Vehicle Theft Alarm: Arming

Passive arming of the VTA occurs when the vehicle is exited with the key or FOB with Integrated Key (FOBIK), the status of the ignition switch (also known as the Keyless Ignition Node/KIN or IGnition Node Module/IGNM) is Off, the headlamps are turned Off and the doors are locked while they are open using the power lock switch. Active arming occurs when the Lock button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter is depressed to lock the vehicle. For active arming to occur, the doors must be closed and the status of the ignition switch must be Off when the RKE transmitter Lock button is depressed. The power lock switch will not function if the headlamps are turned On with the driver side front door open.

Pre-arming of the VTA is initiated when the vehicle is locked using a power door lock switch or when the RKE transmitter Lock button is depressed. Pre-arming will not occur if the headlamps are turned On with the driver side front door open. When the VTA is pre-armed, the arming sequence is delayed until all of the doors have been closed. The VTA will remain in pre-armed mode for up to 16 seconds after all doors have been closed.

Once the VTA begins the passive or active arming sequence, the security indicator in the Instrument Cluster (IC) (also known as the Common Instrument Cluster/CIC) will flash rapidly for about 16 seconds. This indicates that VTA arming is in progress. If the ignition switch status transitions to On, if a door is unlocked or opened by any means or if the RKE Panic button (if equipped) is depressed during the 16 second arming process, the security indicator will stop flashing and the arming process will abort. Once the arming sequence is successfully completed, the security indicator will flash at a slower rate, indicating that the VTA is armed.