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 Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) 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 TIPM indicating the rear fog lamps are turned ON, the rear fog lamp indicator will be illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until the cluster receives a lamp-OFF message from the TIPM, or until the exterior lamp load shedding (battery saver) timed interval expires, whichever occurs first.
• 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 TIPM continually monitors electronic exterior lighting request messages from the ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) to determine the appropriate outputs to the rear fog lamps. The TIPM activates or deactivates the rear fog lamps then sends the proper lamp-ON or lamp-OFF message back to the EMIC.

For proper diagnosis of the rear fog lamp system, the TIPM, the EMIC, the CAN 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.