Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Vehicle Theft Security System
When the VTSS is armed, it monitors the status of the ignition switch and ajar switches for the vehicle doors and liftgate. If the alarm is tripped, it will sound the vehicles horn, flash the exterior lamps and the VTSS indicator located in the instrument cluster.
Arming the system is accomplished by locking the doors with the door lock switch following a normal exit sequence of opening the door, pressing the power lock button and closing the door, by using a cylinder lock switch or by pressing the RKE lock button. After all the doors are closed, the VTSS indicator will flash quickly for sixteen seconds indicating the pre-arm process, after which it will flash at a slower rate indicating the system is armed. If during the pre-arm process a door is opened, the ignition is turned to the Run/Start position, or if the RKE module receives an unlock request, the system will automatically be disarmed.
Disarming can be accomplished with a RKE unlock, turning the ignition on with a valid Sentry key or unlocking the vehicle with a cylinder lock switch. All of the switches for the VTSS system can be monitored using the DRBIII®. The DRBIII® is also useful to determine the cause of a customer complaint of the alarm going off with no apparent reason.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.