Some car radios come with an anti-theft feature that kicks in whenever they lose battery power. This feature typically locks the unit up until the correct car radio code is entered. The code is almost always specific to not only the make and model of the radio, but also to that specific unit.
If the code for your head unit isn’t written down anywhere in your owner’s manual, you’ll need to have a few different pieces of information ready before you can proceed.
On Club Car ® Golf Carts prior to 1981, you can find the serial number by raising the seat and locating the aluminium, I-beam frame section closest to the batteries on the driver's side of the car. If the serial number plate has been removed, you can confirm it is a 1975-1980 model if it has two brake pedals and one accelerator pedal. The serial number is 17 characters long and includes both letters and numbers. If your car was manufactured before 1969 and the serial number is not on the dashboard, it is probably located on the front engine block, the front end of the frame, the trunk, the driver door jam or the back wheel well. How to find my VIN or serial number? A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) (also known as a serial number) is a 17 character code of letters and numbers that identifies your vehicle. You can find your VIN in several places: On top of the dashboard on the driver’s side; Inside the driver’s side door.
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
In order to obtain the brand, serial number, and part number of your radio, you will typically have to remove it. If you're uncomfortable with removing and installing a car stereo, you may be better off just taking your vehicle to a local dealer and asking them to reset the radio for you.
After you’ve located and written down all of the necessary information, you’ll be ready to track down the code that will unlock your specific head unit.
At this point, you have three main options available. You can contact a local dealer and talk to their service department, go directly to the website of the automaker that manufactured your vehicle, or rely on free or paid online resources and databases.
Old Car Serial Numbers
Where you choose to start is up to you, but the chances are excellent that one of these places will have the code you need.
Official OEM Car Radio Code Sources
In order to obtain a car radio from an official, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) source, you can either contact a local dealer or request a code directly from the manufacturer.
Most automakers direct you to your local dealer, but there are a handful like Honda, Mitsubishi and Volvo that allow you to request your code online.
Search Car By Serial Number
After you've gathered all of the relevant information about your car and your radio, you can use the following table of popular vehicle manufacturers to either locate a local dealer or the official online car radio code request site.
If you decide to contact a local dealer, you will usually need to speak with the service department. You can then ask the service writer whether or not they can look up your car radio code.
There is a chance that you will be able to obtain the code over the phone, but you may need to make an appointment to actually visit the dealership. You also have the option to just take your car straight to the dealer, where they will figure out the serial number of the radio and input the code for you.
If the manufacturer that built your vehicle offers online code lookup, you will typically have to enter information like your VIN, the serial number of the radio, and contact information like your phone number and email. The code may then be emailed to you for your records.
Official Head Unit Manufacturer Code Request
In addition to local dealers and OEM online code request services, you may also be able to obtain your car radio code from the company that actually built the head unit. Some examples of head unit manufacturers that can provide car radio codes include:
Every head manufacturer has its on policy in regards to car radio codes. In some cases, they can help you with any 'personal' codes that may have been set by a previous owner, but they will direct you to the vehicle OEM for a 'factory' code.
In other cases, they may require some type of proof of ownership to ensure that the head unit isn't stolen. Unlike vehicle OEMs, head unit manufacturers typically charge a lookup fee to find a car radio code.
Other Sources, Including Online Code Lookup Services and Databases
If the manufacturer of your vehicle doesn't have an online code request service and you prefer using an online resource to contacting a local dealer, there are both free and paid databases that may be helpful.
Another option is to contact a car audio installer in your area. Since they deal with this type of situation all the time, some car audio installers pay for access to car radio code databases. Keep in mind that since they have to pay for the information, they will typically charge a fee for this type of service.
Exercise caution when using any site that promises free access to car radio codes, especially if the site asks for your credit card details. There are legitimate sites out there that offer this type of service, but there's always a chance of contracting malware from a malicious site or falling prey to a scammer.