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Home >> Ford >> 2009 >> Flex Limited, FWD >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 2018 (Instrument Cluster Illumination And Panel Illumination) >> Diagnosis And Testing >> Instrument Cluster and Panel Illumination >> Principles of Operation >> Dimmable Backlighting

Dimmable Backlighting

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Lincoln MKX and 2010 Ford Edge. 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  monitors the input from the instrument panel dimmer switch. 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), the Rear Entertainment Module (RETM), the HVAC module, and the Instrument Cluster (IC) 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.