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Headlamps, xenon

Headlamps, xenon



The main lighting of the car comprises main beam and dipped beam, number-plate lighting and parking lights.

A xenon lamp governed by a headlamp/AHL control module in each headlamp is used for main and dipped beams. The control module regulates the current/voltage to the xenon lamps. The lamps require extremely high voltages (approx. 23,000V) to ignite. Normal operating voltage is around 85V.

Xenon lamps always light with the same brightness. The light beam from a xenon lamp is limited by a screen which is opened for main beam use by a motor that is controlled from the light switch (215) and the main beam relay (8a). This increases the beam of light from the lamp.

Not US/CA/JP: A halogen lamp (H7) lights together with the Xenon lamp for main beam. During main beam flash when dipped beam is off, only the halogen lamp lights.

The main lights come on with the light switch (10) in position 2 and the ignition turned to OFF, ON or ST. Main or dipped beam is selected with the dipswitch (215) on the stalk to the left of the steering wheel. The dipswitch controls the main beam in 2 different ways: headlamp flasher with the lever in its spring-back position and main beam with the lever in a fixed position. In both cases, the lever is pulled towards the steering wheel rim.

If the light switch is in position 0 or 1 and the ignition is held in position ST, the dipped-beam relay will release after 20 seconds.

When the light switch is in position 2 and the ignition is ON, DICE puts “"Main beam ON"” onto the bus. The message is used by SID, which switches on the instrument lighting. The intensity of the light is decided by the setting of the rheostat (0-100%).

The light switch positions operate different lighting modes depending on how DICE is programmed. There are 3 different program alternatives. The reason for this is that different markets demand different lighting modes. When program alternative 1 is to be used, fuse 35 must first be removed.

The three alternatives when the ignition is set to ON are:

Alt.

Light switch positions



0

1

2

1

No main lights

Parking lights

Main and dipped beams

2

Dipped beam

Parking lights

Main and dipped beams

3

Dipped beam

Dipped beam

Main and dipped beams



Main beam will be turned off and must be reactivated if on when the ignition is turned to OFF or LOCK, or if the light switch is turned to any other position.

With the ignition in position OFF, the programmed function is the same on all markets. No lights are on in position 0 and the parking lights are on in position 1.

Important

When changing a bulb, select a new bulb of the correct rating to prevent the components being damaged.