Parking Lamp: Description and Operation

AUTOMATIC HEADLAMPS AND PARK LAMPS
The automatic headlamps and park lamps are designed to automatically illuminate when the ignition is ON and the outside (ambient) light level is low as in night time conditions (night mode). Light levels are detected by the ambient light sensor, a light sensitive transistor that varies its voltage signal to the body control module (BCM) in response to changes to the ambient light level. When the BCM receives a low light mode signal from the ambient light sensor it will then energize the park lamp and automatic headlamp relays illuminating the headlamps and park lamps. The DRL lamps will not operate when the automatic headlamps and park lamps are on.
In the low light mode, the ambient light sensor detects low light level, the BCM turns OFF the front turn signal lamps and grounds the park lamp relay and automatic headlamp relay control circuits, turning ON the headlamps and park lamps under the following conditions:
- The ignition switch is in the RUN position.
- The headlamps are OFF.
- The park brake is OFF (released).

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 park lamps will remain ON while the engine is being cranked.

PARK, TAIL, SIDEMARKER, AND REAR LICENSE LAMPS
The front park lamps are made up of the front park/turn signal lamps and the front sidemarker lamps. The rear park lamps are made up of the rear tail/turn signal lamps, rear park lamps, rear sidemarker lamps, and rear license lamps.

The headlamp switch is used to operate all the park lamps and rear license lamps. The headlamp switch is located on the left side of the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC). Pulling the knob of the headlamp switch out to the middle position will turn ON the park lamps. The park lamps can also be illuminated by the BCM during automatic headlamp operation in low light mode.

When the headlamp switch placed in the PARK position battery voltage is supplied through the headlamp switch to both the TAIL LAMP, LIC LAMPS fuse and the FRONT PARK fuse. Battery voltage is then applied through the TAIL LAMP LIC LAMPS fuse and the FRONT PARK fuse to the front and rear park lamps and the rear license lamps illuminating the lamps. The park lamps and rear license lamps receive ground at all times.

The park lamps can also be controlled by the park lamp relay during automatic headlamp operation in low light mode. Both the coil and the switched sides of the park lamp relay receive battery voltage at all times. When the BCM is in automatic headlamp operation, low light mode, the BCM then applies a ground through the park lamp relay coil control circuit to the park lamp relay. This energizes the relay closing the switch contact and applies battery voltage to both the TAIL LAMP, LIC LAMPS fuse and the FRONT PARK LAMP fuse. Battery voltage is then applied through the TAIL LAMP LIC LAMPS fuse and the FRONT PARK fuse to the front and rear park lamps and the rear license lamps illuminating the lamps. The park lamps and rear license lamps receive ground at all times.