GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

The Content Theft Deterrent (CTD) System, when armed, is designed to deter vehicle content theft by pulsing the horns and exterior lamps for approximately 30 seconds when an unauthorized vehicle entry is detected. However, the CTD system does not affect engine starting.

An unauthorized entry can be any of the following with the CTD system armed :

    • When the rear compartment has been opened without the use of the keyless entry system
    • When any door is opened without being unlocked using the keyless entry transmitter

The components of the system are :

    • The body control module (BCM)
    • The door ajar switches
    • The rear compartment lid ajar switch

Arming the CTD System

Important: The Content Theft Deterrent (CTD) System can be armed with the windows or top open.

Use the following procedure in order to arm the system:

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Exit the vehicle.
  3. Important: The system is not armed if the doors are locked manually. The remote keyless entry transmitter must be used to arm the CTD system.

  4. Lock the doors with the LOCK button on the transmitter. The system is in arm pending mode and will not start the arming timer until all doors are closed. The security indicator will flash quickly. The CTD system is in the open state at this point. The CTD system transition to the locked state when the final door is closed.
  5. The security indicator will illuminate steady when in the locked state. If the LOCK button is pressed after the vehicle doors have been closed, the open state will be bypassed and the system will transition directly to the locked state with the indicator on steady.

  6. The system will arm approximately 30 seconds from the time that the system has entered the locked state. When the indicator transitions to flashing slowly, the system is armed. Alternately, if the LOCK button on the keyless entry transmitter is pressed a second time, the system will arm immediately, bypassing the 30-second delay.

Locking The Vehicle Without Arming The CTD System

Locking the vehicle may be accomplished without arming the CTD system by locking the vehicle using the manual door locks.

Disarming an Armed System/Silencing an Alarm

If system arming has been requested by the keyless entry transmitter, it must be disarmed.

Important: Manually unlocking the doors does not disable the content theft deterrent (CTD) armed mode. Also, disconnecting the battery or pulling fuses does not disable the armed mode, as the body control module (BCM) stores the CTD status in memory.

To disarm the CTD system perform one of the following:

  1. Press the UNLOCK button on the keyless entry transmitter.
  2. Insert a valid key into the ignition and start the vehicle.

CTD Circuit Description

The following is a description of each component used in the Content Theft Deterrent (CTD) System:

Body Control Module (BCM)

The CTD system is an internal function of the body control module (BCM) which utilizes serial data and various switch inputs to perform CTD functions. When the BCM detects an unauthorized entry, it activates the horns and exterior lamps. When the BCM detects an unauthorized entry, the BCM will first enter the warn-away mode. Warn-away will command short chips from the horn. If after 10 seconds the unauthorized entry still exists, the BCM will transition to the alarm mode. The horn and lamps will pulse for 30 seconds. Following the 30-second alarm period is a 10-second time-out. The system will then re-arm.

Door Ajar Switches

The CTD system uses the door ajar switches in the door jambs as one method to activate the alarm.

The BCM monitors all door ajar switches via a discrete input from each door ajar switch. If the BCM receives a ground signal from a door ajar switch when the CTD system is armed, the BCM activates the alarm.

Inputs

The BCM monitors the following inputs:

    • The driver and passenger door ajar switches
    • The rear compartment lid ajar switch
    • The transmitter LOCK/UNLOCK buttons; an internal function of the BCM
    • The Passkey Status -- The BCM uses the Passkey status for disarming the system or silencing and alarm when the correct vehicle key is used to start the vehicle.

Outputs

The BCM controls the following:

    • The horn relay
    • The exterior lights