GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Circuit Operation

The Content Theft Deterrent  (CTD) system is contained in the body control module  (BCM). The CTD system allows a variable entry time into the vehicle before sounding the alarm. The CTD system is disabled when the ignition key is inserted into the ignition key lock cylinder and turned to the ON position. The CTD system consists of the following components:

    • The body control module  (BCM)
    • The remote control door lock transmitter
    • The security indicator LED
    • The theft deterrent shock sensor

The use of the transmitter is the primary method of arming the CTD system. The transmitter has four push buttons which perform the following functions:

    • Lock the vehicle doors and arm the CTD system
    • Unlock the vehicle doors and disarm the CTD system
    • Open the rear compartment.
    • Initiate the Panic mode during which the horns sound and the park lamps flash

The side door lock switches can also be used to arm and disarm the CTD system. The security indicator LED flashes to confirm that the system is armed. The LED is visible on top of the instrument panel to provide the system status and as a warning to intruders. The status of the CTD system can be determined by the output of the LED as described below:

  1. The LED flashes once per second with a door open and the CTD system unarmed.
  2. The LED is on steady when the CTD system is waiting for the doors to close before arming.
  3. The LED flashes briefly every two seconds when the CTD system is armed.
  4. The LED flashes twice every two seconds when the CTD system has sounded the alarm due to an impact to the vehicle.
  5. The LED flashes three times every two seconds when the CTD system has sounded the alarm due to the opening of a door or the rear compartment.
  6. The LED is off when the CTD system is off, disarmed, or the vehicle doors are open for longer than ten minutes.

The theft deterrent shock sensor detects impacts to the vehicle. The shock sensor determines the level of the impact to the vehicle and signals the BCM to sound one of the following alarm cycles:

    • For low level impacts to the vehicle, the BCM sounds the horn and flashes the park lamps twice.
    • For high level impacts to the vehicle, the BCM repeatedly sounds the horn and flashes the park lamps.

The shock sensor is ignored by the BCM under any of the following conditions:

    • The ignition switch is in the ON position.
    • The rear compartment lid is open.
    • The CTD system is armed for up to five minutes.
    • Feature customization is used to disable the CTD system.

When armed, the CTD system will monitor the following components to determine when to sound an alarm:

    • The ignition key lock cylinder
    • The theft deterrent shock sensor
    • The front side door locks
    • The rear compartment lid ajar indication switch

The CTD system provides vehicle security along with the PASS-Key® II Vehicle Theft Deterrent (VTD) system by controlling the following:

    • Fuel enable
    • Starter enable
    • Audible alarm (horns)
    • Visual alarm (park lamps)