Exterior Lighting

Exterior Lighting

NOTE: If equipped, the perimeter lighting feature can be enabled or disabled. When enabled, the exterior lamps are illuminated when the UNLOCK button is pressed on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. Refer to Locks for programming and diagnostics.

NOTE: The Smart Junction Box (SJB) is also known as the Generic Electronic Module (GEM).

Battery Saver

NOTE: Time-out is 1 minute if the vehicle has less than 80 km (50 miles).

The battery saver is internal to the SJB and provides automatic shut-off of the headlamps and parking lamps after 10 minutes in order to save battery voltage. A timer is started when the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position with the headlamp switch in the HEADLAMPS ON position, or the headlamp switch is placed in the HEADLAMPS ON position with the ignition switch off. When the time-out period has elapsed, the voltage is automatically shut off to the lamps by the battery saver.

The battery saver does not control the parking lamps if the headlamp switch is in the PARKING LAMPS ON position.

Lamp Assembly Condensation

Exterior lamps are vented to accommodate normal changes in pressure. Condensation can be a natural by-product of this design. When moist air enters the lamp assembly through the vents, there is a possibility that condensation can occur if the temperature is cold. When normal condensation occurs, a thin film of mist can form on the interior of the lens. The thin mist eventually clears and exits through the vents during normal operation. Time to clear the lens of acceptable mist varies with ambient humidity and lamp types. Normal condensation clears from any lamp in 48 hours under dry conditions.

Do not replace a lamp assembly with acceptable levels of condensation present such as:

- presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip marks or droplets present)
- fine mist covers less than 50% of the lens

Examples of unacceptable moisture (usually caused by a lamp housing leak):

- water puddling inside the lamp
- large water droplets, drip marks or streaks present on the interior of the lens

Headlamps

The headlamp system is a dual-beam pattern system. It consists of replaceable High Intensity Discharge (HID) bulbs. The SJB supplies voltage to the HID ballasts (located on the underside of each headlamp) when demanded.

High Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlamps

The HID headlamps utilize a ballast for each headlamp. The ballasts provide the necessary voltage required for the HID bulbs to illuminate.

When the low beams are on, the HID ballasts provide high voltage to the HID bulbs.

When the high beams are requested with the headlamps on, a shutter within each headlamp is activated. This changes the headlamp beam pattern to illuminate a greater distance.

The flash-to-pass feature is unique for HID-equipped vehicles. If the low beams are off when the flash-to-pass is requested, the HID headlamps and the shutters within the headlamps are activated for approximately 0.5 seconds. If the low beams are on when the flash-to-pass is requested, the shutters within the headlamps are activated as long as the multifunction switch is held in the FLASH-TO-PASS position.

Automatic High Beams

The automatic high beam system uses a windshield mounted camera to monitor surrounding traffic conditions and high beam usage. The camera is mounted to the windshield behind the RH side of the interior rear view mirror. The automatic high beam feature is active only when the headlamp switch is in the AUTOLAMPS position.

The automatic high beams can be enabled/disabled using the message center buttons.

During nighttime driving, the automatic high beam system automatically turns the high beams on if it is dark enough and no other traffic is present. When the system detects an approaching vehicle's headlamps or a preceding vehicle's rear lamps, the system turns off the high beams before they distract other drivers. When the approaching vehicle's headlamps or the preceding vehicle's rear lamps are no longer detected, the high beams automatically turn back on.

Autolamps

The autolamp system provides light sensitive automatic on/off control of the exterior lamps. The autolamp system keeps the exterior lamps on for a pre-selected period of time after the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position (20 seconds is the factory default setting). The pre-selected time lapse is adjustable up to approximately 3 minutes. To adjust the setting, refer to Autolamps Time Delay Adjustment Adjustments.

Headlamps On With Wipers On Feature

If the headlamp switch is in the AUTOLAMPS ON position, the headlamps on with wipers on feature turns the exterior lamps on when the front wipers are on for more than 10 seconds (except during a mist wipe or while the wipers are on to clear washer fluid during a wash condition). The exception to this is when the exterior lights are on because of darkness determined by the autolamp system.

Refer to Wiper and Washer Systems for diagnostics of the headlamps on with wipers on feature.

Stoplamps

The stoplamp switch is located on the brake pedal assembly. The stoplamps are supplied voltage when the brake pedal is applied.

On vehicles equipped with adaptive cruise control, the adaptive cruise control system has the capability to turn the stoplamps on.

Turn Signal/Hazard Lamps

The front turn signal lamps are located within the headlamp assemblies. There are also dedicated rear turn lamps. When the multifunction switch is placed in the LH or RH TURN positions, the SJB routes voltage to the LH or RH turn signal lamps. The SJB then cycles the voltage on and off approximately 80 times per minute. If a front or rear turn bulb is inoperative, the SJB cycles the voltage on and off approximately 160 times per minute.

The hazard flasher lamp switch is located on the center of the instrument panel near the HVAC controls. When the hazard switch is pressed, the SJB supplies voltage to all the turn lamps. The SJB cycles the voltage on and off approximately 80 times per minute.

On vehicles without navigation, the hazard flasher lamp switch is part of the HVAC module.

On vehicles with navigation, the hazard flasher lamp switch is part of the Front Controls Interface Module (FCIM).

Parking Lamps

The SJB supplies voltage to the parking lamps when demanded. The parking lamp system includes the following:

- Front parking lamps
- Rear parking lamps
- License plate lamps

Fog Lamps

The fog lamp switch is integrated into the headlamp switch. The fog lamps can be turned on when the ignition switch is in the RUN or ACC position, the parking lamps are on, and the high beam headlamps are off.

The fog lamps are also used for the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL), if enabled.

Reversing Lamps

When the transmission is placed in REVERSE (R), the PCM provides ground for the reversing lamp relay coil. The reversing lamps receive voltage when the reversing lamp relay is energized. The reversing lamps are located within the rear lamp assemblies.

Adaptive Headlighting

Vehicles equipped with adaptive front lighting have a Headlamp Control Module (HCM) (located behind the front bumper on the LH frame rail) to control the left/right aiming of the headlamp bulbs. Depending on the inputs received (steering wheel angle and vehicle speed for example), the adaptive front lighting module HCM can change the angle at which the headlamps are aimed (left or right) to improve nighttime visibility around curves.

The sensors and motors within each headlamp (that the module uses to control the angle of the headlamp beams) are part of the headlamp assembly and cannot be repaired separately.

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)

The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) system operates the fog lamps at full intensity by energizing the fog lamp relay.

The DRL turn on when the following conditions are met:

- The ignition switch is in the RUN position.
- The headlamps have not been turned on by the autolamp system or the headlamp switch.
- The transmission is not in PARK (P).

The SJB can be configured to turn the DRL on for this vehicle. Refer to Information Bus for programmable parameter information.