194001300 - E2011 DIPPED HEADLIGHTS - DESCRIPTION (XENON GAS HEADLAMPS)
The vehicle is fitted with two GAS DISCHARGE headlamps.The electronics in each of the two headlamps switches the gas discharge (xenon) bulbs on and off at the times defined by the software and in accordance with international legislation.The system comprises an igniter and ballast for each headlamp, activated when the dipped headlamps function is requested.The left lamp is the master control unit, whilst the right one performs a slave role.The master headlamp acquires the low and high beam command, the vehicle speed signal and signals from the potentiometers on the front and rear wheel axles. Depending on the inputs, it directly controls the switching on of the left front headlamp (dipped headlamps and high beam switching) and controls the right one in a similar way via the serial line.The beams are switched between low and high by a motor controlled by the electronics in each headlamp.The dipped beams are activated by turning a wheel on the left stalk switch to the next position after the side light setting.A relay in the underfacia control unit controls activation of the low beams via two lines protected by specific fuses.The low beam activation relay is controlled by the Body Computer The relay is excited by enablement signals received when the key is inserted into the ignition and turned ON (INT from the steering lock control unit) and a specific control signal from the steering wheel stalk unit.The body computer also manages the low beam maintenance function: when the high beams are turned on, the body comuter keeps the low beams on.If the dipped beams and the main beams are already on and the fog lights are turned on, then the dipped beams are switched off.Similarly, if the dipped beams and the fog lights are on and the main beams are switched on, the dipped beams are switched off.With the dipped headlamps on, the simultaneous presence of the main beam and fog lights commands disables the dipped headlamps. The subsequent deactivation of one of these two commands, with the dipped headlamps control still on, means the dipped headlamps are turned back on.The dipped beams can be activated automatically via the dusk sensor (integral with the electrochromic interior mirror), if the AUTO function is set by means of a wheel on the left steering wheel stalk.The dusk sensor is an infrared device that detects changes in light intensity outside the vehicle according to the light sensitivity setting: the greater the sensitivity, the less external light is required to activate the dipped beams.when the dusk sensor is activated a message is shown on the instrument panel display indicating the sensitivity setting (from 1 to 3; 2 is default): this intensity can be adjusted by means of the MODE keys on the exterior lighting panel on the left side.The Follow me home function allows the side lights and low beams to be left on after turning the ignition key to OFF or removing it (STOP position) for a time greater than or equal to 30 secondsThe lights are activated by operating the light flasher stalk within 2 minutes of switching the engine off: each time the lever is operated, the period for which the lights are kept on is increased by 30 seconds to a maximum of 210 seconds. he instrument panel, in turn, increases the time for the Follow me home display by 30 seconds: This display persists for 20 seconds starting from the last time the steering column switch unit is pressed unless the function is deactivated during the display using the reset command.Holding the light flasher lever in place for longer than 2 seconds causes the function to deactivate (lights off and counter on the instrument panel showing the remaining time and active commands reset). The function can also be deactivated by turning the ignition key ON.