Headlamp Functionality - High Intensity Discharge (HID)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Ford Mustang. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Vehicles equipped with HID headlamps utilize relays to control the voltage to the HID ballasts. The ballasts are located on the side of each headlamp assembly.

When the low beams are requested (based on inputs to the SJB), the HID relays are energized and the low beams are illuminated.

When the high beams are requested, the HID relays stay energized 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 equipped vehicles. If the low beams are off when the flash-to-pass is requested, the HID relays and the shutters within the headlamps are activated for less than 0.5 second. If the low beams are on when 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.