GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Your vehicle may have a content theft-deterrent alarm system.


Object Number: 811473  Size: A1

The security light is located on the instrument panel cluster.

To operate the system:

  1. Open the door.
  2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. The security light should flash.
  3. The system will not activate if the doors are locked with the key or manual door lock.

  4. Close all doors. The security light should turn off after about 30 seconds. The alarm is not armed until the security light turns off.

If a locked door is opened without the key or the RKE transmitter, the alarm will go off. The headlamps and parking lamps will flash for two minutes, and the horn will sound for 30 seconds, then will turn off to save the battery power.

To avoid setting off the alarm by accident:

    • Always lock the vehicle using the door key after the doors are closed.
    • Always unlock a door with a key, or use the RKE transmitter. Unlocking a door any other way will set off the alarm.

To turn off the alarm, press unlock on the RKE transmitter or unlock any door with the key.

Testing the Alarm

To test the alarm:

  1. From inside the vehicle, lower the driver's window and open the driver's door.
  2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the power door lock switch while the door is open, or with the RKE transmitter.
  3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait for the security light to go out.
  4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door with the manual door lock and open the door. This should set off the alarm.

When the alarm is set the power door unlock switch will not work.

If the alarm does not sound when it should but the headlamps flash, check to see if the horn works. The horn fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers .

If the alarm does not sound or the headlamps do not flash, the vehicle should be serviced by your dealer/retailer.