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 2 minutes 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 any door is opened without first being unlocked using the keyless entry transmitter
    • When opening a door or the trunk without using the correct key

The components of the system are:

    • The body control module (BCM)
    • Door ajar switches

Important

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

Arming the CTD System

Use the following procedure in order to arm the system:

  1. Place the shift lever in P (PARK).
  2. Turn OFF the ignition.
  3. Open any door.
  4. Important: The system is not armed if the doors are locked manually. The remote keyless entry transmitter or power door lock switch must be used to arm the CTD System.

  5. Lock the doors with the LOCK button on the transmitter or power door lock switch. The system is in open mode and will not start the arming timer until all doors are closed. The security indicator will flash quickly.
  6. The system will arm approximately 30 seconds from the time that the last door is closed. During this delay the THEFT SYSTEM indicator will be flashing quickly. When the indicator transitions to FLASHING slowly, the system is armed.

Passive CTD Arming

Through vehicle personalization, the CTD system can be set to arm passively with no input from the vehicle operator. Passive CTD arming will not lock the vehicle doors however.

Use the following procedure in order to passively arm the system:

  1. Turn ON passive CTD arming via vehicle personalization.
  2. Turn OFF the ignition.
  3. Open any door.
  4. Once the vehicle door is closed, a timer begins. After approximately 3 minutes, the CTD system will enter arm pending mode. This mode is identified by a quickly flashing security indicator.
  5. After approximately 30 seconds, the theft indicator will begin flashing slowly. The system in now armed. No audible horn honk or visual lamp flash will occur when the CTD is passively armed. Also, the vehicle doors will not lock during a passive arming.

Locking The Vehicle Without Arming The CTD System

Locking the vehicle may be accomplished without arming the Content Theft Deterrent (CTD) System. Use of the manual door locks or using the key to lock the doors will lock the vehicle but will not arm the CTD System. Passive CTD arming must be turned OFF in vehicle personalization to allow the doors to be locked without arming the CTD system.

Disarming an Armed System/Silencing an Alarm

If system arming has been requested, it must be disarmed.

Important: Using the power door unlock switch or 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, since the body control module (BCM) stores the CTD mode status in memory.

Certain vehicles may or may not be equipped with CTD disarming via the drivers door lock cylinder. To determine if a vehicle is equipped with this CTD disarm feature, with a scan tool view the BCM ECU Personalization menu under Vehicle Control System Data Display. If the Key Lock/Unlock Enable parameter is Yes, door key cylinder disarming is enabled; if the parameter is No, disarming is disabled.

    • To disarm the CTD System in open mode, SECURITY indicator flashing quickly and doors open, perform one of the following:
       - Press the UNLOCK button on the keyless entry transmitter or power door lock switch.
       - Insert a valid key into the ignition and start the vehicle.
       - Insert a valid key into the door lock cylinder and rotate, if enabled.
    • To disarm the CTD System in the armed mode:
       - Press the UNLOCK button on the keyless entry transmitter.
       - Insert a valid key into the ignition and start the vehicle.
       - Insert a valid key into the door lock cylinder and rotate, if enabled.
    • To disarm the CTD System when activated, alarming mode.
       - Press the UNLOCK button on the keyless entry transmitter.
       - 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 Content Theft Deterrent (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 enters the alarm mode. The BCM activates the horns and exterior lamps for 30 seconds. This is followed by a 3 minute time-out with the horn and lamps no longer active. If no new intrusions are detected after the time-out, the horn and lamps are not active. The system must be disarmed or the intrusion condition removed after the time-out for the system to exit alarm mode.

Door Ajar Switches

The Content Theft Deterrent (CTD) System uses the door ajar switches in the door jambs as one method to activate the alarm. The body control module (BCM) monitors all door ajar switches via a discrete input from each door ajar switch, including the rear compartment. 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 body control module (BCM) monitors the following inputs:

    • Driver and passenger door ajar switches
    • The rear compartment ajar switch
    • Transmitter LOCK/UNLOCK buttons, internal function of the BCM
    • Passkey Status--The BCM uses the Passkey status for disarming the system or silencing and alarm when the correct key is used.

Outputs

The body control module (BCM) controls the following:

    • The horn relay
    • The exterior lights