Headlights (Canada)

Exterior Lights

How the Circuit Works (Canada)

The headlight circuit is controlled by the MICU system.

Power Supply
With the ignition switch in the ON (II) or START (III) position, battery voltage is applied through fuse 21 (in the under-dash fuse/relay box) to the MICU and to the combination switch control unit.

Fuse 3 (in the under-dash fuse/relay box) is hot at all times and supplies battery voltage to the to the MICU and to the DRL relay.

Fuse 7 (in the under-dash fuse/relay box) is also hot at all times and supplies battery voltage to the to the MICU and to the combination switch control unit.

System Description

DRL
The DRL system works by supplying battery voltage in series to the two high beam headlights. Applying voltage in series through the two headlights acts as a resistor, and illuminates each headlight 50%.

Canadian vehicles use a DRL (Daytime Running Light) relay.

The DRL relay is supplied power at all times. The relay control module located in the under-hood fuse/relay box will ground the coil of the DRL relay to close the contacts and send battery voltage to the high beam headlamps.

When the parking brake is applied, the DRL system will not operate. The parking brake ground signal is supplied to the gauge control module and that information is multiplex-communicated to the relay control module. When the brake pedal is released and the parking brake switch opens, the DRL will operate normally.

High and Low Beams
The high and low beam headlight relays are located within the relay control module (in the under-hood fuse/relay box). The relays receive battery voltage at all times. The grounding and operation of the relays are controlled by the multiplex system.

The combination switch control unit in the steering column receives information signals about operating conditions from the headlight switch and from the dimmer switch.

When headlight switch is turned on and the dimmer switch is set to the high or low beam position, the information from both switches is processed by the combination switch control unit and transmitted from control-unit to control-unit across the multiplex communication lines. The relay control module will ground the appropriate high or low beam relay to operate the necessary headlights.

Because of the multiplex operation of the headlights, the headlights will always reset to the low beams when the ignition key is cycled.

Flash-to-Pass
The combination switch control unit in the steering column receives information signals about operating conditions from the headlight switch and from the dimmer switch.

When dimmer switch is pulled back and moved to the flash-to-pass position, the information from the dimmer switch is processed by the combination switch control unit and transmitted from control-unit to control-unit across the multiplex communication lines. The relay control module will ground the high beam relay to operate the passing lights.

Automatic Lighting Off Feature
On vehicles equipped with the automatic lighting off feature, the relay control module controls the headlight relays and the taillight relay. If you leave the headlight switch in the PARK or HEAD position, remove the ignition key, and exit the vehicle, the relay control module will turn the exterior lights off automatically within 15 seconds after you close the doors. When you unlock or open the driver's door, the control unit automatically turns the lights back on.