Courtesy Lamp: Description and Operation

COURTESY/ILLUMINATED ENTRY LAMPS

Courtesy/illuminated entry lamps are lamps that may be illuminated by opening a door, manually operating a switch or through a remote control door lock receiver (RCDLR) command. This group consist of the following lamps:
- Door courtesy lamps
- Footwell lamps
- Overhead console courtesy/reading lamps
- Rear compartment lamps
- Vanity mirror lamps

The rear integration module (RIM) controls battery positive voltage and ground to the interior courtesy lamps in the following manner. Battery positive voltage is supplied through the INTERIOR LAMP fuse to both the switch side and coil side of the interior lamp relay. The RIM provides a ground to the control circuit of the interior lamp relay during all power modes except when battery run down protection is active. With the interior lamp relay energized battery positive voltage is supplied to all the interior lamps in this group. The ground side circuits of the door, footwell and overhead courtesy lamps are controlled by a pulse width modulated (PWM) ground circuit of the RIM. The RIM pulses the on time of the ground circuit between 0-100 percent at a frequency of approximately 100 hertz. By decreasing the on time percentage of the controlled ground circuit the intensity of the lamps will decrease. This effect is called theater dimming. The RIM will illuminate these lamps under various condition which will be described in the following information.

Courtesy/Illuminated Entry: Courtesy/illuminated entry occurs when any of the door control modules receive a discreate input from the door open switch located in the door latch assembly. The appropriate door control module sends a class 2 message to the RIM indicating a door is opened. If the Photocell Status is Dark, the RIM will illuminate the courtesy lamps. The lamps will remain illuminated for 25 seconds after all the doors are closed or until the ignition is placed in the ON position. At this time the RIM will fade the lamps from full intensity to OFF in 3-5 seconds by activating the theater dim feature.

Exit Lighting: Exit lighting is activated when the following conditions exists. The RIM receives a class 2 message from the instrument panel cluster (IPC) indicating that the ignition key has been removed from the lock cylinder, the Photocell Status is Dark and all the doors are closed. At this time the RIM will illuminate the interior lamps. During this exit lighting feature, the RIM will also request that the drivers door module illuminate the driver's door switch back lighting at full intensity. The RIM will theater dim the interior lamps after 20-25 seconds. If the key is place back into the lock cylinder before the lamps have dimmed, the RIM will immediately activate the theater dim feature.

Keyless Entry Illumination: Keyless entry illumination is activated when the remote control door lock receiver (RCDLR) detects a door UNLOCK command from the keyless entry transmitter. The RCDLR will send a class 2 message to the RIM indicating that an UNLOCK command was received. The RIM will then activate the courtesy lamps if all the doors are closed, the ignition is in the OFF position and the Photocell Status is Dark. The RIM will also send a class 2 message to the drivers door module (DDM) requesting for the drivers door switches to be illuminated at full intensity. The RIM will keep the lamps ON 36-40 seconds and then turn them OFF through the theater dimming feature. If the door locks are activated to the LOCK position, or if the ignition switch is turned to either to the ON or RUN position the courtesy lamps will deactivate immediately.

Manual Interior Lighting: The interior lamps may also be illuminated manually in all ambient light conditions. When a vehicle occupant places instrument panel (I/P) dimmer switch to the interior lamp ON position the contacts in the switch close, grounding the interior lamp input circuit of the dash integration module (DIM). With this input grounded the DIM sends a class 2 message to the RIM requesting the interior lamps illuminate. The RIM will ground the lamps as mentioned above. When the I/P dimmer switch is placed out of the interior lamp ON position, the RIM will immediately turn OFF the interior lamps.

Panic Illumination: If the RCDLR detects a PANIC signal from keyless entry transmitter, the RIM will activate the interior lamps and request the drivers door module to illuminate the driver's door switch back lighting at full intensity. The interior lamps will remain illuminated for 30 seconds or until the RCDLR detects a door UNLOCK message. At this time the RIM will active the theater dim feature.

Reading Lamps: The reading lamps will operate in all ambient light conditions. The reading lamp switches are located in the courtesy/overhead reading lamp assembly. By pressing the overhead reading lamp switch the contacts in the switch close and provides a direct path to ground for the corresponding reading lamp. When the switch is pressed again the contacts open turning OFF the reading lamp.

Rear Compartment Lamp: The rear compartment lamp will operate in all ambient light conditions. When the rear deck lid opens the rear compartment lamp switch in the latch assembly closes to provide a direct path to ground for the rear compartment lamp. Closing the deck lid opens the contacts in the switch turning off the rear compartment lamp.

Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) Lighting: The RIM will provide interior lamp illumination in the event that an air bag has been deployed. Upon deployment of the air bag the SDM will send a class 2 message to the RIM. The RIM will activate the interior lamps approximately 15 seconds after the air bag deployment if the Photocell Status is Dark and the ignition is in the ON position. The interior lamps will remain illuminated until there is a change in the power mode.

Vanity Mirror Lamps: The vanity mirror lamps operate in all ambient light conditions. When the cover on the sunshade is opened, a switch internal to the sun shade closes to provide a direct path to ground. Closing the cover opens the contacts and turns OFF the vanity lamps.