Dimmable Backlighting

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Mercury Milan, 2010 Lincoln MKZ, and 2010 Ford Fusion. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: The Smart Junction Box (SJB) is also known as the Generic Electronic Module (GEM).

When the parking lamps are on, the SJB sends a pulse-width modulated voltage to the hardwired dimmable components and switches based on input received from the instrument panel dimmer switch.

The SJB also sends a message over the network to the Audio Control Module (ACM), Front Controls Interface Module (FCIM), Front Display Interface Module (FDIM), the HVAC module, and the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) to indicate the backlighting intensity level. If the receiving module receives invalid backlighting data from the SJB for 5 seconds or less, the receiving module defaults the backlighting to the last setting.

If the receiving module does not receive the backlighting status message from the SJB or if the data received is deemed invalid for more than 5 seconds, the receiving module sets a DTC in continuous memory and defaults the backlighting to full nighttime intensity.