Vehicle Theft Security System Operation

VEHICLE THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM

The Vehicle Theft Security System (VTSS) is designed to protect against whole vehicle theft. The system monitors vehicle doors, decklid, and ignition action for unauthorized operation. The alarm activates:
- Sounding of the horn
- Flashing of the park and tail lamps
- Flashing of the headlamps

SENTRY KEY IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM

The Sentry Key Immobilizer System (SKIS) is available as a factory-installed option on this vehicle. It is designed to provide passive protection against unauthorized vehicle use by disabling the engine, after two (2) seconds of running, whenever an invalid key is used to start the vehicle. The SKIS is active whenever the ignition is on and does not require any customer intervention. The primary components of the system are the Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM), Sentry Key (ignition key w/ a transponder molded into the head), indicator light, Body Control Module (BCM), and the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The SKIM is mounted to the steering column with the molded, integral antenna mounted on the light halo surrounding the ignition lock cylinder. The indicator light, is located in the message center.

OPERATION

VEHICLE THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM

Upon failure of proper Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) communication to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), the PCM will shut off fuel after two seconds of run time. The engine will not start on the key cycle that the failure occurred, a full key down sequence must be performed for the engine to crank again. After six consecutive fuel shut-offs, the engine will no longer crank on subsequent key cycles. The failure must be corrected and a valid communication process between the SKIM and the PCM must occur for the engine to crank and start again.

The electronics for the Vehicle Theft Security System (VTSS) are part of the Body Control Module (BCM). The system is armed when the vehicle is locked using the:
- Power door lock switches (with any door ajar)
- Remote Keyless Entry transmitter.
- Door Cylinder Lock Switches.

For vehicles equipped with SKIS, the doors do not have to be locked to enable the fuel shut off feature. After the vehicle is locked and the last door is closed, the LED indicator in the cluster will flash quickly for 16 seconds, indicating that arming is in progress. If no monitored systems are activated during this period, the system will arm.
The LED will extinguish unless the decklid is open. If the decklid is open, the LED will flash at a slower rate. This indicates that the system is armed. If fault is detected on any key cylinder input, the LED indicator will remain solid during the arming process, although the system will still arm. If the indicator LED does not illuminate at all upon door closing it indicates that the system is not arming. Passive disarming occurs upon normal vehicle entry by unlocking either door with the ignition key/ remote transmitter. This disarming will also halt the alarm once it has been activated. A tamper alert exists to notify the driver that the VTSS had been activated. This alert consists of 3 horn pulses when the vehicle is disarmed. NOTE: The VTSS will not arm by pushing down the door lock mechanism. This will manually override the system.

If the VTSS is triggered, the horn will pulse, headlamps/ marker lamps will flash, and the VTSS warning lamp will flash. If the BCM determines the threat to be false and the VTSS is not triggered again, the system will shut down and rearm itself after three minutes. If a trigger is still active, the alarm will continue for an additional 15 minutes without the horn. The VTSS monitoring portion of the system is split into two sections.

ARMING THE VTSS
1. With the key removed from the ignition lock and any door open (excluding decklid), actuate one of the following:
- Power door lock button to LOCK,
- Key fob LOCK button
- Door lock key cylinder to locked position.

2. Close all opened doors. decklid can remain open.

NOTE: If the decklid is open, it will not be secure. Once the decklid is closed, a separate 16 second counter will start. Once 16 seconds has been reached, the decklid will then be secure, providing a VTSS disarm request has not been received during the 16 second decklid arming period.

3. After the last door is closed, an arming timeout period of sixteen seconds will start, then the VTSS will become armed.
4. If a 16 second time-out sequence was in process and a new arm signal was actuated, the 16 second time-out will restart from the time of the second actuation.
If the LED indicator does not illuminate at all upon final door closure, it indicates that the system is not arming.

The current VTSS status armed or disarmed shall be maintained in memory to prevent battery disconnects from disarming the system.

TRIGGERING THE VTSS

After the VTSS is armed, the following actions will trigger the alarm:
- Opening any door.
- Turning the ignition to the ON, ACC, or UNLOCK position.
- Opening decklid without first receiving a RKE input or decklid key input.

CAUTION: The VTSS indicator LED will trigger and engine will continue to run if the vehicle is equipped with SKIS and the proper key is used to start the vehicle. This condition will occur if the VTSS has been triggered. If valid key is used, VTSS will disarm

SENTRY KEY IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM

The SKIS includes keys from the factory which are pre-programmed. Each SKIM will recognize a maximum of eight Sentry Keys. If the customer would like to own additional keys other than those provided with the vehicle, they can be purchased from any authorized dealer. These keys must be programmed to the SKIM on the vehicle in order for the system to recognize them as valid keys. This can be done by the dealer with a DRB IIIt scan tool or by a customer if this feature is available in their market and they have two (2) valid keys already available to them. Refer to the Service Procedures portion of this system for additional details. The SKIS performs a self-test each time the ignition switch is turned to the ON position and will store Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC's) if a system malfunction is detected. The SKIS can be diagnosed and any stored DTC's can be retrieved using a DRB III scan tool.