GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Halogen Bulbs

Some bulbs in this vehicle may contain halogen gas.

Caution: Halogen bulbs contain gas under pressure. Handling a bulb improperly could cause it to shatter into flying glass fragments. To help avoid personal injury:

   • Turn off the lamp switch and allow the bulb to cool before changing the bulb.
   • Leave the lamp switch OFF until the bulb change is complete.
   • Always wear eye protection when changing a halogen bulb.
   • Handle the bulb only by its base. Avoid touching the glass.
   • Keep dirt and moisture off the bulb.
   • Properly dispose of the used bulb.
   • Keep halogen bulbs out of the reach of children.

Forward Lamp Harness

The forward lamp wiring harness supplies current to the following components:

    • The headlamps
    • The park lamps
    • The turn signal lamps
    • The side marker lamps
    • The horns
    • The windshield wipers
    • The windshield washer

The forward lamp harness interconnects with the engine compartment wiring. The harness then connects with the fuse block and the instrument panel wiring at the bulkhead connector. Refer to Harness Routing Views in Wiring Systems for the following information:

    • Forward lamp wiring harness routing
    • Rear lamp wiring harness routing
    • Wiring views

Exterior Lamps

The exterior lamps are controlled by a lamp control switch integrated into the turn signal lever. Rotate the collar on the lever to the PARK LAMP position in order to turn on the following exterior lamps:

    • The park lamps
    • The front and rear side marker lamps
    • The license plate lamp
    • The tail lamps
    • The instrument panel lamps

The collar has the following three detente positions:

    • OFF
    • PARK
    • HEADLAMPS

Headlamps

Turn on all of the exterior lamps and the headlamps by rotating the collar to the HEADLAMP position. Turn off all of the exterior lamps by rotating the collar to the OFF position (except Canadian vehicles with daytime running lamps).

High/Low Beam

Select between high and low beam headlamps by pulling the turn signal lever rearward. The highbeam indicator on the instrument panel will illuminate when the high beams are selected.

Flash to Pass (except Canada)

When the lamp control switch is in the OFF position or the PARK position, flash the high beam headlamps by pulling the turn signal lever rearward. The headlamps turn off when the lever is released. Use this feature before passing another vehicle in order to alert the other driver that you intend to pass.

Hazard Lamp

The hazard lamp switch is located on top of the steering column. Turn the hazard lamps ON by pushing the switch to the right. When the hazard lamps are on, both the front turn signals and the rear turn signals flash. The turn signal indicators on the instrument panel will also flash.

Instrument Panel Lamp Dimmer Control

The intensity of the instrument panel lamps is controlled by a rotary switch located to the left of the steering column.

Rotating the wheel on the switch to the left will dim the instrument panel lamps. When the wheel is rotated to the full left position, the headlamp warning chime will be inoperative. The IP lamps will only illuminate when the collar on the turn signal lever is in the PARK or HEADLAMP position and the rotary switch is not in the full left position.

Interior Lamp Control

The rotary switch to the left of the steering column controls the interior lamps.

the multi-function alarm module will illuminate the interior lamps when any door is opened. The lamps will remain illuminated for 40 seconds, or until the ignition switch is turned to the ON position. This feature is disabled for 2 minutes after the ignition switch is turned off. During the 2 minutes the interior lamps will be illuminated when any door is opened. The lights will then turn off when either of the following occur:

    • The ignition switch is turned on.
    • The passive seatbelt solenoid speed threshold is exceeded

The interior lamps will be illuminated for 15 seconds as an exit illumination feature after the ignition switch is turned off and the key is removed. Under most conditions the interior lamps fade off gradually (theater dimming) rather than turning off immediately.

The dome lamp and the courtesy lamps are illuminated when the rotary switch is turned to the full left position.

Turn Signals

The directional signal lamps are combined with the parking lamps on the front of the vehicle. The ignition switch must be ON in order to operate the directional signal lamps with the turn signal switch. Stepping on the brake pedal illuminates the rear stop lamps on both sides when the directional signal lever is in the center position. If the switch operates either side as a directional signal, stepping on the brake pedal illuminates the stop lamp only on the side that is not flashing. The flasher that is used in this circuit controls only the directional signals. The flasher is located in the instrument panel near the steering column.

The lane-change directional signal switch is standard equipment. When making a partial turn, such as when changing lanes, the driver has the option of moving the switch lever to a detente stop. The signal lamps continue to flash as long as the lever remains in this position. The signal lamps stop flashing when the lever is released. Using the detente position allows the driver to signal a shallow turn or lane change without the possibility of the signal failing to cancel.

Moving the directional signal switch lever past the detente position to the limit of the lever's travel for either turn provides conventional turn signal operation. The front side marker lamps flash with the turn signal lamps under the following conditions:

    • When the park lamps are OFF
    • When the headlamps are OFF

When the parking lamps or the headlamps are ON, the front side marker lamps will flash alternately with the turn signal lamps on the same side of the vehicle.

Fog Lamps

The fog lamp switch is located to the left of the steering column. The low beam headlamps or the park lamps must be on in order to enable the fog lamps. The fog lamps turn off when the high beam headlamps are activated. The fog lamps reactivate when the headlamps are switched to low beams.

Back-Up Lamps

The back-up lamps operate when both of the following conditions are met:

    • The ignition switch is in the RUN position.
    • The transaxle is in the REVERSE position.

Placing the shift lever in the REVERSE position closes a switch located on the transaxle assembly which illuminates the backup lamps.

Daytime Running Lamps

Daytime running lamps (DRL) are standard on all automobiles that are sold in Canada. The daytime running lamps improve the visibility of the vehicle when viewed from the front in daylight. The normal DRL system utilizes low beam headlamps at a reduced voltage. A DRL control module located in the instrument panel supplies the reduced voltage. The ambient light is detected by a photo sensor located near the defroster outlets.

Applying the parking brake before turning the ignition switch to the ON position overrides the DRL feature.

The DRLs display the following conditions when the ignition switch is in the ON position and the parking brake is in the OFF position:

    • The DRLs are fully active.
    • The DRLs are unaffected by any further operation of the park brake.

A DRL indicator in the IP cluster alerts the driver to the DRL system operation when the following conditions exist:

    • The ignition is in the ON position.
    • The ambient light level is low, such as at dusk.