Courtesy Lamps

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2015 Lincoln MKS. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The BCM controls all the interior lighting functions and timing by monitoring inputs from the:

Door ajar switches
Ignition state
Instrument panel dimmer switch
RKE system
Vehicle speed

The BCM sends a 12 volt signal to each door ajar switch. When the doors are closed, the voltage signals are pulled low, indicating a closed door.

The BCM monitors input from the RKE transmitter (messaged from the TPM module on vehicles without IA or from the RFA module on vehicles with IA) to determine when to activate/deactivate the illuminated entry feature.

The BCM monitors the ignition state to determine when to activate/deactivate the illuminated exit feature.

Based on the input, the BCM controls the solid state relays to provide power to the courtesy lamps.

The BCM also provides an overload protection of the interior courtesy and puddle lamp output circuits. When an excessive current draw is detected, the BCM disables the affected interior courtesy or puddle lamp circuit driver.

Illuminated Entry

The illuminated entry requests the dimmable backlighting, the parking lamps and the courtesy lamps to illuminate when the ignition is off and a door is opened, the RKE transmitter UNLOCK button is pressed, or the vehicle is unlocked using the keyless entry keypad. If no doors are open, the illuminated entry requests the lamps off after 25 seconds have elapsed, the ignition is switched out of off, the RKE transmitter LOCK button is pressed, or the vehicle is locked using the keyless entry keypad.

Interior Lighting Delay

The interior lighting delay feature provides temporary illumination of the dimmable backlighting, the parking lamps and the courtesy lamps after the doors are opened and then closed. The interior lighting delay feature keeps the lamps on for a period of 25 seconds after all the doors are closed. If during the 25 second delay time the ignition has been switched out of off, or if the vehicle is locked using the RKE transmitter or the keyless entry keypad, the lamp illumination is discontinued.

Illuminated Exit

The illuminated exit requests the dimmable backlighting, the parking lamps, and the courtesy lamps to illuminate for 25 seconds after all doors are closed and the ignition is turned off. The illuminated exit deactivates when the ignition transitions out of off, a door becomes ajar, or 25 seconds have elapsed.

Theater Lighting

The theater lighting feature ramps-up the courtesy lamps over 0.7 second when courtesy lamp activation is requested. The theater lighting feature ramps-down the courtesy lamps over 1.7 seconds when interior lighting deactivation is requested by any feature other than the panic alarm or battery saver.

Interior Lamp Arbitrator

The interior lamp arbitrator (programming within the BCM) chooses between the interior lighting delay, the illuminated entry and exit, the battery saver, and the alarm flash processing to determine which feature has precedence of activating and deactivating the interior lamps.

Demand Lamps

The BCM monitors the ignition state and inputs from the RKE system to determine when to energize the battery saver relay. When the battery saver relay is energized, voltage is provided to the demand lamps.

When the BCM is not in battery saver mode, the battery saver relay is energized to provide voltage to the demand lamps.

Ambient Lighting

The HVAC module provides the power and ground to the ambient lighting system, while the touchscreen is used to cycle through the different color variations or turn the ambient lighting feature on or off. There are 3 LEDs (red, blue and green) housed within each LED assembly. By illuminating various color combinations, the LED are able to produce 7 different colors of ambient light.

The ambient lighting LEDs provide illumination to the:

cupholders (located in the center console)
storage compartment (located in the center console)
front footwells (located under the instrument panel)
rear footwells (located in the rear of the center console)

The APIM uses software to monitor the user interface from the FDIM. Based on the ambient lighting system selections made using the touchscreen, the APIM sends ambient light color request and ambient light intensity request messages over the communication network for color and brightness settings. The HVAC module retains the last color and brightness setting between uses.

The BCM transmits parking lamps on, illuminated entry/exit feature active, and open door information over the communication network to the HVAC module.

Based on the input received from the FDIM (user preferences) and the BCM (parking lamps on, illuminated entry/exit, open door) over the communication network, the HVAC module provides voltage to the ambient lighting LEDs. The HVAC module also provides the ground source for the ambient lighting LEDs.

Dark Car Feature

The dark car feature disables activation of courtesy lamps and backlighting due to a door unlock, door ajar or removing the key from the ignition cylinder. The courtesy lamps may still be activated by the instrument panel dimmer switch, post crash alert, and perimeter and panic alarms.

The dark car feature is enabled/disabled through programmable parameters in the BCM.