Interior Lighting Systems

Interior Lighting Systems Description and Operation

Interior Lamps

The interior lamps consist of 2 groups, those which can dim from the instrument panel cluster lamps dimmer switch and those that can not dim.

Courtesy/Illuminated Entry Lamps

The following lamps may be manually turned ON by placing the interior lamp switch in the ON position, or by opening a door while the switch is in the AUTO position.

* The dome lamp
* The liftgate lamps
* Courtesy lamps

The courtesy lamp supply voltage circuit of the body control module (BCM) supplies battery positive voltage to the dome lamp, the liftgate lamps and courtesy lamps. When any door is opened, the door jamb switch contacts close providing a door open input to the BCM. The BCM then provides a B+ to the interior lamps with the switch in the AUTO position. The interior lamps receive a ground when the switch is in the ON position.

Note: If the liftgate is opened after all the modules go to sleep, the dome light will not come on. The liftgate ajar switch input to the BCM will not wake up the BCM once it has gone to sleep, so the dome light will not come on. Once the BCM gets an input to wake it up, from remote keyless entry or a door handle, the dome light will turn on when the liftgate is opened.

If the driver inadvertently leaves any interior lamp ON, the BCM will turn it OFF after a 20 min time-out.

The courtesy lamps will turn OFF immediately if the ignition switch is turned to the ON position or approximately 20 s after all doors are closed.

Keyless Entry Interior Illumination

When the BCM receives a door unlock command from the remote keyless entry transmitter, the BCM will flash the park lamps several times, illuminate the courtesy and park lamps, and illuminate the low beam headlamps at low intensity. The lamps will remain on until the ignition key is turned from the OFF position, a keyless entry transmitter door lock command is received, or after an approximate 20 s delay.

Interior Lamps Dimming

This group includes lamps which may dim. This group may use a combination of vacuum fluorescent illumination, LEDs and incandescent lamps.

* HVAC control module, head assembly
* Rear HVAC control module, head assembly
* Radio
* Rear seat audio
* The instrument panel cluster
* The PRNDL lamp, with the exception of the current gear select position
* Power window switches
* Various switches

When the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, the vacuum fluorescent display, radio, turns ON at maximum brightness. When the park lamps or low beams are ON, all incandescent back lighting turn ON at the dimming level indicated by the instrument panel cluster dimmer switch. At the same time all fluorescent display displays dim to match the indicated dimming level. When the headlamp switch is placed in the PARK or in HEADLAMPS position, the headlamp switch supplies an input signal to the BCM. The BCM then supplies voltage to the instrument panel cluster dimmer switch through the dimming control circuit. The setting of the instrument panel cluster dimmer switch determines the amount of voltage that the instrument panel cluster dimmer switch supplies to the BCM. The BCM then sends a PWM voltage to all the interior lamps. All the fluorescent display and incandescent back lighting lamps are provided a specific voltage.

Note: For vehicles which are equipped with automatic light function, the interior backlighting can only be dimmed when the ambient light sensor detects night conditions.

When the headlight switch is turned to the park lamp or headlamp position, all incandescent back lighting turn ON at the dimming level indicated by the instrument panel cluster dimmer switch. When the instrument panel cluster dimmer switch is moved from minimum to maximum, all fluorescent display displays, as well as all incandescent back lighting respond from minimum intensity to maximum brightness in response to the instrument panel cluster dimmer switch.

Inadvertent Power

The BCM used in this vehicle controls the lighting system through circuits that enable the interior lamps. The BCM opens these enabling circuits shortly after the ignition switch is turned OFF with no lamp switch activity. If the ignition switch is turned to any position other than OFF, or if a lamp switch is activated during this period, the timer will reset itself.