The exterior lighting system consists of the following lamps:

Major components of this system are the body control module (BCM), headlamp relay, beam select relay, ambient light sensor, headlamp and panel dimmer switch, turn signal/multifunction switch, park brake switch, and the low and high beam headlamps.

The headlamps may be turned ON in 3 different ways. First, when the driver places the headlamp switch in the ON position, normal operation occurs. Second, when the headlamp switch is placed in the AUTO position, automatic lamp control (ALC) operation occurs. During ALC control, the headlamps will be OFF in daylight conditions or in low/high beam operation in low light conditions. Third is in wiper activated headlamp (WAH) mode. Only when the wiper system is activated while the vehicle is in gear, the wiper blades have completed at least 3 cycles, and then a 35 second time period expires, will the BCM switch from daytime running lamps (DRL) mode to headlamp mode during daylight conditions. When the gearshift lever is placed in the PARK or NEUTRAL position or if the wipers are turned OFF, normal manual or ALC operation will resume after approximately 60 seconds.

The headlamp relay receives battery positive voltage directly from the battery. The BCM supplies a ground signal to the headlamp relay for normal headlight operation. The BCM also supplies voltage to the beam select relay coil for high beam headlight operation. When the driver places the headlamp switch in the ON position and the dimmer switch is in the low beam position, the headlamp relay supplies current flow through the left and right low beam headlamp fuses to both low and high beam headlamps. Both low beam headlights are grounded through the beam select relay. When activated, the dimmer switch sends a ground signal to the BCM in the high beam position and a momentary ground signal in the flash-to-pass (FTP) position from G106. The BCM then energizes the beam select relay which switches the headlamp grounds from the low beam headlight bulbs to the high beam headlight bulbs illuminating the high beam headlights. With the headlights in the low beam position, the high beams may be momentarily turned ON or flashed by activating the FTP portion of the switch.

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) illuminates the high beam indicator when the BCM detects that the high beams are requested. The IPC receives a class 2 message from the BCM requesting illumination.

The Headlamps On at Exit and Perimeter Lighting modes can be adjusted using the steering wheel controls to select the desired function as displayed in the driver information center (DIC). The Headlamps On at Exit selection will allow the driver to customize the period of time that the headlamps remain illuminated upon exiting the vehicle. This period can be adjusted from 0-180 seconds. The Perimeter Lighting feature allows the driver to select if they desire the headlamps and backup lamps to illuminate when the door UNLOCK button on the key fob is activated. This feature can be turned ON or OFF by using the DIC steering wheel control buttons.

Battery voltage is applied at all times to the coil and switched side of the low beam relay. Ground is applied at all times from G301 to the headlamp switch. When the headlamp switch is placed in the HEAD position, ground is applied from the headlamp switch through the headlamps ON signal circuit to the body control module (BCM). The BCM applies ground to the headlamp low beam relay control circuit. This energizes the low beam relay coil, closing the switch side contacts, and applies battery voltage to the LEFT and RIGHT LOW BEAM fuses. Battery voltage is then applied from the fuses, through the low beam voltage supply circuits to the left and right headlamp ballast located in each headlamp assembly. When battery voltage is applied to the headlamp ballast through the low beam voltage supply circuits, the ballast charge the starter to start the lamp. High intensity discharge (HID) headlamps do not have filaments like traditional bulbs, instead the starter uses a high voltage transformer to convert the input voltage into a higher voltage. This increased voltage is used in order to create an arc between the electrodes in the bulb. Ground for the left headlamp is provided at G103 and the right headlamp at G102.

Run Up Of The Lamp

Each ballast requires higher amperage in order to ensure normal startup and run up of the lamp. Run up is the term used to describe the extra power level given to the bulb. The input current during the steady state operation is lower that the start up amperage. After the lamp receives the strike from the starter and the arc is established, the ballast uses its operating voltage in order to provide the run up power needed in order to keep the lamp on. The lamp rapidly increases in intensity from a dim glow to a very high-intensity, bright light called a steady state. Within a few seconds of the arc being established in the bulb, the majority of steady state is complete. 100 percent of the steady state is completed shortly there after. A high watt power level is necessary in order to bring the lamp to a steady state in such a short period of time. The high watt power level allows the lamp to meet the SAE light vs. time specification.

When To Change The HID Bulb

Bulb failure, end of life occurs when the bulb gets old and becomes unstable. The bulb may begin shutting itself off sporadically and unpredictably at first, perhaps only once during a 24-hour period. When the bulb begins shutting itself off occasionally, the ballast will automatically turn the bulb back on again within 0.5 seconds. The ballast will re-strike the bulb so quickly that the bulb may not appear to have shut off. As the bulb ages, the bulb may begin to shut off more frequently, eventually over 30 times per minute. When the bulb begins to shut off more frequently, the ballast receives excessive, repetitive current input. Repetitive and excessive restarts or re-strikes, without time for the ballast to cool down, will permanently damage the ballast. As a safeguard, when repetitive re-strikes are detected, the ballast will not attempt to re-strike the lamp. The ballast then shuts down and the bulb goes out.

The following symptoms are noticeable signs of bulb failure:

Input power to the ballast must be terminated in order to reset the ballast's fault circuitry. In order to terminate the input power to the ballast, turn the lights off and back on again. Turning the lights off and back on again resets all of the fault circuitry within the ballast until the next occurrence of excessive, repetitive bulb re-strikes. When excessive, repetitive bulb re-strikes occur, replace the starter/arc tube assembly. The ballast will begin the start-up process when the starter/arc tube assembly is replaced. Repeatedly resetting the input power can overheat the internal components and cause permanent damage to the ballast. Allow a few minutes of cool-down time in between reset attempts.

Bulb failures are often sporadic at first, and difficult to repeat. Technicians can identify bulb failure by observing if the problem gets progressively worse over the next 100 hours of operation.

Light Color

White light has a different color rating than regular headlamps. The range of white light that is acceptable is broad when compared to halogens. Therefore, some variation in headlight coloring between the right and left headlamp will be normal. One high intensity discharge (HID) at the end of the normal range may appear considerably different in color from one at the other end of the range. Difference in color is normal. Replace the arc tube only if the arc tube is determined to be at the bulb failure stage.

The daytime running lamps (DRL) will illuminate the right and left low beam headlamps continuously. The DRLs will operate when the following conditions are met:

1. The ignition is in the RUN or CRANK position.
2. The shift lever is out of the PARK position.
3. The high and low beam headlamps are OFF.

The ambient light sensor is used to monitor outside lighting conditions. The ambient light sensor provides a voltage signal that will vary between 0.2 and 4.9 volts depending on outside lighting conditions. The body control module (BCM) provides a 5-volt reference signal to the ambient light sensor. The ambient light sensor is provided ground at G301. The BCM monitors the ambient light sensor signal circuit to determine if outside lighting conditions are correct for either daytime running lights (DRL) or automatic lamp control (ALC) when the headlamp switch is in the AUTO position. In daylight conditions, the BCM will command the DRLs ON by applying ground to the left and right DRL relays via separate left and right DRL relay control circuits. When the BCM applies ground to the relay control circuits, the left and right DRL relay coils energize causing both relay switch contacts to close. With the left and right DRL relay switch contacts closed, battery voltage flows through the left and right DRL fuses to the left and right DRL lamps or low beam headlamps depending on the vehicles option content. Any function or condition that turns on the headlamps will cancel DRL operation.

The daytime running lamps (DRL) will illuminate continuously when the following conditions are met:

1. The ignition is in the RUN or CRANK position.
2. The shift lever is out of the PARK position.
3. The high and low beam headlamps are OFF.

The ambient light sensor is used to monitor outside lighting conditions. The ambient light sensor provides a voltage signal that will vary between 0.2 and 4.9 volts depending on outside lighting conditions. The body control module (BCM) provides a 5-volt reference signal to the ambient light sensor. The ambient light sensor is provided ground at G301. The BCM monitors the ambient light sensor signal circuit to determine if outside lighting conditions are correct for either daytime running lights (DRL) or automatic lamp control (ALC) when the headlamp switch is in the AUTO position. In daylight conditions, the BCM will command the DRLs ON by applying ground to the left and right DRL relays via separate left and right DRL relay control circuits. When the BCM applies ground to the relay control circuits, the left and right DRL relay coils energize causing both relay switch contacts to close. With the left and right DRL relay switch contacts closed, battery voltage flows through the left and right DRL fuses to the left and right DRL lamps. Any function or condition that turns on the headlamps will cancel DRL operation.

When the DRLs are active and a turn signal function is operated, the DRL associated with the turn signal lamp being commanded ON will cause the DLR lamp the turn OFF. An example of this would be when a left turn signal lamp is turn ON, the left DRL turns OFF. The left DRL will remain OFF until the left turn signal lamp is turned OFF.

On vehicles equipped with adaptive forward lighting, the headlamps can turn left and right to improve visibility during turns. In order for the adaptive forward lighting system to function, the following conditions must be met:

If turning right, the right headlamp turns a maximum of 15 degrees and the left headlamp a maximum of 5 degrees. If turning left, the left headlamp turns a maximum of 15 degrees and the right headlamp a maximum of 5 degrees. If the highbeam headlamps are on, the headlamps sensitivity/speed is reduced by half.

Demo mode can be activated by turning the ignition ON during the following conditions:

When the ignition is turned ON during these conditions, the headlamps will cycle outboard and then back to center once.

With both the ignition switch in the RUN position and the park lamps or low beam head lamps ON, the fog lights will illuminate when the driver presses the fog lamp switch. The FOG LP fuse in the underhood fuse block supplies battery positive voltage to the fog lamp relay. With the headlamp switch is in either the park or headlamp position and the fog lamp switch is pressed, the body control module (BCM) will energize the fog lamp relay control circuit. The current flow is from the fog lamp relay to both front fog lamps and to ground G103 or G102. The state of the fog lamps, either ON or OFF, will remain the same until the fog lamp switch is pressed again, or the ignition switch is cycled OFF and ON. Fog lamp operation will be cancelled whenever the park lamps are turned OFF or the high beam headlights have been selected.

The park, tail, marker, and license lamps are turned ON when the headlamp switch is placed in the PARK or ON position or anytime the headlights are requested. The underhood fuse block supplies battery positive voltage to both the park lamp relay switch contacts and the park lamp coil circuit. The body control module (BCM) provides a ground or control circuit to the park lamp relay coil circuit. When the park lamps are requested ON, the BCM energizes the park lamp relay. Current flow is from the park lamp relay to the individual park lamp circuit fuses and to their respective park, tail, marker, and license lamps. The front park, marker, tail, and license lamps are grounded at G102. If the driver places the headlight switch in the ON position after the ignition switch has been turned OFF, the park, tail, marker, and license lamps will remain ON until turned OFF or the battery runs dead.

The LT/TRN/SIG and RT/TRN/SIG fuses in the I/P fuse block supplies battery positive voltage to the body control module (BCM). When the turn signal switch is placed in either the left or right position, a signal is sent to the BCM to illuminate the desired turn signal lamps. The BCM has an internal flasher that sends an ON-OFF voltage signal to either the left or right turn signals and their instrument panel cluster (IPC) indicator. When the hazard switch is pressed, a separate ground signal is sent to the BCM to activate and flash all turn signal lamps including both IPC turn indicators. The front and rear turn signals are grounded at G401.

The IPC illuminates the TURN SIGNAL ON indicator in the driver information center (DIC) when the IPC determines that the turn signal is active for more than 1.2 km (0.75 mi). The IPC cluster sends a serial data message to the radio in order to activate the audible warning.

The brake pedal position sensor is used to sense the action of the driver application of the brake pedal. The brake pedal position sensor provides an analog voltage signal that will increase as the brake pedal is applied. The body control module (BCM) provides a low reference signal and a 5-volt reference voltage to the brake pedal position sensor. When the variable signal reaches a voltage threshold indicating the brakes have been applied, the BCM will apply battery voltage to the right and left stop lamp control circuits and center high mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) control circuit. Ground for the left stop lamp and CHMSL is applied at G401 and the right stop lamp receives ground at G402. The stop lamps on this vehicle will not illuminate unless the ignition is in the accessory, run, or crank positions. When the ignition is in the OFF position the stop lamps will not illuminate when the brake pedal is applied.

The BACKUP/STOP fuse in the underhood fuse block supplies battery positive voltage to the normally open park/neutral position (PNP) switch of a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission or the backup lamp switch if equipped with a manual transmission. When the driver places the gear selector lever is in the REVERSE position, the switch closes and the current flow is from the switch to the backup lamps. The backup lamps are grounded at G401.