Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lighting
NOTE: The Smart Junction Box (SJB) is also known as the Generic Electronic Module (GEM).
The exterior lighting system consists of the following components:
- Headlamp assemblies
- Ballasts (if equipped)
- Fog lamps (if equipped)
- SJB (Smart Junction Box) (located under the instrument panel, left of the steering column)
- Headlamp switch
- Light sensor
- Stoplamp switch
- Hazard flasher lamp switch
- Multifunction switch
- High mounted stoplamp
- Rear lamp assemblies
- License plate lamps
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 (Smart Junction Box) 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 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 dual-beam pattern system. It consists of replaceable low/high beam bulbs. The headlamp assembly has the side marker lamp integrated into the headlamp assembly. The SJB (Smart Junction Box) supplies voltage to the headlamps when demanded.
If the headlamps are on when the ignition switch is turned off, the battery saver feature turns off the headlamps after 10 minutes have elapsed.
Headlamp Functionality - Halogen
When the low beams are requested (based on inputs to the SJB (Smart Junction Box)), the low beams are illuminated.
When the high beams are requested, the high beams are illuminated and the low beams turn off.
When the flash-to-pass feature is requested, the high beams are illuminated for as long as the multifunction switch is held in the FLASH-TO-PASS position.
Headlamp Functionality - High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps utilize a second (hot at all times) voltage feed to the HID (High Intensity Discharge) ballasts. The ballasts are located on the underside of each headlamp assembly.
When the low beams are requested (based on inputs to the SJB (Smart Junction Box)), the HID (High Intensity Discharge) ballasts energize and provide high voltage to the HID (High Intensity Discharge) bulbs.
When the high beams are requested, the HID (High Intensity Discharge) ballasts remain powered and 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 (High Intensity Discharge) equipped vehicles. If the low beams are off when the flash-to-pass is requested, the HID (High Intensity Discharge) ballasts and the shutters within the headlamps are activated for approximately 0.5 second. If the low beams are on when the flash-to-pass is requested, the shutters within the headlamps are activated for as long as the multifunction switch is held in the FLASH-TO-PASS position.
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
If the headlamp switch is in the AUTOLAMPS ON position and the front wipers are on for more than 3 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. The exterior lamps are turned off 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 exception to this is when the exterior lights are on because of darkness determined by the light sensor.
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. The vehicle is equipped with either incandescent or LED stoplamps.
Turn Signal/Hazard Lamps
The front turn signal lamps are located within the headlamp assemblies and the sockets are side specific (RH/LH 13411). The rear lamps share functionality with the stoplamps. When the multifunction switch is placed in the LH or RH TURN position, the SJB (Smart Junction Box) routes voltage to the LH or RH turn signal lamps. The SJB (Smart Junction Box) then cycles the voltage on and off approximately 80 times per minute. If a front or rear turn bulb is inoperative, the SJB (Smart Junction Box) cycles the voltage on and off approximately 160 times per minute.
The hazard flasher lamp switch is located on the instrument panel center moulding. When the hazard switch is pressed, the SJB (Smart Junction Box) supplies voltage to all the turn lamps. The SJB (Smart Junction Box) cycles the voltage on and off approximately 80 times per minute.
Parking Lamps
The SJB (Smart Junction Box) supplies voltage to the parking lamps when demanded. The parking lamp system includes the following:
- Front parking lamps (Sockets are side specific. RH/LH 13411)
- 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 (Smart Junction Box) provides ground for the fog lamp relay coil (integrated into the SJB (Smart Junction Box)), 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 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.
Trailer Tow
When the vehicle's rear stop/turn or parking lamps are illuminated, voltage is also supplied to a corresponding trailer tow relay (coil side) located in the Battery Junction Box (BJB).
There is also circuitry to support trailer reversing lamps, trailer electric brakes and trailer battery charging.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
On vehicles with halogen headlamps, the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) system operates the low beam headlamps. The SJB (Smart Junction Box) supplies pulse-width modulated voltage to illuminate the low beam headlamps at a reduced intensity.
On vehicles with HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps, the DRL (Daytime Running Lamps) system operates the fog lamps at full intensity by energizing the fog lamp relay.
The DRL (Daytime Running Lamps) 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 (Smart Junction Box) can be configured to turn the DRL (Daytime Running Lamps) on for this vehicle. for additional information on this programmable parameter.