CONTROL/CENTRAL TIMER MODULE -
DESCRIPTION).
²Combination Flasher (Refer to 8 - ELECTRI-
CAL/LAMPS/LIGHTING - EXTERIOR/COMBINA-
TION FLASHER - DESCRIPTION).
²Door Ajar Switch (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
LAMPS/LIGHTING - INTERIOR/DOOR AJAR
SWITCH - DESCRIPTION - DOOR AJAR SWITCH).
²Driver Cylinder Lock Switch (Refer to 8 - ELEC-
TRICAL/POWER LOCKS/DOOR CYLINDER LOCK/
UNLOCK SWITCH - DESCRIPTION).
²Hood Ajar Switch(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/VE-
HICLE THEFT SECURITY/HOOD AJAR SWITCH -
DESCRIPTION).
²Horn Relay (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/HORN/
HORN RELAY - DESCRIPTION).
²Liftgate Ajar Switch (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
LAMPS/LIGHTING - INTERIOR/DOOR AJAR
SWITCH - DESCRIPTION - LIFTGATE AJAR
SWITCH).
²Liftgate Flip-Up Glass Ajar Switch(Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/LAMPS/LIGHTING - INTERIOR/
DOOR AJAR SWITCH - DESCRIPTION - LIFTGATE
FLIP-UP GLASS AJAR SWITCH).
²Low Beam Headlamp Relay
²VTSS Indicator (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/VE-
HICLE THEFT SECURITY/VTSS INDICATOR -
DESCRIPTION).
Certain functions and features of the VTSS rely
upon resources shared with or controlled by other
modules in the vehicle over the Programmable Com-
munications Interface (PCI) data bus network. The
other modules that may affect VTSS operation are:
²Driver Door Module (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES/DOOR MOD-
ULE - DESCRIPTION).
²Passenger Door Module (Refer to 8 - ELECTRI-
CAL/ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES/DOOR
MODULE - DESCRIPTION).
DESCRIPTION - SENTRY KEY IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
Vehicles equipped with the Sentry Key Immobilizer
System (SKIS) can be identified by the presence of
an amber SKIS indicator in the instrument cluster
that will illuminate for about three seconds each
time the ignition switch is turned to the On position,
or by a gray molded rubber cap on the head of the
ignition key. Models not equipped with SKIS still
have a SKIS indicator in the cluster, but it will not
illuminate. Also, models not equipped with the SKIS
have a black molded rubber cap on the head of the
ignition key.
The SKIS includes the following major components,
which are described in further detail elsewhere in
this service manual:²Powertrain Control Module
²Sentry Key Immobilizer Module
²Sentry Key Transponder
²SKIS Indicator
Except for the Sentry Key transponders, which rely
upon Radio Frequency (RF) communication, hard
wired circuitry connects the SKIS components to the
electrical system of the vehicle.Refer to the appropri-
ate wiring information.
OPERATION
OPERATION - VEHICLE THEFT SECURITY
SYSTEM
The Vehicle Theft Security System (VTSS) is
divided into two basic subsystems: Vehicle Theft
Alarm (VTA) and Sentry Key Immobilizer System
(SKIS). The following are paragraphs that briefly
describe the operation of each of those two sub-
systems.
A Body Control Module (BCM) is used to control
and integrate many of the functions and features
included in the Vehicle Theft Security System
(VTSS). In the VTSS, the BCM receives inputs indi-
cating the status of the door ajar switches, the driver
cylinder lock switch, the ignition switch, the liftgate
ajar switches, the liftgate flip-up glass ajar switch,
the power lock switches and, in vehicles so equipped,
the hood ajar switch. The programming in the BCM
allows it to process the information from all of these
inputs and send control outputs to energize or de-en-
ergize the combination flasher, the horn relay (except
vehicles with the premium version of the VTA), and
the VTSS indicator. In addition, in vehicles built for
certain markets where premium versions of the VTA
is required, the BCM also exchanges messages with
the Intrusion Transceiver Module (ITM) over the Pro-
grammable Communications Interface (PCI) data
buss network to provide the features found in this
version of the VTA. The control of these inputs and
outputs are what constitute all of the features of the
VTSS. Following is information on the operation of
each of the VTSS features.
ENABLING
The BCM must have the VTSS function enabled in
order for the VTSS to perform as designed. The logic
in the BCM keeps its VTSS function dormant until it
is enabled using a DRBIIItscan tool. Refer to the
appropriate diagnostic information.
PRE-ARMING
The VTA has a pre-arming sequence. Pre-arming
occurs when a door, the tailgate, or the flip-up glass
is open when the vehicle is locked using a power lock
8Q - 2 VEHICLE THEFT SECURITYWJ
VEHICLE THEFT SECURITY (Continued)
(2) Check for battery voltage at the fused B(+) fuse
in the JB. If OK, go to Step 3. If not OK, repair the
open B(+) circuit between the JB fuse and the Power
Distribution Center (PDC).
(3) Check the fused ignition switch output (st-run)
fuse in the JB. If OK, go to Step 4. If not OK, repair
the shorted circuit or component and replace the
faulty fuse.
(4) Turn the ignition switch to the On position.
Check for battery voltage at the fused ignition switch
output (st-run) fuse in the JB. If OK, go to Step 5. If
not OK, repair the open fused ignition switch output
(st-run) circuit between the JB fuse and the ignition
switch as required.
(5) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable. Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness
connector for the Sentry Key Immobilizer Module
(SKIM) from the SKIM connector. Check for continu-
ity between the ground circuit of the instrument
panel wire harness connector for the SKIM and a
good ground. There should be continuity. If OK, go to
Step 6. If not OK, repair the open ground circuit.
(6) Reconnect the battery negative cable. Check for
battery voltage at the fused B(+) circuit cavity of the
instrument panel wire harness connector for the
SKIM. If OK, go to Step 7. If not OK, repair the open
fused B(+) circuit between the SKIM and the JB
fuse.
(7) Turn the ignition switch to the On position.
Check for battery voltage at the fused ignition switch
output (st-run) circuit of the instrument panel wire
harness connector for the SKIM. If OK, refer to the
appropriate diagnostic information and use a
DRBIIItscan tool to complete the diagnosis of the
SKIS. If not OK, repair the open fused ignition
switch output (st-run) circuit between the SKIM and
the JB fuse.
SKIS INDICATOR FLASHES OR LIGHTS SOLID FOLLOWING
BULB TEST
A SKIS indicator that flashes following a successful
bulb test indicates that an invalid key has been
detected, or that a key-related fault has been set. A
SKIS indicator that lights solid following a successful
bulb test indicates that the SKIM has detected a sys-
tem malfunction or that the SKIS is inoperative. In
either case, fault information will be stored in the
SKIM memory. For retrieval of this fault information
and further diagnosis of the SKIS, the PCI data bus,
the SKIM message outputs to the instrument cluster,
the SKIM message outputs to the Body Control Mod-
ule (BCM), or the message inputs and outputs
between the SKIM and the Powertrain Control Mod-
ule (PCM), a DRBIIItscan tool and the appropriate
diagnostic information are required. Following are
preliminary troubleshooting guidelines to be followed
during diagnosis using a DRBIIItscan tool:(1) Using the DRBIIItscan tool, read and record
the faults as they exist in the SKIM when you first
begin your diagnosis of the vehicle. It is important to
document these faults because the SKIM does not
differentiate between historical and active faults. If
this problem turns out to be an intermittent condi-
tion, this information may become invaluable to your
diagnosis.
(2) Using the DRBIIItscan tool, erase all of the
faults from the SKIM.
(3) Cycle the ignition switch to the Off position,
then back to the On position.
(4) Using the DRBIIItscan tool, read any faults
that are now present in the SKIM. These are the
active faults.
(5) Using this active fault information, refer to the
proper procedure in the appropriate diagnostic infor-
mation for the additional specific diagnostic steps.
STANDARD PROCEDURE
STANDARD PROCEDURE - SKIS
INITIALIZATION
The Sentry Key Immobilizer System (SKIS) must
be initialized following a Sentry Key Immobilizer
Module (SKIM) replacement. SKIS initialization
requires the use of a DRBIIItscan tool. Initialization
will also require that you have access to the unique
four-digit PIN code that was assigned to the original
SKIM. The PIN codemustbe used to enter the
Secured Access Mode in the SKIM. This PIN number
may be obtained from the vehicle owner, from the
original vehicle invoice, or from the DaimlerChrysler
Customer Center. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/ELEC-
TRONIC CONTROL MODULES - STANDARD PRO-
CEDURE - PCM/SKIM PROGRAMMING).
NOTE: If a Powertrain Control Module (PCM) is
replaced on a vehicle equipped with the Sentry Key
Immobilizer System (SKIS), the unique Secret Key
data must be transferred from the Sentry Key
Immobilizer Module (SKIM) to the new PCM using
the PCM replacement procedure. This procedure
also requires the use of a DRBIIITscan tool and the
unique four-digit PIN code to enter the Secured
Access Mode in the SKIM. Refer to the appropriate
diagnostic information for the proper PCM replace-
ment procedures.
STANDARD PROCEDURE - SENTRY KEY
TRANSPONDER PROGRAMMING
All Sentry Keys included with the vehicle are pre-
programmed to work with the Sentry Key Immobi-
lizer System (SKIS) when it is shipped from the
8Q - 6 VEHICLE THEFT SECURITYWJ
VEHICLE THEFT SECURITY (Continued)
factory. The Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM)
can be programmed to recognize up to a total of eight
Sentry Keys. When programming a blank Sentry Key
transponder, the key must first be cut to match the
ignition switch lock cylinde for which it will be used.
Once the additional key has been cut, the SKIM
must be programmed to recognize it as a valid key.
There are two possible methods to program the
SKIM to recognize a new or additional valid key, the
Secured Access Method and the Customer Learn
Method. Following are the details of these two pro-
gramming methods.
SECURED ACCESS METHOD
The Secured Access method applies to all vehicles.
This method requires the use of a DRBIIItscan tool.
This method will also require that you have access to
the unique four-digit PIN code that was assigned to
the original SKIM. The PIN codemustbe used to
enter the Secured Access Mode in the SKIM. This
PIN number may be obtained from the vehicle owner,
from the original vehicle invoice, or from the
DaimlerChrysler Customer Center. Refer to the
appropriate diagnostic information for the proper
Secured Access method programming procedures.
CUSTOMER LEARN METHOD
The Customer Learn feature is only available on
domestic vehicles, or those vehicles which have a
U.S. country code designator. This programming
method also requires access to at least two valid Sen-
try Keys. If two valid Sentry Keys are not available,
or if the vehicle does not have a U.S. country code
designator, the Secured Access Methodmustbe used
to program new or additional valid keys to the SKIM.
The Customer Learn programming method proce-
dures are as follows:
(1) Obtain the blank Sentry Key(s) that are to be
programmed as valid keys for the vehicle. Cut the
blank key(s) to match the ignition switch lock cylin-
der mechanical key codes.
(2) Insert one of the two valid Sentry Keys into the
ignition switch and turn the ignition switch to the
On position.
(3) After the ignition switch has been in the On
position for longer than three seconds, but no more
than fifteen seconds, cycle the ignition switch back to
the Off position. Replace the first valid Sentry Key in
the ignition switch lock cylinder with the second
valid Sentry Key and turn the ignition switch back to
the On position. The second valid Sentry Key must
be inserted in the lock cylinder within fifteen seconds
of removing the first valid key.
(4) About ten seconds after the completion of Step
3, the SKIS indicator in the instrument cluster will
start to flash and a single audible chime tone willsound to indicate that the system has entered the
Customer Learn programming mode.
(5) Within sixty seconds of entering the Customer
Learn programming mode, turn the ignition switch to
the Off position, replace the valid Sentry Key with a
blank Sentry Key transponder, and turn the ignition
switch back to the On position.
(6) About ten seconds after the completion of Step
5, a single audible chime tone will sound and the
SKIS indicator will stop flashing, stay on solid for
three seconds, then turn off to indicate that the
blank Sentry Key has been successfully programmed.
The SKIS will immediately exit the Customer Learn
programming mode and the vehicle may now be
started using the newly programmed valid Sentry
Key.
Each of these steps must be repeated and com-
pleted in their entirety for each additional Sentry
Key that is to be programmed. If the above steps are
not completed in the given sequence, or within the
allotted time, the SKIS will exit the Customer Learn
programming mode and the programming will be
unsuccessful. The SKIS will also automatically exit
the Customer Learn programming mode if it sees a
non-blank Sentry Key transponder when it should
see a blank, if it has already programmed eight (8)
valid Sentry Keys, or if the ignition switch is turned
to the Off position for more than about fifty seconds.
NOTE: If an attempt is made to start the vehicle
while in the Customer Learn mode (SKIS indicator
flashing), the SKIS will respond as though the vehi-
cle were being started with an invalid key. In other
words, the engine will stall after about two seconds
of operation. No faults will be set.
NOTE: Once a Sentry Key has been programmed as
a valid key to a vehicle, it cannot be programmed
as a valid key for use on any other vehicle.
DOOR CYLINDER LOCK
SWITCH
DESCRIPTION
Vehicles manufactured for North American mar-
kets that are equipped with the optional Vehicle
Theft Security System (VTSS) have a door cylinder
lock switch secured to the back of the key lock cylin-
der inside the drivers front door (Fig. 1). The door
cylinder lock switch is a resistor multiplexed momen-
tary switch that is hard wired in series between the
door lock switch ground and right or left cylinder
lock switch mux circuits of the Drivers Door Module
(DDM) through the front door wire harness. The door
WJVEHICLE THEFT SECURITY 8Q - 7
VEHICLE THEFT SECURITY (Continued)