GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Headlamps

Battery voltage is applied constantly to the headlamps through two fuse. The DRL/EXT LAMPS fuse for the left side headlamp and the EXT LAMPS fuse for the right side headlamp. When the headlamp switch is turned to the HEAD position, ground is applied through the headlamp switch to the BCM using the headlamp switch output circuit. When the BCM receives the headlamp switch output signal, it applies a ground to the headlamp relay coil control circuit. When a ground is applied to the headlamp relay coil control circuit this engages the headlamp relay, closing the switch contacts and applies a ground through the headlamp relay to the headlamp relay contact circuit to the headlamp dimmer switch. Depending on the headlamp dimmer switch position the ground circuit would then be applied to either the high beam headlamps or the low beam headlamp turning them on.

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)

The Daytime Running Lamps (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.

The DRL are designed to automatically operate exterior lights depending on outside light conditions.

The DRL operates in 2 modes:

    • The day mode
        In the day mode, the BCM turns ON the high beam headlamps at a reduced intensity when the headlamp auto control ambient light sensor detects daylight under the following conditions:
       - The ignition switch is in the RUN position.
       - The headlamps are OFF.
       - The park brake is OFF (released).
    • The low light mode
        In the low light mode, the headlamp auto control ambient light sensor detects darkness, turning OFF the high beam headlamps and turning ON the low beam headlamps.
        Additionally, the headlamp auto control ambient light sensor turns ON the following lamps:
       - The park lamps.
       - The sidemarker lamps.
       - The license lamps.
       - The tail lamps.

If the engine stalls with the DRL in the low light mode, the BCM turns OFF the headlamps while the engine is being cranked. The BCM turns ON the following lamps:

    • The side marker
    • The park lamps
    • The license lamps
    • The tail lamps

The following lamps operate in the usual manner:

    • The headlamp.
    • The instrument panel lamp dimmer switch.

B+ is applied constantly to both the coil and switch side of the DRL Relay:

    • In Day Mode: The BCM applies a ground to the DRL Relay coil control circuit to the DRL relay. This energizes the relay and allows B+ to be applied through the high beam DRL feed circuit to the high beam headlamps in series. This illuminates the high beam headlamp at reduced intensity
    • In Low Light Mode: the BCM removes the ground from the DRL relay coil circuit. This disengages the DRL relay and allows B+ to be applied directly to the high beam headlamp allowing them to be controlled by the headlamp dimmer switch. The BCM then applies a ground to the headlamp relay coil control circuit and turns the headlamps on through the same headlamp control circuit as normal headlamp switch operation.

Headlamp Auto Control Ambient Light Sensor

The DRL ambient light sensor is a light sensitive variable resistor. The headlamp auto control ambient light sensor's resistance decreases as the outside light intensity increases. Measuring the voltage drop across the DRL ambient light sensor and determining whether it should operate in the day mode or in the low light mode are the 2 basic features of the headlamp auto control ambient light sensor.

Park Brake Input

The BCM will not operate any headlamps or exterior lamps, if the park brake is applied before the ignition switch is turned to the RUN position. This allows the driver to start the vehicle and keep the headlamps OFF, as long as the park brake is applied. The BCM will activate the headlamps when the park brake is released with the ignition switch in the RUN position. This feature functions only when the park brake is applied before the ignition switch is turned to the RUN position. The headlamps will turn OFF, if the park brake is applied after the ignition switch is turned to the RUN position.

Special Equipment Option (SEO)

If the emergency vehicle interior lamp switch is turned to the ON position, the DRL lamps and the instrument cluster are turned OFF. This enables the vehicle to have the engine running with all of the exterior and interior lights OFF. The headlamps and other exterior lamps are still controlled by the headlamp switch.