Description And Operation

DESCRIPTION 

Courtesy of CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC

The front exterior lighting system for this vehicle can include the following:

• FRONT FOG LAMPS (2)  - Optional front fog lamp units are mounted near each outboard end of the front fascia, below the front lamp units.
• HEADLAMP UNIT (4, 6)  - The vehicle is equipped with quad halogen reflector headlights to increase the light intensity and consequently improve visibility in all conditions. When, on the other hand, it is equipped with Bi-Xenon lighting technology (high/low lighting via single high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb), there is twice as much light compared to the use of conventional bulbs, and the 70 mm headlight increases the light intensity by approximately 15% and the lighting depth by approximately 20%.

  Vehicles equipped with premium headlamps have a signature lamp where LEDs illuminate the light pipe and honeycomb portion of the headlamp. This lit signature function remains on even when the headlamp switch is in the OFF position.

• PARK, TURN LAMP and DRL (1, 3)  - The front park, turn, and Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) is located just beneath the front lamp unit on each side of the vehicle. There are two serviceable bulbs for each lamp inside the assembly. When a vehicle is equipped with premium headlamps, the park lamp function is integral with the headlamp unit; the lower lamp retains turn and DRL functions.

  The outside review mirror shell and housing can also be equipped with turn signal indicator lamps (5).

Courtesy of CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC

The rear exterior lighting system for this vehicle can include the following:

1. CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP (CHMSL)  - A standard equipment CHMSL is located in the upper left rear cargo door.
2. INNER AND OUTER TAIL LAMPS 

   - The vehicle's rear tail lamp clusters are equipped with incandescent bulbs that carry out the following functions:

   • Side marker;
   • Brake lights
   • Direction indicators
3. REAR FOG LAMPS  - Optional rear fog lamp units are mounted near each outboard end of the rear fascia, below the tail lamp units.
4. LICENSE PLATE LAMP  - Two standard equipment rear license plate lamp units are integral to the light bar and handle assembly, just above the license plate tub.

OPERATION 

Other components and features of the exterior lighting system for this vehicle include:

• Automatic Headlamp  - The system automatically switches (if activated by the customer) from high beam to low beam headlights if light sources outside of the vehicle are detected, such as the light from the headlights of vehicles coming in the opposite direction, from the rear lights of vehicles in front or from road lighting. If these conditions are not maintained, the system will automatically switch back to high beam to increase night-time driving safety on poorly lit roads.

  The system uses a camera fitted near the interior rear view mirror and in contact with the windscreen to process the images and detect the approaching lights or lights in front. When it detects the headlights of an approaching vehicle, the lights of a vehicle in front or ambient light (daylight, street lights and other sources), the Forward Facing Camera Module (FFCM) communicates with the BCM via CAN and the BCM deactivates the high beam headlights before they inconvenience other drivers. The function deactivates automatically (low beam headlights active) when the speed is below 20 km/h (12 mph).

• Backup Lamp Switch  - On vehicles with a manual transmission, a plunger-type backup lamp switch is actuated by the shifter mechanism within the transmission when REVERSE gear is selected. On vehicles with an optional automatic transmission a stand-alone Transmission Range Sensor (TRS) performs the backup lamp switch function.
• Body Control Module  - The Body Control Module (BCM) is located beneath the instrument panel to the left of the steering column in the passenger compartment.
• Brake Lamp Switch  - A plunger-type brake lamp switch is located on the brake pedal support bracket under the instrument panel and is actuated by the brake pedal arm when the brake pedal is pressed.
• Clockspring  - The clockspring includes an integral turn signal cancel cam and both the left (lighting) and right (wiper) multifunction switches. The clockspring is located near the top of the steering column, directly beneath the steering wheel.
• Exterior Light Switch 

  - The exterior light activation switch is located on the left side of the driver side dashboard. The exterior light switch has A knob to manage the following functions:

  • Parking lights
  • Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
  • Automatic Headlamps
  • Headlamps - Low Beam

  Two switches built into the knob and used to activate the following functions:

  • Front fog lights - Vehicles equipped with optional fog lamps have a momentary fog lamp switch integral to and located in the center of the Exterior Light Switch knob.

  Two wheels used to control the following:

  • Instrument panel backlighting adjustment
  • Interior lighting adjustment
• Hazard Switch  - A momentary push button-actuated hazard switch is integral to the Integrated Center Stack (ICS) located in the center of the instrument panel just below the radio.
• Headlamps  - Most models are equipped with quad halogen reflector headlamps for outstanding forward and spread-light performance.

  When equipped with a bi-functional (high/low beam capability in a single lamp) high-intensity discharge (HID) xenon lighting system (optional) - a technology that produces more than two-times the light output of tungsten-based systems - the 70 mm projector beams increases spread light by 15% and delivers a 20% improvement in forward lighting (range).

  The larger projector beam reduces the amount of perceived "pinpoint" glare associated with the HID lamps; due to a wider spread light pattern, shoulder visibility is enhanced while a less concentrated beam of light reduces perceived glare to oncoming vehicles. The new bulb is a stand-alone system that delivers a significant improvement on lifetime (2500h) and CO2 emission reduction.

• Instrument Panel Cluster  - The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) is located in the instrument panel above the steering column opening, directly in front of the driver.
• Integrated Center Stack  - A momentary push button-actuated hazard switch is integral to the ICS located in the center of the instrument panel just below the radio.
• Left Multifunction Switch  - The left (lighting) multifunction switch is integral to the clockspring located on the steering column, just below the steering wheel. A control stalk that extends from the left side of the switch is used to select the turn signal lamps (right or left) and to select the headlamp beam (low, high or optical horn).
• Park Brake Switch  - A park brake switch is located on the park brake lever mechanism on the floor panel transmission tunnel between the two front seats.
• Trailer Tow Wiring  - This device includes an electronic control unit (Trailer Tow Module/TTM) that controls the operation of the external lights located on the trailer, as well as a connection located in the luggage compartment left side. This connection outlet is located next to the tow bar. The rear park assist sensors are automatically disabled when the trailer tow electrical socket is in use.

OPERATION 

BACKUP LAMPS  - The backup (or reverse) lamps have a path to ground at all times through a takeout and eyelet terminal of the body wire harness that is secured by a ground screw to the body sheet metal. On vehicles with a manual transmission, when REVERSE is selected, the backup lamp switch provides a hard wired input to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) through a reverse switch signal circuit. The PCM then sends an electronic reverse transmission gear selector status message to the BCM over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus. The BCM energizes a high side driver which provides battery voltage to the backup lamps on the backup lamp feed circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the ON position and the REVERSE position is selected with the transmission shift linkage.

On vehicles with an automatic transmission, the Transmission Control Module (TCM) monitors a multiplex input from the TRS. When REVERSE is selected, the TCM sends an electronic reverse transmission gear selector status message to other electronic modules over the CAN data bus. Whenever the ignition switch is in the ON position and the BCM receives an electronic message indicating the status of the transmission gear selector is REVERSE, the BCM energizes a high side driver, which provides battery voltage to the backup lamps on the backup lamp feed circuit.

BRAKE LAMPS  - The brake (or stop) lamps and the CHMSL each have a path to ground at all times through a takeout and eyelet terminal of the body wire harness that is secured by a screw to the body sheet metal. The BCM receives a battery voltage input whenever the brake lamp switch is closed by the brake pedal arm. The BCM then energizes a high side driver, which provides battery voltage to the brake lamps and the CHMSL through a tail/stop lamp rear feed circuits.

DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS  - Vehicles with the DRL feature enabled illuminate the park lamp bulbs when the engine is running, the parking brake is released, the headlamps are turned OFF, and the optional automatic transmission gear selector lever is in any position except PARK. The park lamps may be ON or OFF for DRL to operate. For vehicles with a manual transmission, the DRL will operate in any transmission gear selector lever position.

Once enabled, anytime the BCM receives an electronic message input over the CAN data bus from the PCM indicating the engine is running, hard wired inputs indicating the headlamp switch is in any position except headlamps ON and the parking brake lever is released, and from the TCM indicating the automatic transmission gear selector lever is in any position except PARK, the BCM energizes a high side driver, which provides battery voltage to the park lamp bulbs through the right and left park lamp feed circuits.

FOG LAMPS  - The front fog lamps have a path to ground at all times through their connection to the headlamp and dash wire harness. The engine compartment wire harness has takeouts with eyelet terminals that are secured by screws to the front end sheet metal within the engine compartment. The BCM monitors a hard wired input from the fog lamp switch in the center of the headlamp switch to determine whether the front fog lamps are selected. If the front fog lamps are selected and the left (lighting) multifunction switch inputs indicate the headlamp low beams are ON, the BCM energizes a high side driver, which provides battery voltage to the front fog lamps through the right and left front fog lamp feed circuits.

The BCM also sends the appropriate electronic messages to the IPC over the CAN data bus to illuminate or extinguish the front fog lamp indicator. The BCM will automatically de-energize the front fog lamps any time the headlamps are turned OFF or the headlamp high beams are selected.

Each front fog lamp includes an integral adjustment screw to be used for static aiming of the fog lamp beams.

FRONT CORNERING LAMPS  - The cornering lights function is derived from two different inputs. Steering angle or the activation of the turn signal lamps. Both of those items can induce lamp cornering activation. In the event that both are creating an active request at the same time, the steering angle will be given priority to the expense of the one based on the turn signal lights. In the case of the steering angle sensor, the lamps will activate at the "10 and 2" positions when turning. When neither angle is breached, both of the front fog lamps remain on uninterrupted.

HAZARD WARNING LAMPS  - The BCM monitors a hard wired input from the hazard switch in the ICS, located in the center of the instrument panel just below the radio, to determine whether the hazard warning system has been selected. When the hazard warning system is selected, the BCM controls hazard warning system operation and flash rate by energizing and de-energizing high side drivers, which controls battery voltage outputs on the right and left turn signal feed circuits. The BCM also sends electronic hazard switch status  messages to the IPC over the CAN data bus to control the illumination and flash rate of the left and right turn signal indicators, as well as to control the click rate of an electromechanical relay soldered to the IPC electronic circuit board that emulates the sound emitted by a conventional hazard warning flasher.

HEADLAMPS  - The headlamp system includes the BCM, the IPC, headlamp switch, and the left (lighting) multifunction switch on the steering column. The headlamp bulbs have a path to ground at all times through their connection to the headlamp and dash wire harness. The headlamp and dash wire harness has takeouts with eyelet terminals that are secured by screws to the front end sheet metal within the engine compartment. The BCM monitors hard wired inputs to determine the status of the left multifunction switch and whether the headlamp high or low beams are selected. The BCM then controls headlamp illumination through relays soldered to the BCM internal circuit board.

When the BCM detects a change in headlamp beam selection, the BCM energizes or de-energizes a high side driver, which controls an output to the solenoid that operates the shutter in each headlamp. The BCM also sends the appropriate electronic messages to the IPC to control the illumination of the high beam indicator. The BCM remembers which beams (LOW or HIGH) were selected when the headlamps were last turned OFF, and energizes those beams again the next time the headlamps are turned ON.

Each headlamp includes an integral reflector adjustment screw to be used for static aiming of the headlamps.

HEADLAMP DELAY  - The headlamp delay feature (also known as the Follow Me Home feature) includes the left (lighting) multifunction switch, the IPC and the BCM. The BCM controls this feature by monitoring inputs from the ignition switch and the left (lighting) multifunction switch. If within two minutes after the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, the left multifunction switch control stalk is pulled toward the steering wheel and released the BCM energizes the relay that controls the headlamp low beams and the high side driver that controls the clearance (position) lamps for 30 seconds. Each additional activation of the control stalk extends the delay by 30 seconds, up to a maximum of 210 seconds. The BCM automatically de-energizes the lamps after the selected time interval expires or, immediately, if the control stalk is pulled toward the steering wheel and held for more than two seconds. The BCM also sends the appropriate electronic messages to the IPC over the CAN data bus to control the Follow Me Home indications in the IPC display.

PARK LAMPS  - The park lamps system includes the headlamp switch, the IPC and the BCM. The park lamp bulbs have a path to ground at all times through their connection to the headlamp and dash wire harness. The headlamp and dash wire harness has takeouts with eyelet terminals that are secured by screws to the front end sheet metal within the engine compartment. The park (tail) lamp bulbs in each rear lamp unit and the license plate lamps have a path to ground at all times through a takeout and eyelet terminal of the body wire harness that is secured by a screw to the body sheet metal within the passenger compartment. When a vehicle is equipped with premium headlamps, the park lamp function is integral with the headlamp unit; the lower lamp retains turn and DRL functions.

The BCM monitors a hard wired input from the headlamp switch, then responds to this input by energizing or de-energizing high side drivers, which control battery voltage outputs to the appropriate lamps and bulbs through the proper park/tail/license/running lamp right and left circuits. The BCM also provides the appropriate electronic messages to the IPC to control the illumination and lighting level of the panel lamps.

TURN SIGNAL LAMPS  - The turn signal lamps system includes the left (lighting) multifunction switch, the IPC and the BCM.

The BCM monitors a hard wired input from the left (lighting) multifunction switch to determine the status of the turn signal switch, then controls turn signal operation and flash rate by energizing and de-energizing high side drivers, which control battery voltage outputs on the right or left turn signal feed circuits. The BCM also sends electronic turn signal switch status messages to the IPC over the CAN data bus to control the illumination and flash rate of the left or right turn signal indicators, as well as to control the click rate of an electromechanical relay soldered to the IPC electronic circuit board that emulates the sound emitted by a conventional turn signal flasher.