Exterior Lighting

Exterior Lighting

NOTE: On vehicles equipped with perimeter lighting, this 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.

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 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 will clear from any lamp in 48 hours under dry conditions.

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

- presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip marks or droplets are 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 quad-beam pattern system. It consists of replaceable low and high beam bulbs. The headlamp assembly has the park/turn indicator lamp integrated into the headlamp assembly. The SJB supplies voltage to the headlamps when demanded.

If the headlamps are on when the ignition switch is turned off (and the autolamp feature is not selected), the battery saver feature turns off the headlamps after 10 minutes have elapsed.

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.

Headlamps On With Wipers On Feature

On vehicles equipped with autolamps, there is also a feature called the headlamps on with wipers on feature. If the headlamp switch is in the AUTOLAMPS ON position and 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 exterior lamps are turned on. When the ignition switch is changed to the OFF or ACC position, the headlamp switch is placed in the OFF position, or the front wipers are off for more than 30 seconds, the exterior lamps are turned off.

For the headlamps on with wipers feature, refer to Wiper and Washer Systems.

Stoplamps

The stoplamp switch is located on the brake pedal assembly. The stoplamps are supplied voltage when the brake pedal is applied. For Taurus and Taurus X, the rear lamps are combination stop/turn lamps. For Sable, the stoplamps are independent of the turn lamps.

Turn Signal/Hazard Lamps

The front turn signal lamps are located within the headlamp assemblies. For Taurus and Taurus X, the rear lamps share functionality with the stoplamps (combination stop/turn lamps). For Sable, the rear turn lamps are independent of the stoplamps. When the multifunction switch is placed in the LH or RH TURN positions, the SJB 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 switch is located on the center instrument panel finish panel. When the hazard switch is pressed, the SJB cycles the voltage on and off to all the turn lamps approximately 80 times per minute.

Parking Lamps

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

- Front parking lamps
- Front side marker lamps
- Rear parking lamps
- Rear side marker lamps
- License plate lamps

Fog Lamps

The fog lamp switch is integrated into the headlamp switch. When the fog lamp switch is engaged, the SJB provides ground for the fog lamp relay coil (integral to the SJB), which then energizes and routes voltage to the fog lamps. 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.

Reversing Lamps

When the transaxle 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.

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)

If the SJB is configured for Daytime Running Lamps (DRL), this feature illuminates the low beam headlamps at a reduced intensity when the following conditions exist:

- The ignition switch is in the RUN position.
- The headlamp switch is in the OFF position.
- The autolamps feature has not illuminated the exterior lamps.
- The transaxle in any position except PARK (P).

For Taurus and Taurus X, the SJB can be configured to turn the DRL on. Refer to Information Bus for programmable parameter information.

For Sable, the DRL is not a programmable parameter.