happens since your buttons are not quite designed to function with the wiring harness of the wheel. Thus, your DIC buttons, steering wheel and DIC fail to function properly.
One way to fix this issue is by replacing the buttons or the clockspring. But you first need to inspect your DIC to fully determine where the source of the problem is. Disconnect your airbag and use a wire intended for jumpstarting on your DIC.
In the case of a bad black wire, this can also cause the DIC buttons to become faulty. What happens as a result of this is that your DIC monitor may become dim, which entails a ground connection issue. Your DIC buttons will not work when your DIC monitor is dim or black, which is due to a bad black wire.
When you notice the screen is dim, it could mean that the inside portion of your cluster has issues. Simply disengage your connector and then check the condition of the black wire if this solves the problem.
Read More: Why Is My Air Recirculation Button Blinking? Possible Causes And Solutions
Summary
There are many reasons why the driver information buttons are not working. You can scan the DIC switch with a diagnostic tool to check for errors. This allows you to see the cause of the problem and whether some parts need to be replaced or repaired.
If the instrument cluster is the issue, you may need to replace or repair it, depending on how severe the damage is. But you can begin by disassembling it and checking for faults. If there is a need to replace this component, you will have to do so to make sure the DIC buttons resume their proper functioning.
As always it is best to err on the side of caution when dealing with issues such as this one. If you are confident about doing the repair or replacement yourself, then you can go ahead and do so. However, it is best to have an expert work on this problem, especially if it is something more complex than you think. It is the most definitive way to get the issue resolved without causing further downtime and affecting other components.