What is a Car Radio Code?

The basic answer is that a car radio code is a short string of numbers associated with a security feature found in some head units. If your radio is flashing "CODE," then it has that feature, and you'll have to put the code in if you ever want to use your stereo again.

Most head units have a memory keep alive feature that allows the radio to remember the time, presets, and other information. This information is all lost if the battery ever dies or is disconnected, but for most head units, that's the extent of the damage.

However, some head units also include a theft deterrent feature that causes them to stop working if they lose power. That means if a thief ever steals your radio, your radio will theoretically become a worthless paperweight as soon as he cuts the harness. Unfortunately, this feature also kicks in if your battery ever dies, which is what you’re dealing with right now.

In order to get your head unit working again, you’ll have to locate the proper car radio code and input it using a method that is specific to the particular make and model of your stereo. There are a couple ways to locate the code and procedure, and some of them are even free. After you have the code, you can jot it down somewhere safe so that you never have to deal with this again.

Finding Car Radio Codes

There are a bunch of different ways to locate a car radio code, but the main ones, in descending order of complexity and cost, are:

• check the user’s manual
• check the OEM’s website
• call your local dealer
• search through free online databases
• pay a local shop or online service to locate or calculate the code

In some cases, the car radio code for your head unit may be printed in the user’s manual. This isn’t an especially secure place to have it since most people keep their user’s manuals in the vehicle where a thief could gain access to it, but there are some cases where you will find the code that you’re looking for in the manual.

Some manuals even have a space in the front or the back to write down the radio code. If you bought your car used, the previous owner may have done so.

After you’ve checked the manual, the OEM’s website is the next place to look. In most cases, you’ll want to look on the website for the automaker that built your car, although you may need to check the site of the car audio company that made the head unit itself. If the OEM in question maintains an online database of car radio codes, you’ll be able to put in information like your vehicle identification number (VIN) and the serial number of the radio in order to access your code.

In addition to OEM databases, there are also a handful of free databases of codes for various types of radios. Of course, you should always take care when using one of these resources since inputting the wrong code enough times will typically lock you out of the head unit altogether.

Another option is to call your local dealer. Even if you didn’t buy your vehicle from that specific dealer, they will often be able to help you. Make sure to have the make, model, year, and VIN of your vehicle handy in addition to the serial and part numbers of the radio. Depending on the dealer, you may have to speak with either the parts or the service department.