Security Indicator: Operation

The security indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the Vehicle Theft Alarm (VTA) portion of the Vehicle Theft Security System (VTSS) is arming or is armed. This indicator is controlled on the instrument cluster circuit board based upon a hard wired input to the cluster from the Body Control Module (BCM) on the VTSS indicator driver circuit. The security indicator Light Emitting Diode (LED) receives battery current on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board through the fused B(+) circuit at all times; therefore, the LED will remain functional regardless of the ignition switch position. The LED only illuminates when it is provided a path to ground by the BCM. The security indicator will be illuminated for the following reasons:

• VTSS Indication -  During the sixteen second VTA pre-arming function, the BCM will flash the security indicator on and off repeatedly at a steady, fast rate to indicate that the VTA is in the process of arming. Following successful VTA arming, the BCM flashes the security indicator on and off continuously at a slower rate to indicate that the VTA is armed. The security indicator continues flashing at the slower rate until the VTA is disarmed.

The BCM provides a hard wired ground input to the instrument cluster circuitry through the VTSS indicator driver circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the Off position and the VTA is arming, armed, or triggered. The VTSS indicator driver circuit between the BCM and the instrument cluster can be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and methods. However, for proper diagnosis of the VTA and the BCM, or the hard wired inputs to the instrument cluster that control the security indicator, a DRBIII(R) scan tool is required.