Description And Operation: Anti-Theft

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Mercury Sable, 2008 Ford Taurus X, and 2008 Ford Taurus. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: The smart junction box (SJB) is also known as the generic electronic module (GEM).

The perimeter anti-theft system consists of the following:

Door ajar switches
Door lock control switch
Driver door lock cylinder disarm switch
Hood switch
Horn
Luggage compartment lid/liftgate ajar switch
Remote keyless entry (RKE) transmitter (part of the integrated keyhead transmitter [IKT] key)
Keyless entry keypad
Turn signal lamps
Smart junction box (SJB)

The perimeter anti-theft feature is controlled by the SJB. The alarm can be armed by:

pressing the LOCK button on the RKE transmitter.
pressing the door lock control switch to LOCK with the accompanying door open, then closed.
pressing the 7/8 and 9/0 buttons on the keyless entry keypad simultaneously.

The SJB monitors all of the inputs (all doors, hood, luggage compartment lid/liftgate must be closed and the key must be out of the ignition switch) and 20 seconds after all of the inputs are closed, arms the perimeter alarm. From the time each individual input is closed, to the time the perimeter alarm is armed for that particular input, is the "pre-arm phase". The pre-arm phase is separate for each individual input. If the door lock control switch was pressed to LOCK with the accompanying door open, all of the inputs that are closed (hood, luggage compartment lid/liftgate) would immediately begin their pre-arm phase. After the door (that was open) is closed, then that door would begin its pre-arm phase. This would cause the other inputs to be armed a few seconds before that door. The perimeter alarm would arm in stages, in relation to which input was closed first after the arming command was given. In the event of an unauthorized entry, the alarm will be activated by the SJB. When the alarm is activated, the SJB intermittently grounds the horn relay, causing the horn to sound in regular intervals, and intermittently powers the turn signals, causing the turn signal lamps to flash in regular intervals.

The perimeter alarm can be disarmed only by:

pressing the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter (part of the IKT key).
turning the door lock cylinder to the UNLOCK position.
using a valid programmed key to turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
entering the correct vehicle unlock code on the keyless entry keypad.

For additional information on the SJB, refer to MULTIFUNCTION ELECTRONIC MODULES article.

The alarm may be deactivated (not disarmed) by pressing the PANIC button on the RKE transmitter (part of the IKT key). This will not disarm the alarm, but it will stop the alarm from activation (horn sounding and turn signals flashing). The perimeter alarm will continue to be armed.

For additional information on the keyless entry keypad and/or transmitter, refer to HANDLES, LOCKS, LATCHES AND ENTRY SYSTEMS article.