GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Exterior Lamps

The exterior lighting consist of the following lamps:

    • Headlamps
    • Cornering Lamps
    • Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
    • Park, Tail, Licence and Marker Lamps
    • Turn Signal Lamps
    • Stop Lamps
    • Backup Lamps

Headlamps

The headlamps may be turned on in three different ways.

  1. When the headlamp switch is placed in the ON position, for normal operation.
  2. With the twilight delay switch placed in the ON position, for automatic lamp control (ALC).
  3. With the twilight delay switch placed in the ON position, with the windshield wipers ON in daylight conditions, after a 6 second delay.

During ALC control the headlamps will be in day time running lamp (DRL) operation in daylight conditions or low beam operation in low light conditions. The dash integration module (DIM) provides battery positive voltage to the signal circuits of the headlamp switch. The signal circuits include the headlamp switch headlamps on signal, the flash to pass switch signal and the high beam input. With the headlamp switch in the ON position, a ground path is available for the headlamp switch headlamps on signal circuit of the DIM through the headlamp switch. The DIM provides ground to either the headlamps high beam relay control circuit or the headlamps low beam relay control circuit of the low beam circuit. The position of the headlamp dimmer switch determines which relay control circuit has ground. The DIM supplies battery positive voltage to the relay control circuits, if the headlamps are necessary. The fuse block - underhood supplies battery positive voltage to both relay switch circuits. When the low beam relay control circuit is energized, current flow is to both low beam fuses and to the low beam headlamps. The headlamps have ground at G103 and at G401. When the headlamp high beam relay control circuit is energized, current flow is to both high beam fuses and to the high beam headlamps. The high beam circuit is divided into a left and right side circuit. The current flow of the left high beam is from the fuse to the left high beam lamp. From the lamp, the current flows to the normally-closed contact of the DRL relay to G103. The current flow of the right high beam is from the fuse to the right high beam lamp. From the lamp, the current flow is to ground at G401. When the headlamp dimmer switch lever is pulled toward the driver, the flash-to-pass switch closes. This grounds the DIM flash to pass switch signal circuit. In response to this input, the DIM energizes the HDLP HI BM relay. Both high beams remain on until the driver releases the switch handle. If the low beam headlamps were on during a flash to pass operation, the low beams remain on. The headlights may be switched to high beam with the opposite movement of the headlamp dimmer switch lever.

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/Twilight Sentinel

Twilight sentinel is a driver convenience that controls the exterior lamps in response to changes to the outside, ambient light level. The twilight sentinel will also keep the exterior lamps on for a pre-selected period of time after the ignition is turned to the OFF position with nighttime conditions sensed. The exterior lamps will be turned off automatically after the delay period elapses. The delay period ranges 0 seconds to 3 minutes in approximately 12 second increments. The twilight delay switch in the headlamp switch is supplied a reference voltage from the HVAC control module with C67 or instrument panel module (IPM) with CJ2. It is supplied a reference ground from the control module. The switch is a potentiometer that resistance varies as the switch is moved. The control module receives an input voltage proportional to the resistance of the potentiometer. The control module sends a class 2 message to the dash integration module (DIM) indicating the on/off status and delay length for the twilight sentinel. With the twilight sentinel in an ON position, the DIM will automatically control the headlamps on/off status depending on the night time/daytime status of the sunload sensor assembly. The DIM will use the twilight sentinel delay length to know how long to keep the headlamps and park lamps on after the ignition switch transitions from ON to OFF during night time conditions. The sunload sensor assembly is a light sensitive photocell that varies its voltage signal to the HVAC control module or IPM in response to changes to the outside (ambient) light level. When the HVAC control module or IPM receives this signal, the HVAC control module or IPM sends a class 2 message to the DIM and to the rear integration module (RIM). When the twilight delay switch is in ON, the DIM either turns on the DRL or turns on the low beam headlights, after a 20 second delay depending on whether daylight or low light conditions are sensed. Any function or condition that turns on the headlights will cancel the DRL operation. The FOG/DRL fuse in the fuse block - underhood supplies battery positive voltage to the switch circuit of the DRL relay. Battery positive voltage is also supplied to the DRL relay control circuit from the fuse block - underhood which is energized by the DIM. When the DIM energizes the DRL relay control circuit, the current flows from the switch contacts of the DRL relay to the left high beam. After the left high beam, the current flows through the left high beam fuse and through the right high beam fuse. The current continues through the right high beam to ground G401. The high beam headlamps are now in series, and split the voltage. The headlamps illuminate at half intensity. The DRL operate when the ignition switch is in the RUN position, and the parking brake is not set or the transmission is not in park. When these conditions have been met and the sunload sensor assemble indicates daytime conditions, the daytime running lamps will illuminate.

Park, Tail, License and Marker Lamps

The park lamps, including the license lamps, are turned on when the headlamp switch is placed in the PARK or ON position or anytime the headlights are requested. The fuse block - rear supplies battery positive voltage to the switch contacts of the PRK LP relay. When the headlamp switch is in PARK or in ON, the park lamp switch on signal circuit of the DIM has a ground path. The DIM provides battery positive voltage to the control circuit of the PRK LP relay. When the park lamps and/or the tail lamps are ON, the DIM energizes the PRK LP relay control circuit. This closes the switch contacts. Current flows from the PRK LP relay to the LH PARK LP and the RH PARK LP fuses. From the fuse, the current flows to the park lamps. The left park lamps are grounded at G103, G401 and G402. The right park lamps and the right tail lamps are grounded at G103 and G401. The DIMR fuse supplies battery positive voltage to the license lamps and to the DIM instrument panel lamp fuse supply voltage - 1 circuit, for interior lamps dimming. The license lamps are grounded at G401.

Remote Keyless Entry Exterior Lamp Illumination

When the remote control door lock receiver module (RCDLR) receives a door UNLOCK command from the keyless entry transmitter, the RCDLR will send a class 2 message to the dash integration module (DIM). The DIM must have inputs that indicate that the ignition switch is OFF, all the doors are closed and the sunload sensor assembly is indicating low light conditions. The DIM will then activate the headlamp relay, PRK LP relay and REVERSE relay. The DIM will flash the headlamps and park lamps twice, then keep them and on approximately 25 seconds or until a door is opened, the backup lamps will stay on during this time. When the RCDLR receives a door LOCK command from the keyless entry transmitter, The DIM will flash the headlights and park lights once. In daylight conditions, the DIM will activate the PRK LP relay and headlamp relay to flash the park lamps and headlamps twice with a door UNLOCK command and once with a door LOCK command from the keyless entry transmitter.

Turn Signal/Cornering Lamps

The T/SIG HAZ fuse in the fuse block - rear supplies battery positive voltage to the turn signal/hazard flasher module. The turn signal/hazard flasher module has ground at G201. The turn signal lamps may only be activated with the ignition switch in the ON position. The IGN-1 fuse in the fuse block - rear supplies battery positive voltage to the turn signal switch. When the turn signal switch is placed in either the left or right position, current flow is from the turn signal switch assembly to the turn signal/hazard flasher module. The turn signal/hazard flasher module then sends an on-off voltage signal to either the left or right turn signals and their indicators. When the hazard switch is pressed, all the turn signal lamps will flash including both IPC turn signal indicators. The left turn signals have ground at G103 and at G402. The right turn signals have ground at G103 and G401. The turn signal switch supplies battery positive voltage to the cornering lamps, the left cornering lamp has ground at G103 and the right cornering lamp has ground at G401.

Stop Lamps

The STOP LP fuse in the fuse block - rear supplies battery positive voltage to the normally open stop lamp switch. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the switch contacts close. The battery positive voltage flows to the left stop lamp assemblies, to the right stop lamp assemblies and to the center high mounted stop lamp (CHMSL). The left stop lamp has ground at G402. The right stop lamp and the CHMSL have ground at G401.

Backup Lamps

The fuse block - rear supplies battery positive voltage to the control circuit and the switch terminals of the Reverse Lamp relay. Battery positive voltage to the switch terminal is available through the PRK/REV fuse. The dash integration module (DIM) sends a power mode message to the rear integration module (RIM) indicating that the ignition is in the ON position. When the driver selects the REVERSE position, the powertrain control module (PCM) sends a class 2 message to the RIM. The message indicates that the gear selector lever is in the REVERSE position. The RIM then energizes the Reverse Lamp relay and the backup lights illuminate. Current flows from the reverse lamp relay switch to the backup lamps. The backup lamps have ground at G401.

Lighting System Indicators

    • High Beam
        The Instrument panel cluster (IPC) illuminates the high beam indicator when the dash integration module (DIM) detects that the high beams are requested. The IPC receives a class 2 message from the DIM requesting illumination.
    • High Beam (with HUD)
        The head up display (HUD) illuminates the high beam indicator when the dash integration module (DIM) detects that the high beams are requested. The HUD receives a class 2 message from the DIM requesting illumination.
    • Turn Signals
        The left and right turn signal IPC and mirror indicators are hard wired to the turn signal lamps supply voltage circuits. The turn signal indicators illuminates when the turn signal lamps supply voltage circuit is active. If the IPC determines that the turn signal is active for more than 1.29 km (0.8 mile), the IPC sends a class  2 message to the radio in order to activate an audible warning.
    • Turn Signals (with HUD)
        The left and right turn signal indicators in the head up display (HUD) are hard wired to the turn signal lamps supply voltage circuits. The turn signal indicator illuminates when the turn signal lamps supply voltage circuit is active.
    • TURN SIGNAL ON? - 20 (with DIC)
        The IPC illuminates the TURN SIGNAL ON? - 20 indicator in the DIC when the IPC determines that the turn signal is active for more than 1.29 km (0.8 mile). The IPC also sends a class  2 message to the radio in order to activate an audible warning.

Battery Run Down Protection/Inadvertent Power

To provide battery run down protection, the interior lamps will be deactivated automatically under certain conditions. The rear integration module (RIM) initiates a 10 minute timer if the interior lamp relay control output is still active and the ignition switch is in the OFF position. The RIM timer is set to 3 minutes until the vehicle mileage is above 20.3-24.7 km (12.6-15.4 mi). At the end of the designated time, the RIM will deactivate the interior lamp relay, disabling the interior lamps. This feature will be cancelled if any power mode other than OFF becomes active. The RIM will reset the timer if any interior lamp switch is turned on, a door is opened or the remote control door lock receiver (RCDLR) is activated.