How To Find Car Radio Serial Number

How To Find My Car Radio Serial Number
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Car Radio Unlock Codes

Most stereo codes can be found in the vehicle. Code cards are supplied with paper work when the vehicle is purchased. The code card usually looks like a white credit card. On this code card is printed the serial number of the stereo and the matching stereo unlock code.

If the code card is not present, there are several possibilities for acquiring the stereo code.

Your local dealership may be able to retrieve the code by VIN or may require the serial number from the stereo.
The code may be located in a second location in the vehicle, see video.
If the stereo has been removed from the vehicle in the past, the code may have been written on the stereo by a tech.
Specific applications for codes by vehicle listed below.

Acura

This unlock code requires help from the dealership for retrieving the stereo unlock code by stereo serial number. There are other locations for this code in the vehicle, see Locating Code. Code is entered using corresponding preset buttons.

Audi

This is a dealership only if stereo code is not found, vehicle must be present with stereo.

Audi Delta Factory Radio (Example code is 1462)

Turn on radio and hold down the 'AM & ARI-Z' buttons until the word 'CodE' appears in display. Release buttons and 1000 appears in display.
Do not touch preset #1, first digit in display corresponds to radio code.
Press preset #2 - four (4) times for second digit in code.
Press preset #3 - six (6) times for third digit in code.
Press preset #4 - two (2) times for final digit in code.
Press and hold 'AM & ARI-Z' buttons for about 3 seconds until 'SafE' is displayed. Release buttons and radio works.

Audi Gamma Factory Radio (Example code is 1462)

Turn on radio and hold down the 'FM1 & AM' buttons until the word 'CodE' appears in display. Release buttons and 1000 appears in display.
Do not touch preset #1, first digit in display corresponds to radio code.
Press preset #2 - four (4) times for second digit in code.
Press preset #3 - six (6) times for third digit in code.
Press preset #4 - two (2) times for final digit in code.
Press and hold 'FM1 & AM' buttons for about 3 seconds until 'SafE' is displayed. Release buttons and radio works.

Audi Concert Factory Radio (Example code is 1462)

Turn on radio, display should say SafE. Push and hold down the 'FM2 & RDS' buttons until the word 'CodE' appears in display. Release buttons and 1000 appears in display.
Do not touch preset #1, first digit in display corresponds to radio code.
Press preset #2 - four (4) times for second digit in code.
Press preset #3 - six (6) times for third digit in code.
Press preset #4 - two (2) times for final digit in code.
Press and hold 'FM2 & RDS' buttons for about 3 seconds until 'SafE' is displayed. Release buttons and radio works.

Audi Symphony Factory Radio (Example code is 1462)

Turn on radio, display should say SafE. Push and hold down the 'Scan & RDS' buttons until the word 'CodE' appears in display. Release buttons and 1000 appears in display.
Do not touch preset #1, first digit in display corresponds to radio code.
Press preset #2 - four (4) times for second digit in code.
Press preset #3 - six (6) times for third digit in code.
Press preset #4 - two (2) times for final digit in code.
Press and hold 'Scan & RDS' buttons for about 3 seconds until 'SafE' is displayed. Release buttons and radio works.

BMW

Your local dealership can retrieve the code by serial number from car stereo or VIN. Use corresponding preset station buttons to enter code.

Buick

There are no coded stereos. Most codes are error codes for CD or cassette problems. See Repair.

Cadillac

These stereos communicate with the vehicle's computer. Display will read 'Locked', only the dealership can unlock car stereo.

Chevrolet
Corvette

There are two types of codes. One, stereo communicates with vehicles computer and only dealership can unlock car stereo. Two, stereo can be unlocked without dealership help, 'HR' and 'Min' buttons for setting clock are needed, see Stereo Unlock Code.

'Locked' in display is dealership only to unlock.
'LOC' code is needed to unlock car stereo. Stereo unlock code can be found at .
'InOP' too many wrong codes have been entered and the stereo must be left powered on for one hour with battery and ignition applied before three more attempts can be made.
'SEC' customer code is stored and the stereo is unlocked.
'---' there is no customer code stored and stereo is unlocked.

Daewoo

This code is available on line with serial number, see Daewoo Code.

GMC

'Locked' in display is dealership only to unlock.
'LOC' code is needed to unlock car stereo. Stereo unlock code can be found at .
'InOP' too many wrong codes have been entered and the stereo must be left powered on for one hour with battery and ignition applied before three more attempts can be made.
'SEC' customer code is stored and the stereo is unlocked.
'---' there is no customer code stored and stereo is unlocked.

Honda

Jaguar

The dealership can retrieve this code with the serial number of the stereo or VIN.

Land Rover

The dealership can retrieve this code with the serial number of the stereo or VIN. If you enter the code incorrectly or have the wrong code, the stereo will 'Lock Up'. It will take one to three hours with the ignition and stereo on for the stereo to unlock and allow several more attempts before locking up again.

Lexus

The early to mid '90's stereos were customer coded. If you are not the original owner of the vehicle, you may not know or be able to locate the unlock code. The dealership should be able to provide the Master Unlock Code.
Thousands of Lexus stereos have been seen here at the shop. Only on three occasions has 'Code' been seen in the display. Once was a bad fuse. Another was a stereo problem and the last needed the Master Unlock Code. It is rare to see a code problem with these stereos.

Mazda

There are two types of codes for these stereos.

Customer coded by owner. A Master Unlock Code will be needed from dealership.
Code is available from the dealership by serial number of stereo or VIN.

Mercedes

There are two main types of Mercedes stereo codes.

Early 1990 stereos require the front face of the stereo to removed for a special tech tool to be inserted into the connector to unlock.
Code card is usually located in the glove box, a white credit card with the stereo serial number and unlock code. If this code card is missing, the dealership can retrieve unlock code by VIN or serial number of stereo.

Mitsubishi

Oldsmobile
Pontiac

'Locked' in display is dealership only to unlock.
'LOC' code is needed to unlock car stereo. Stereo unlock code can be found at .
'InOP' too many wrong codes have been entered and the stereo must be left powered on for one hour with battery and ignition applied before three more attempts can be made.
'SEC' customer code is stored and the stereo is unlocked.
'---' there is no customer code stored and stereo is unlocked.

Porsche

Stereo unlock code is available from dealership with VIN or serial number of car stereo.

Saab

Stereo unlock code is available from dealership with VIN or serial number of car stereo.

Saturn

There are two types of codes. One, stereo communicates with vehicles computer and only dealership can unlock car stereo. Two, stereo can be unlocked without dealership help.

'Locked' in display is dealership only to unlock.
'LOC' code is needed to unlock car stereo. Stereo unlock code can be found at .
'InOP' too many wrong codes have been entered and the stereo must be left powered on for one hour with battery and ignition applied before three more attempts can be made.
'SEC' customer code is stored and the stereo is unlocked.
'---' there is no customer code stored and stereo is unlocked.

Toyota

Early to mid 90's had customer coded stereos. Dealership should be able to provide Master Unlock Code.

This is a dealership only if stereo code is not found, vehicle must be present with stereo.

Factory Car Stereo Repair, Inc.

Some of the information that you’ll typically have to need includes: the make, model and year of the vehicle. The vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle. the brand, serial number and part number of the radio. Radio Code Search. Never take the serial number from any printed paperwork or user guides, since this may not match the actual radio fitted to the car. Instead, take the serial number from either a label or an engraving on the top or side of your stereo, to ensure the supplied radio code is accurate.

Items you will need

Honda with anti-theft audio system
Identification card with radio code

If the battery on your Honda dies and the car's audio system is equipped with an anti-theft device, your radio will not work properly after the battery gets recharged. The anti-theft device will lock you out unless you can provide the radio's unique identifying code. Finding this code will be much easier if you have managed to hold on to an identification card listing the radio code. Without the card, finding the radio code and unlocking the audio system will be more difficult.

Make sure your Honda radio requires a code. If it does, once power has been restored to your vehicle, your Honda's audio system will flash a message indicating that you must punch in a special code to disable the anti-theft device. The message may be the word 'Code.' The anti-theft device is meant to thwart criminals from operating an audio system they have stolen from a vehicle.

Find the four-digit or five-digit code number that will unlock your Honda's audio system. The code number was printed on a document you should have received along with the owner's manual when you bought your Honda. The document could be small, about the size of a credit card. It also lists the audio system's serial number.

If you cannot locate the card, you will need to track down the audio system's serial number so you can get the radio code. With some newer Hondas, you can find the serial number electronically from the radio. The owner's manual will tell you how to do it. Once you have the serial number, you can go to Honda's online Radio & Navigation System micro-site to obtain the proper radio code. You will need to provide other information, such as the car's vehicle identification number, to show you own the vehicle.

Getting the serial number for Honda models from 2003 or earlier will require you to seek help from a Honda dealer. Be prepared to prove that you own the vehicle. The dealer also will be able to trace the radio's code number.

Use the preset buttons on the radio to punch in the appropriate digits after you locate the radio's code number. That should unlock the radio and make the entire audio system usable again.

Tips

If you accidentally hit a wrong key once you know the code, you will not be able to reverse the error. Instead, finish entering the appropriate number of digits. Then try again, starting from scratch.

Warnings

Repeatedly punching in the wrong code number within a short period of time will cause the audio system to lock you out until you leave the system on and undisturbed for one hour.

Video of the Day

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How To Find My Car Radio Serial Number

References