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.

Relays are utilized 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 voltage is routed to the HID ballasts to illuminate the HID bulbs.

When the high beams are requested, the HID relays stay energized and the SJB energizes an internal high beam relay which routes voltage to the headlamps to actuate a shutter located within each headlamp. 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 SJB provides voltage to the HID relays and energizes the internal high beam relay for the shutters within the headlamps for less than 0.5 second. If the SJB is already providing voltage to the HID relays (low beams) when the flash-to-pass is requested, the SJB energizes the internal high beam relay as long as the multifunction switch is held in the FLASH-TO-PASS position.