Lighting System Description. Chevrolet Metro 1998

For 1990-2009 cars

### Exterior Lighting

#### Backup Lamps

The backup lamps are incorporated into the tail lamps. The backup lamps operate with the ignition in the ON position. Place the selector lever in R :

• | The gear selector lever (manual transaxle equipped vehicles)

• | The manual selector lever (automatic transaxle equipped vehicles)

The following switches complete the backup lamps circuit and turn ON the backup lamps:

• | The backup lamp switch (manual transaxle equipped vehicles)

• | The transmission range switch (automatic transaxle equipped vehicles)

#### High-Mounted Stoplamp

The high-mounted lamp operates in conjunction with the stoplamps whenever you press the brake pedal:

• | On 2-door models, the stoplamp consists of 1 bulb and is located at the bottom of the hatchback door window.

• | On 4-door models, the stoplamp consists of 2 bulbs and is located in the center of the rear seat-to-rear window trim panel.

#### Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)

The daytime running lamps (DRL) are standard equipment on all models. The DRL indicator on the instrument panel cluster assembly illuminates whenever the DRL system is active. Operating through the low beams at a lower than normal output, the DRL system operates under the following conditions:

• | When the engine is running

• | When the parking brake is not applied

• | When the light/dimmer/turn signal combination switch lever is in either the OFF position or the parking lamps position

The DRL system consists of a DRL control module which is located in the instrument panel, between and above the brake and the accelerator pedals.

#### Front Turn Signal Lamps

The front turn signal lamp is incorporated into the headlamp assembly. The front turn signal lamp shares a bulb with the parking lamp. The front turn signal lamp bulbs illuminate when you operate the turn signals. Refer to Turn Signal Operation for details regarding the turn signal system.

#### Headlamps

This vehicle is equipped with composite headlamps. Each headlamp consists of 1 serviceable halogen bulb which provides the following operations:

• | High beam operation

• | Low beam operation

Do NOT use the J 25300-B headlamp aiming kit in order to adjust the headlamps. Each composite headlamp assembly is equipped with a built-in Vehicle Headlamp Aiming Device (VHAD). For additional details regarding aiming procedures, refer to Headlamp Aiming .

#### License Plate Lamp

The license plate lamp is located in the rear bumper fascia directly over the license plate. This lamp contains 1 clear, single filament bulb. The license plate lamp bulbs light when you activate either of the following lamps:

• | The parking lamps

• | The headlamps

#### Parking Lamps

The parking lamps are incorporated into the headlamp assembly. The parking lamp system contains 2 double filament bulbs. The parking lamp bulbs are shared with the turn signal.

The parking lamp lens is part of the composite headlamp assembly. The reflector alerts approaching vehicles for safe nighttime driving. The parking lamp bulbs light when you activate either of the following lamps:

• | The parking lamps

• | The headlamps

#### Tail Lamps

The tail lamps are located in the following locations:

• | Each side of the rear compartment lid (on 4-door models)

• | The hatchback door (on 2-door models)

Each tail lamp consists of the following bulbs:

• | A double filament stoplamp/tail lamp bulb

• | A single filament turn signal bulb

• | A backup bulb

• | A rear side marker lamp bulb (2-door models)

The stoplamp bulb lights whenever you depress the brake pedal in order to close the stoplamp switch. The tail lamp filament and the rear side marker lamp bulb (2-door models) light when you activate either of the following lamps:

• | The parking lamps

• | The headlamps

The turn signal lamp bulbs light during turn signal operation. For additional details regarding turn signal operation, refer to Turn Signal Operation.

### Interior Lighting

#### Dome Lamp

The dome lamp is located in the following locations:

• | The center of the windshield header (2-door models)

• | The center of the roof between the front seats (4-door models)

The dome lamp consists of the following components:

• | A clear lens

• | The dome lamp bulb

• | A 3 position slide switch

The slide switch has 3 detent positions:

• | With the dome lamp switch in the door position, the dome lamp lights when the left front door is open (the door jamb switch closes). The lamp remains ON until you close the door (the door jamb switch opens).

• | With the dome lamp switch in the ON position, the dome lamp lights, regardless of either an open or closed door jamb switch state.

• | When the switch is OFF, the dome lamp does not light, regardless of either an open or closed door jamb switch state.

#### Rear Compartment Lamp

The rear compartment lamp is offered on the 4-door models only. The rear compartment lamp is located in the center of the rear speaker shelf. Refer to Rear Compartment Lid Switch Replacement in Body Rear End for rear compartment lamp switch replacement procedures.

### Lighting Controls

#### Combination Switch

The combination switch is located on the steering column. The combination switch is comprised of the following components:

• | The hazard switch

• | Two levers

The first lever is the light/dimmer/turn signal combination switch lever located on the left side of the steering column. The second lever is the windshield wiper/washer combination switch lever located on the right side of the steering column. A twist-type knob on the end of the light/dimmer/turn signal combination switch lever controls the operation of the following lamps:

• | The parking lamps

• | The headlamps

When you activate either the parking lamps or the headlamps, the following components illuminate:

• | The front parking lamps

• | The rear tail lamps

• | The rear side marker lamps (2-door models)

• | The license plate lamps

• | The instrument panel cluster assembly

• | The manual selector lever (automatic transaxle equipped vehicles) illumination lamps

Moving the light/dimmer/turn signal combination switch lever forward and rearward controls the operation of the dimmer switch. Moving the lever up and down controls the turn signals.

Refer to Inflatable Restraint Steering Wheel Module Coil Replacement in SIR for combination switch replacement procedures.

#### Dimmer Switch Operation

The light/dimmer/turn signal combination switch lever is located on the left side of the steering column. The light/dimmer/turn signal combination switch lever controls the operation of the following headlamp operations:

• | Low beam

• | High beam

With the headlamps activated, push the lever forward into the detent position in order to change the headlamps from low beam to high beam operation. Pull the lever back to the center position in order to return the headlamps from high beam operation to low beam operation.

Refer to Inflatable Restraint Steering Wheel Module Coil Replacement in SIR for combination switch replacement procedures.

#### Flash-to-Pass Feature

Pull the lever rearward in order to illuminate the high beam headlamps when the lighting system is in either of the following positions:

• | OFF

• | Parking lamps setting

• | Low beam headlamp setting

Release the lever by allowing the lever to return to the center position in order to return the system to the previous setting.

The Flash-to-Pass feature allows the driver to signal the driver of another vehicle of his intention to pass.

#### Hazard Lamps

The hazard switch is located on the top of the steering column. The hazard switch is a part of the combination switch and controls the operation of the hazard lamp circuit. Press the hazard switch to the ON position in order to cause the turn relay to disengage the turn signal circuit and to engage the hazard lamp circuit. This action causes the following components to flash ON and OFF:

• | Both turn indicators in the instrument panel cluster assembly

• | All of the exterior turn signal lamps

The hazard lamp circuit operates regardless of the position of the ignition switch. In order to disengage the hazard lamp circuit and return the turn relay to the turn signal mode, press the hazard switch again and allow the switch to return to the OFF position.

Refer to Inflatable Restraint Steering Wheel Module Coil Replacement in SIR for combination switch replacement procedures.

Refer to Hazard and Turn Signal Flasher Replacement in Instrument Panel, Gauges and Console for turn relay replacement procedures.

#### Illumination Controller

The illumination controller is located on the left side of the instrument panel. The illumination controller controls the intensity of the following components:

• | The instrument panel lamps

• | The instrument panel cluster assembly lamps

Rotate the illumination controller clockwise in order to brighten the following components:

• | The instrument panel cluster assembly

• | The radio display

• | The cluster bezel switches (the rear defogger, the rear wiper and the rear washer, if equipped)

• | The heater control unit

Rotate the illumination controller counterclockwise in order to dim the same components.

Activating the parking lamps or the headlamps illuminates the following lamps:

• | The instrument panel lamps

• | The instrument panel cluster assembly lamps

Refer to Instrument Panel Lamp Dimmer Switch Replacement in Instrument Panel, Gauges and Console for illumination controller replacement procedures.

#### Turn Signal Operation

The following components control the turn signal operation:

• | The turn relay located in the junction block

• | The light/dimmer/turn signal combination switch lever located on the left side of the steering column

The ignition switch must be ON in order to operate the turn signals.

When making a partial turn, such as when changing lanes, the driver has the option of moving the lever to a detent stop. The following components continue to flash as long as you hold the lever in the detent stop position:

• | The turn signal lamps

• | The instrument panel turn signal indicator

When you release the lever, the flashing cancels automatically. The detent position allows you to make a lane change or a shallow turn without failing to cancel the turn signal circuit. Move the lever past the detent position to the furthest upward or downward position in order to provide conventional turn signal operation.

Refer to Inflatable Restraint Steering Wheel Module Coil Replacement in SIR for combination switch replacement procedures.