Headlamps

Headlamps

Principles of Operation

Exterior Lighting

The headlamp switch is integrated into the Front Lighting Control Module (FLM). The FLM (Front Lighting Control Module) monitors the headlamp switch position and sends a message over the High Speed Controller Area Network (HS-CAN) to the Body Control Module (BCM) to indicate the headlamp switch status (position or a fault with the headlamp switch).

If the BCM (Body Control Module) detects a fault from the headlamp switch or loses communication with the FLM (Front Lighting Control Module), the BCM (Body Control Module) turns the parking lamps and headlamps on and keeps them on until the battery saver feature times out.

Refer to Exterior Lighting Exterior Lighting in the Description and Operation for information regarding the battery saver feature.

If either situation occurs, the BCM (Body Control Module)cannot be ruled immediately as being at fault. This is normal behavior of the BCM (Body Control Module) design as a fault has been detected with the inputs from the headlamp switch.

When the BCM (Body Control Module) receives input requesting the headlamps on, it supplies voltage to the headlamp bulbs (halogen headlamps) or the ballasts (High Intensity Discharge (HID)) within each headlamp assembly.

High Beam and Flash-to-Pass

The Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) monitors the multifunction switch for a flash-to-pass or high beam request. When the multifunction switch is in the FLASH-TO-PASS or HIGH BEAM position, the SCCM (Steering Column Control Module) sends a message to the BCM (Body Control Module) to indicate the request.

When the low beams are on and the BCM (Body Control Module) receives a request for high beams (or a flash-to-pass request), the headlamps remain powered and a shutter within each headlamp is activated. This changes the headlamp beam pattern to illuminate a greater distance.

When the low beams are off and the flash-to-pass is requested, the headlamps and the shutters are activated for approximately 0.5 second. When the low beams are on and the flash-to-pass is requested, the shutters within the headlamps are activated as long as the multifunction switch is held in the FLASH-TO-PASS position.

Field-Effect Transistor (FET) Protection

A Field-Effect Transistor (FET) is a type of transistor that, when used with module software, monitors and controls current flow on module outputs. The FET (Field-Effect Transistor) protection strategy prevents module damage in the event of excessive current flow.

The BCM (Body Control Module) utilizes a FET (Field-Effect Transistor) protective circuit strategy for many of its outputs (such as a headlamp output circuit). Output loads (current level) are monitored for excessive current (typically short circuits) and are shut down when a fault event is detected. A short circuit DTC is stored at the fault event and a cumulative counter is started.

When the demand for the output is no longer present, the module resets the FET (Field-Effect Transistor) protection, allowing the circuit to function. If the circuit is still shorted the next time the driver requests a circuit to activate that has been shut down by a previous short (FET (Field-Effect Transistor) protection), the FET (Field-Effect Transistor) protection shuts off the circuit again and the cumulative counter advances.

When the excessive circuit load occurs often enough, the module shuts down the output until a repair procedure is carried out. Each FET (Field-Effect Transistor) protected circuit has 3 predefined levels of short circuit tolerance based on the harmful effect of each circuit fault on the FET (Field-Effect Transistor) and the ability of the FET (Field-Effect Transistor) to withstand it. A module lifetime level of fault events is established based upon the durability of the FET (Field-Effect Transistor). If the total tolerance level is determined to be 600 fault events, the 3 predefined levels would be 200, 400 and 600 fault events.

When a tolerance level is reached, the short circuit DTC that was stored on the first failure cannot be cleared by the clear the continuous DTCs command. The module does not allow this code to be cleared or the circuit restored to normal operation until a successful self-test proves that the fault has been repaired. After the self-test has successfully completed (no on-demand DTCs present), DTC U1000:00 and the associated DTC (the DTC related to the shorted circuit) automatically clears and the circuit function returns. The module never resets the fault event counter to zero and continues to advance the fault event counter as short circuit fault events occur.

If the number of short circuit fault events reach the third level, then DTCs U1000:00 and U3000:49 set along with the associated short circuit DTC. DTC U3000:49 cannot be cleared and the module must be replaced after the repair.

The BCM (Body Control Module) FET (Field-Effect Transistor) protected output circuits for the headlamp system are both low and high beam output circuits.