Chapter 20

Lighting Systems

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Lighting Systems
Provides interior and
exterior illumination
Some lighting is
regulated by federal
laws
Automotive bulbs are
electrically operated

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Incandescent Lamps
A lamp generates heat and light as current
flows through the filament
Filament vacuum sealed in glass envelope
Lamps are normally single filament or double
filament

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Headlights
Have become integral part of vehicle styling
Must have low and high beam lights

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Sealed-Beam Headlights
An air-tight light and
reflector assembly
May contain low, high,
or both headlight
filaments
Made obsolete by
halogen bulbs and
composite light
assemblies
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Halogen Lamps
Halogen identifies a group of nonmetallic
elements, including chlorine, fluorine, and
iodine
Most halogen lamps filled with iodine vapor
Tungsten filament can withstand higher
temperature because of the halogen

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Composite Headlights
Use a replaceable
bulb
Improves
aerodynamics, fuel
economy, and
vehicle styling

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Cylindrical Housings
Many headlights have cylindrical bulb housings
Enables the light beam to be projected without
much scattering

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HID Headlights

Also called xenon headlamps

Use gas-discharge lamps
Electronically controlled
Use an electric arc instead of a filament
Use high-voltage to jump gap and about 80
volts to maintain

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Halogen Compared to Xenon

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Bi-Xenon Lights
Some vehicles use
xenon lamps for high
and low beams
Use an additional
halogen lamp for flashto-pass

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LED Headlights
LED benefits:
Do not require vacuum or high voltage
Use up to 40% less power
Provide whiter light than xenon
Environmentally friendly
Longer operating life
More shock resistant
Reduce glare perception
Smaller size which provides more flexibility
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LED Headlights (Cont.)

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Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)

Added safety feature
Headlights connected in
series when the ignition
switch is on and
headlights are off
When headlights are
turned on normal
operation returns

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Auxiliary Lights
Fog lights are common
auxiliary lights
Mounted low to cut
under fog
Normally turned off if
high-beams are on

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Knowledge Check
Technician A says LED headlights require highvoltage to operate. Technician B says HID
headlights use a special high-voltage filament
to generate a brighter light. Who is correct?

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Headlight Switches
Controls most exterior lighting
Instrument panel (IP) lights come on when
switch is in park or headlight position
IP light brightness may be controlled by
rheostat in headlight switch
The system can be power-side or groundside controlled
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Headlight Switches (Cont.)

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Dimmer Switches
Allows driver to switch between high- and
low-beams
Connected in series with headlight circuit
Typical dimmer switch

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Flash-to-Pass
Most steering-column-mounted
dimmer switches have flash-to-pass
Illuminates the high-beams even with
headlights off
Completes a circuit to the high-beam
headlights

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Automatic Light Systems

Light-sensitive, automatic, on-off control
Uses a photocell sensor/amplifier
Manual headlight switch operation
overrides automatic setting
High-beam detection system turn highbeams on and off
Forward looking light sensor detects conditions

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Automatic Headlight Switch

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Adaptive Headlights

Inputs from steering system and vehicle speed

Aims headlights in direction of turning
One design uses motors to position headlights
Second design uses extra turning lamps
Adaptive system may use GPS data

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Headlamp Service
Headlamp failures are usually caused by burned out
bulbs
Check for voltage at the bulb before replacing it
If more than one lamp is not working, carefully check
the circuit
If the voltage regulator is defective, the high voltage
will cause lamps to burn out prematurely

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Restoring Headlight Lenses

Over time the
polycarbonate
deteriorates, clouding
the lens
Polishing may restore
the lens

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Headlight Replacement
Sealed beam lights are
secured with a clip or
retaining ring
Accessing the light may
require removing
bumper covers or inner
fender liners
Do not touch the glass

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HID Diagnosis and Service

Turning headlight switch on powers the HID
transformer
Bi-xenon system uses a shutter to redirect
light
A delay before full illumination is normal
Blue to white light is normal

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HID Bulb Replacement

HID bulbs do not suddenly stop working

As bulb wears it will shut off and turn on
Will become more frequent
Increases wear on the transformer
If lights are flickering, the transformer should
be replaced with the bulbs

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HID Transformer

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Headlight Adjustment
Before adjusting headlights:
Vehicle must be on a level floor
Remove ice, snow, or mud
Try to adjust with fuel tank half full
Check vehicle ride height
Inflate tires to specifications
Wheel alignment should be correct
Settle the suspension before adjustment
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Headlight Adjustment (Cont.)

Many vehicles have built-in bubble levels for
headlight adjustment
Headlight aiming equipment uses a split
mirror system and levels for adjustment
If neither are available, a screen can be used
to determine headlight accuracy

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Headlight Adjustment (Cont.)

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Auto-Leveling Headlights
Found on xenon equipped vehicles
Keeps headlight aim within a certain range
regardless of load and driving conditions
Each headlight has a leveling motor
Uses input from front and rear suspension
Diagnosed with a scan tool

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Knowledge Check
What type of tools and equipment may be
necessary to adjust headlight aim?

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Automatic Headlight
System Diagnosis
Inspect for any obstruction of the photo
cell
Proper photo cell alignment is necessary
Follow the manufacturers testing
procedures

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Adaptive Headlight Diagnosis

Controlled by a headlamp control module
Monitor inputs with a scan tool
Data used from ECM, TCM, EBCM, and BCM

Headlamp module calculates desired angle

Module can also monitor motor control
circuits

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Basic Lighting System Diagnosis

Bulbs are quickly checked with ohmmeter or
powered test light
Inspect for corroded or loose wiring
Many exterior lights are exposed to climate
and weather conditions that can damage
wiring and sockets

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Checking Bulb Resistance

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Scan Tool Diagnostics

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Other Light Bulbs

Most designs prevent
using incorrect bulb
type
May be several types
within the design
Bulbs have trade
numbers
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Bulb Replacement
Make sure the replacement is the correct
bulb
Inspect the bulb socket
Often removal of light assembly is necessary
Do not remove lenses from light assemblies

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Bulb Replacement (Cont.)

Gain access the bulb
Remove the bulb and
inspect the socket
Replace with the
correct bulb

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Light Circuits
Single filament bulbs use two wires
Double filament bulbs will have two hot wires
and a ground
Light circuits can be either power or ground
controlled

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Rear Exterior Lights

Rear lights include
Brake lights
Taillights
Turn signal / hazard
lights
Back-up lights

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Turn, Stop, and

Hazard Warning Lights

Each system has a switch to control operation

Turn signals only powered with key on
Stop and hazard lights powered with key off
Turn signal and hazard lights may be part of
multifunction switch

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Flashers
Used by turn signal
and hazard systems
Older vehicles use
temperature sensitive
bi-metallic strip

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Electronic Flasher
Modern flashers are
electronic
An inoperative turn
signal bulb generally
causes a different
flashing rate

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Brake (Stop) Lights

Controlled by brake light switch normally
mounted on brake pedal bracket
All late model vehicles have a center highmounted stop light (CHMSL)
Brake light switch input is also used for
cruise control, ABS, and traction control
systems
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Adaptive Brake Lights

Can operate under standard illumination
during normal braking
Under intense braking or ABS intervention,
additional lights are lit
Increases the size of brake lights

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Brake Light Switches

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Brake Light Circuit

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LED Lights
LED and neon lights
used for some brake,
tail, and turn signal
lights
LED illuminate faster,
consume less power,
and last longer than
incandescent lights

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Back-Up Lights
Activated by the parkneutral switch on
automatic
transmissions
Manual transmission
have separate reverse
light switch

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Knowledge Check
Technician A says a burned out bulb can cause
the turn signals to not blink properly.
Technician B says installing an incorrect bulb
may cause the turn signals to not blink
correctly. Who is correct?

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Interior Light Assemblies

Engine compartment
light
Glove box light
Luggage compartment
light
Trunk lid light
Vanity light

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Courtesy Lights
Provides light inside the vehicle
Operated by doors, headlight switch, or
separate switch
Often tied into keyless entry and/or alarm
Map lights usually independent of courtesy
lights

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Illuminated Entry System

Illuminated lock cylinders
Most have an electronic actuator module
Activated by lifting outside door handle or
keyless entry

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