Dimmable Backlighting

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2012 Ford Pickup, 2012 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2012 Ford F450 Super Duty, and 2012 Ford Cab & Chassis. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

When the parking lamps are on, the Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) monitors the input from the instrument panel dimmer switch. The SCCM sends a message over the High Speed Controller Area Network (HS-CAN) to the Body Control Module (BCM) relaying the instrument panel dimmer switch input. Based on the input from the instrument panel dimmer switch, the BCM sends a voltage to the dimmable switches. The BCM sends a message over the HS-CAN to the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC), and over the Medium Speed Controller Area Network (MS-CAN) to the Audio Control Module (ACM) (except base AM/FM), and the HVAC module to indicate the backlighting intensity level.

If the receiving module receives invalid backlighting data from the BCM 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 BCM or if the data received is deemed invalid for more than 5 seconds, the receiving module sets a missing message related DTC in continuous memory and defaults the backlighting to full nighttime intensity.