Vehicle Theft Security System

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan, 2002 Dodge Caravan, 2002 Chrysler Voyager, and 2002 Chrysler Town & Country. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: The VTSS will not arm by pushing down the door lock mechanism. This will manually override the system.

NOTE: If hood is not secure during the arming sequence, the lamp will stay lit and not flash. The system will arm with hood not secured (hood ajar switch closed) and the liftgate open (liftgate ajar switch closed). System will not arm if passenger compartment is not secure (all switches closed).

The Vehicle Theft Security System (VTSS) is designed to protect against whole vehicle theft. The system monitors vehicle doors, hood, liftgate, and ignition action against unauthorized operation. The alarm activates:

Sounding of the horn.
Flashing of the park and tail lamps.
Flashing of the headlamps.
An engine kill feature (without SKIS).

Upon failure of proper SKIM communication to the PCM, the PCM will shut off fuel after 2 seconds of run time. The engine will not re-crank on the key cycle that the failure occurred, a full key down sequence must be performed for the engine to crank again. After 6 consecutive fuel shut-offs, the engine will no longer crank on subsequent key cycles. The failure must be corrected and a valid communication process between the SKIM and the PCM must occur for the engine to crank and start again.

The electronics for the VTSS are part of the Body Control Module (BCM). The system is armed when the vehicle is locked using the:

Power door lock switches (with any door ajar).
Remote Keyless Entry transmitter.
Door Cylinder Lock Switches.

For vehicles equipped with SKIS, the doors do not have to be locked to enable the fuel shut off feature.

After the vehicle is locked and the last door is closed, the set LED indicator in the top cover will flash quickly for 16 seconds, indicating that arming is in progress. If no monitored systems are activated during this period, the system will arm. The LED will extinguish unless the liftgate is open. If the liftgate is open, the LED will flash at a slower rate.

This indicates that the system is armed. If fault is detected on any key cylinder input, the indicator LED will remain solid during the arming process, although the system will still arm. If the indicator LED does not illuminate at all upon door closing it indicates that the system is not arming.

Passive disarming occurs upon normal vehicle entry by unlocking either door with the ignition key/ remote transmitter. This disarming will also halt the alarm once it has been activated.

A tamper alert exists to notify the driver that the VTSS had been activated. This alert consists of 3 horn pulses when the vehicle is disarmed.