Exterior Lighting

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Conventional headlamp system
The front side lamps are built into the headlamp housing and cannot be removed separately. The headlamp assembly is equipped with a H4L-50/55W bulb for low beam and high beam.

A complex shaped reflector ensures a very high light intensity.

Plastic is used to produce the headlamp lens because it is lighter and makes for easier moulding.

The turn signal lamp in the bumper has a clear P-21W bulb.

The headlamp system consists of:
- two headlamp assemblies
- lamp switch
- Relay for switching between main and low beam
- direction indicator/low beam switch
- high beam display
- wiring
- fuses

The voltage is supplied to the lamp switch through a fuse. This fuse is located in the central junction box (CJB) in the left-hand footwell.

When the headlamps are switched on, a voltage is supplied to the high beam/low beam switch and to the low beam relay. The relay for the low beam is located in the battery junction box (BJB) in the engine compartment.

If the high beam/low beam switch is set to "low beam", then a voltage is supplied through the low beam relay to the low beam part of the headlamp assembly. The left and right-hand low beams are fused separately. The fuses are located in the BJB.

If the high beam/low beam switch is set to "high beam", then a voltage is supplied through the high beam relay to the high beam part of the headlamp assembly. The left and right-hand high beams are fused separately. The fuses are located in the BJB.

High intensity discharge (HID) headlamps
HID headlamps produce the low beam by a 35 Watt HID bulb. The HID bulb produces three times the light of the conventional headlamp bulb.

The headlamp assembly consists of the following components:
- Headlamp housing
- Headlamp housing cover
- HID bulb for low beam
- Halogen bulb for high beam and headlamp flash
- Turn signal bulb
- Parking lamp bulb
- Ignitor
- Ballast

Function

WARNING: Voltages of up to 30kV are possible.

Like sunlight, the light produced has very high levels of green and blue fraction.

The special design of the bezel and the diffuser produce a significantly increased range and much broader short range spread. This allows better illumination of the side of the road without exceeding the statutory limits for causing dazzle.

Another advantage of the chosen light distribution is softening of the light and dark boundary. Excessive contrast between the light and dark zones could cause disturbing changes in the road surface illumination when the vehicle is moving. In all, the HID headlamps produce a significant improvement in active safety.

With HID headlamps the full brightness is only achieved after about one minute of switching on. Therefore, usage in motor vehicles require special electronics to ensure full brightness in the first second.

The arc chamber of the HID bulb is filled with HID gas and a mixture of metal halide salts.

A high voltage of 20kV surge ignites the arc between the two electrodes. After a brief excess current phase in which the arc stabilizes, the lamp output is regulated to 35 watts by the electronics.

The bulb wear is so low that the HID bulb lasts the life of the vehicle.

The front side lamps and turn signal lamps are integrated into the headlamp housing.

Lamp switch
The lamp switch has up to four positions:
- Off
- Running lights
- Headlamps
- Fog lamps (if equipped)

When the lamp switch is set to "running lights", a voltage is supplied to the front and rear side lamps, as well as to the license plate lamp. The fuses are located in the CJB in the left-hand side footwell.

When the switch is set to "headlamps", the fog lamps (if equipped) can be switched on by pulling the switch.

Instrument lighting dimmer module
- The instrument lighting dimmer module is a variable resistance.
- The instrument lighting dimmer module controls the brightness of the instrument lighting, the radio lighting and the air conditioning lighting.

"Lights on" warning signal
The "lights on" warning signal is part of the central timer module. It is located in the CJB.

If when the ignition is switched off the lamp switch is set "headlamps" or "running lights" on, then a warning signal sounds when the driver's door is opened.

Stoplamps
- The stoplamps are part of the rear lamp assembly.
- The stoplamp switch supplies a voltage to the stoplamps.

High mounted stoplamp
- The high mounted stoplamp receives its voltage supply from the stoplamp switch.

Parking, reversing and side lamps
- The voltage for these lamps is supplied through the lamp switch.
- The left and right-hand circuits are fused separately in the CJB.
- The lamps will work when the lamp switch is set to "side lamps" or "headlamps".

License plate lamp
- The license plate lamp lights up when the lamp switch is set to either "running lights" or "headlamps".

Reversing lamps
The reversing lamp system consists of:
- Reversing light bulb
- Transmission range sensor (automatic transmission)
- Reversing lamp switch (manual transmission)
- Wiring
- Fuse

The voltage supply to the reversing lamps is provided by the reversing lamp switch on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission and by the transmission range sensor on vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. There is a fuse for this circuit in the CJB.

Turn signal lamps and hazard warning lights
The turn signal lamps and hazard warning lights system consists of:
- turn signal/low beam lamp switch
- Indicator relay
- turn signal lamps
- turn signal control lamp
- Wiring
- Fuse

The indicator relay is supplied with a voltage through the turn signal/low beam lamp switch. There is a fuse for the turn signal/low beam lamp switch in both the BJB and the CJB.

If the turn signal/low beam lamp switch is switched downwards, then the left-hand turn signal lamps are supplied with a voltage through the indicator relay. If the turn signal/low beam lamp switch is switched upwards, then the right-hand turn signal lamps are supplied with a voltage.

Hazard warning lights switch
- The hazard warning lights switch is located in the upper part of the center console.
- When the hazard warning lights switch is switched on, all four turn signal lamps and both turn signal control lamps are supplied with a voltage through the indicator relay.

Indicator relay
The indicator relay:
- is an electronic unit.
- is located on the steering column on the turn signal/low beam lamp switch.

NOTE: It is normal for a small amount of condensation to form on the inside of the plastic headlamp lens, it will disappear when the headlamp is switched on. If the headlamp does NOT dry out after having been switched on for 15 minutes, install a new headlamp cover flap.