GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Your vehicle may have the optional content theft-deterrent alarm system.

With this system, a light on the radio will flash.

This light reminds you to activate the theft-deterrent system. Here's how to do it:

  1. Open the door.
  2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter. The light on the radio should come on and stay on. If you are using the remote keyless entry transmitter, the door does not need to be open.
  3. Close all doors. The light on the radio will slowly flash once the system is armed.

Once armed, the alarm will go off if someone tries to enter the vehicle (without using the remote keyless entry transmitter or a key) or turns the ignition on with an incorrect key. The horn will sound and the headlamps and back-up lamps will flash for approximately two minutes.

When the alarm is armed, the trunk may be opened with the remote keyless entry transmitter. If you use the key to open the trunk, the alarm will sound. The power door lock switches are also disabled. You must use your remote keyless entry transmitter or your key to unlock the doors when the system is armed.

Arming with the Power Lock Switch

Your alarm system will arm when you use either power lock switch to lock the doors while any door or the trunk is open and the key is removed from the ignition.

The light on the radio flashes quickly to let you know when the system is ready to arm with the power door lock switches. The light on the radio will stop flashing and stay on when you press the bottom of the power lock switch, to let you know the system is arming. After all doors and the trunk are closed and locked, the light on the radio will flash slowly to let you know the system is armed.

Arming with the Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter

Your alarm system will arm when you use your remote keyless entry transmitter to lock the doors, if the key is not in the ignition. The light on the radio will turn on to let you know the system is arming. After all doors and the trunk are closed and locked, the light on the radio will begin flashing at a very slow rate to let you know the system is armed.

Disarming with the Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter

Your alarm system will disarm when you use your remote keyless entry transmitter to unlock the doors. The light on the radio will go off to let you know the system is no longer armed.

The first time a remote UNLOCK command is received, three flashes will be seen and three horn chirps heard to indicate an alarm condition has occurred since last arming.

Disarming with Your Key

Your alarm system will disarm when you use your key to unlock the doors. The light on the radio will go off to let you know the system is no longer armed.