Dimmable Illumination

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2014 Ford Focus. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The dimmable switches and components are illuminated when the parking lamps are on. The instrument panel dimmer switch, which is integral to the headlamp switch, controls all dimmable interior illuminated components.

On vehicles equipped with autolamps, if the exterior lamps are activated during the daytime, the message center illumination remains at full intensity and does not dim from the instrument panel dimmer switch during this condition. If the vehicle travels under a bridge or through a tunnel, the low level of ambient light causes the illumination level of the message center to change to the level set by the instrument panel dimmer switch. The message center illumination changes back to full intensity when the intense ambient light is restored.

On some vehicles equipped with an ambient light sensor, the message center provides a setup menu to select manual or automatic illumination levels based on ambient light levels. For additional information, refer to the Owner's Literature.

If the IPC does not receive the input signals of dimming level or ambient light level for up to 5 seconds, the last valid received state of these signals is assumed. If the IPC receives invalid or no signals for more than 5 seconds, it assumes full night illumination level.

Based on the ambient light level and illumination dimmer position messages received from the BCM , the IPC calculates the correct dimming level. The IPC then sends the illumination dimming level message to the BCM , HVAC (DATC ), DDM , PDM and to the IPMB on the MS-CAN and also to the APIM , FCIM (Sony® sound only) and FCDIM on the Infotainment Controller Area Network (I-CAN).

On vehicles not equipped with Sony® sound, the FCDIM forwards the illumination message to the FCIM via the LIN circuit.

The IPC sends the illumination dimming level message over the network. The receiving modules use the illumination dimming level message to determine the backlighting intensity of integral illumination sources. The BCM sends a pulse-width modulated voltage to non-networked dimmable components on 3 circuits based on the illumination dimming level message from the IPC . If a module does not receive the illumination dimming level message or the data received is deemed invalid, the module sets a DTC in continuous memory and defaults to full night time intensity.

On vehicles equipped with the base AM/FM/CD audio system, if the light sensor detects day light conditions the FCIM illumination turns off five seconds after the key is turned on. When the light sensor detects night time conditions and the parking lamps or head lamps are on, only the volume button and the hazard/door lock switch are illuminated until the audio unit is turn on.