REAR FOG LAMP INDICATOR
DESCRIPTION
A rear fog lamp indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. However, on vehicles not equipped with the optional rear fog lamps, which are available only in certain markets where they are required, this indicator is electronically disabled. This indicator is located above the coolant temperature gauge and to the right of the tachometer in the cluster overlay.
The rear fog lamp indicator consists of a stencil-like cutout of the International Control and Display Symbol icon for Rear Fog Light in the opaque layer of the instrument cluster overlay. The dark outer layer of the overlay prevents the indicator from being clearly visible when it is not illuminated. An amber Light Emitting Diode (LED) behind the cutout in the opaque layer of the overlay causes the indicator to appear in amber through the translucent outer layer of the overlay when it is illuminated from behind by the LED, which is soldered onto the instrument cluster electronic circuit board.
When the exterior lighting is turned ON, the illumination intensity of the rear fog lamp indicator is dimmable, which is adjusted along with the cluster illumination lighting using the panel lamps dimmer control ring on the left control stalk of the multi-function switch.
The rear fog lamp indicator is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.
OPERATION
The rear fog lamp indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator whenever the rear fog lamps are illuminated. This indicator is controlled by a transistor on the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the cluster from the Body Control Module (BCM) over the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus.
The rear fog lamp indicator Light Emitting Diode (LED) is completely controlled by the instrument cluster logic circuit, and that logic will allow this indicator to operate whenever the instrument cluster receives a battery current input on the fused B(+) circuit. Therefore, the LED can be illuminated regardless of the ignition switch position. The LED only illuminates when it is provided a path to ground by the instrument cluster transistor. The instrument cluster will turn ON the rear fog lamp indicator for the following reasons:
- Rear Fog Indicator Lamp-On Message - Each time the cluster receives an electronic rear fog indicator lamp-ON message from the BCM the rear fog lamp indicator will be illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until the cluster receives a lamp-OFF message from the BCM.
- Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the rear fog lamp indicator will be turned ON, then OFF again during the bulb check portion of the test to confirm the functionality of the LED and the cluster control circuitry.
The BCM continually monitors the exterior lighting (multi-function) switch to determine the appropriate outputs to the rear fog lamp relay. The BCM then sends the proper lamp-ON or lamp-OFF message to the ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC).
For proper diagnosis of the rear fog lamp system, the BCM, the EMIC, the PCI data bus or the electronic communication related to rear fog lamp indicator operation a diagnostic scan tool is required. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.