I just had this happen to me so I thought maybe I could spare someone else a silent car.
I bought an 04 Odyssey EX as a cerified pre-owned a few days back. It has an anti theft radio. The dealership, in its infinite wisdom, put in a new battery but did not back up enough power to keep the code in the radio and then could not find the code! Despite their promises to the contrary they did not call to report my fix. So I called the service department instead. Good move.
It turns out first that the 5 digit code is on a sticker found on the side of the glove compartment. Usually on the outside left when you open it up. There are two numbers there - you want the five digit one.
Now here's the key - the salesman no doubt has tried a bunch of random numbers or ones he is getting from the wrong source. Once ten attempts are made without the correct code being entered the system locks itself up and will not accept any code. This is to keep someone crazy enough to keep trying random numbers, such as a salesman or a thief (I'll be good...) from eventually finding the right sequence.
There are two ways of releasing the block. The first is to run the radio for an hour. No sound will come out but once it has been on for an hour it will unlock itself and you can put in the code. If you are like me the idea of running around for an hour with music is a non-starter so I went with the quicker solution - disconnect the negative battery cable for about a minute and then reconnect. You now can enter the code and all will be well. Well, except for the fact that now you have to reset your clock as well but if you will go through that much to get the radio back setting the clock is probably withing your area of expertise.
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I went to the website https://radio-navicode.honda.com and entered all the pertinent info. the code it came up with did not work. I tried it several times (3, and then it locks up and you have to disconnect the battery to reset). All the information correlated such as type of car, color, etc. Any suggestions from anyone? My battery had died and had to replace recently.
S/N FA05633B
Ref# CQJH9610A
You folks were real helpful. Many thanks.
A little more info. On a Honda Odyssey, the radio serial # is on a plain white label on the inside front panel of the glove compartment door (on the left as you face the glove compartment). I did not know that as some other info suggested that the only way I could get the radio serial # was to take the radio out, which I did. And it was quite easy, thanks to the $4.95 I spent at www.carstereoremoval.com/htm/stereoremovalHondaOdyssey99_02Str.php.
I then went to the Honda Web site radio code site (which someone below provided) at https://radio-navicode.honda.com/. As I was the original owner, I still had the VIN, the telephone # and zip code info.
Thus, in less than an hour from first doing a search on the internet, I had my radio unlocked and playing.
Many thanks again.
HC92009
If you cannot locate the Code, you can retreive the serial number then call your local Honda Dealer for the 5 digit code. Here's how.
Electronically Retrieving Audio Unit Serial Numbers
Currently Applies To: ‘01–07 Accords, ’01–07 Civics, ’02–07 CR-Vs, ’03–07 Elements, ’07 Fits,
’01–07 Odysseys, ’03–07 Pilots, ’06–07 Ridgelines, and ’02–07 S2000s
If you remove power from an audio unit with theft protection, you’ve got to enter a unique five-digit antitheft
code into the unit or it doesn’t work. This anti-theft code and the audio unit’s eight-digit serial number
are listed on the anti-theft ID card that comes with the vehicle. If this card gets lost, you need to get the
anti-theft code from the Dealer. In order to do that, you first need to get the audio unit serial number. Some
Honda models let you do that electronically. Here’s how:
Method 1 (all applicable models except ’03–07 Accords with the navigation system)
1. Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
2. Turn on the audio unit, and make sure you see COdE in the display. If you don’t see this message, pull
the backup fuse for 1 minute, and then go back to step 1.
3. Turn off the audio unit.
4. Press and hold the 1 and 6 preset buttons, then turn on the audio unit. The display toggles between
two screens. The first screen displays a U and the first four digits of the serial number (for example,
U2200). The second screen displays an L and the last four digits of the serial number (for example,
L0055). Ignore the U and L, and write down all eight digits.
Method 2 (’03–07 Accords with the navigation system)
1. Turn the ignition switch to ACC (I).
2. Turn on the audio unit, and make sure you see COdE in the upper display. If you don’t see this
message, pull the backup fuse for
1 minute, and then go back to step 1.
3. Turn off the audio unit.
4. Press and hold the top halves of the SEEK/SKIP and CH/DISC bars, and then press and release the
PWR/VOL knob. This display toggles between two screens. The first screen displays a U and the first
four digits of the serial number (for example, U2200). The second screen displays an L and the last four
digits of the serial number (for example, L0055). Ignore the U and L, and write down all eight digits.
5. Call Honda Dealer for Radio Code.
6. Use the TUNE knob to enter the first four digits of the anti-theft code into the audio unit. (Ignore the last
digit; it’s not used.) When you turn the TUNE knob, COdE disappears, and a single digit is displayed.
Turn the knob left or right to select each of the anti-theft code digits. When you press the TUNE knob,
the system beeps and accepts each digit as it spells out CODE on the display.
oh yes, someone below mentioned that they were able to find the serial number "on top" of their radio. Mine was on the back of the radio. One suggestion (prior to actually pulling the radio) is to pop out the heater vent/clock assembly just above the radio. Be careful not to damage your dash ....but the whole assembly just pops out pretty easily. Once it's out, you can see the "top" of the radio. If your serial number is there, this will save you the whole process of removing the radio.
This is good advice ...."if" the code on your radio card in the glovebox is correct. We replaced the battery on my wife's CRV and quickly realized that a radio code was needed. I searched the glovebox and was happy to find the "radio code" on a card. However, when I entered it, it didnt work ...i kept getting attempt err's....then had to reset things.
Finally I called the dealer and verified that I would indeed need the serial number off the back of the actual radio. Once you have the radio serial#, they can enter this in their database to obtain the unlock codes for you ...free of charge. The other option was to bring the car in, pay them a labor free of about $50 to pull the radio and obtain the serial number and then obtain the unlock code. Considering I didnt have $50 to waste and I figured I could pull the radio myself within an hour, I did just that. I found the following site very helpful in detailing radio removal steps: http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/Honda/PDF/466009.pdf If you are "somewhat" handy, have some very basic tools and can follow simple instructions, it's not that big of a deal. Once I had the number, I called my dealer and obtained the unlock code immediatly. I wrote the unlock code in multiple locations within the car....to prevent a similar problems in the future.
Another suggestions (should you have to replace the battery) is to go to the autoparts store and buy a little gizmo that plugs into your cigarette lighter ....and has a 9 volt battery attached to it. You plug this in ....prior to removing your battery. This will provide just enough juice prevent code loss to your clocks, radio, etc.
Good luck!
OMG. Thank you Thank you THank you! I found the serial number on the side of the glove box of my Odyssey 2000. Went to the website https://radio-navicode.honda.com/ entered the info and got the code. The dealer was going to charge me $90. Thank you so much!!!!
No code for me on the side of my 99 CRV. I ended up pulling the radio to get the serial number off the top of the stereo. Wasn't too bad to do. 25 minutes to complete the whole job. Only needed a phillips screw driver to remove a dozn or so screws to get the stereo out.
Thank You, We also found our code in the glove box
Thank you, We also found the code in our glove box (S2000). You certainly saved us alot of headaches and dollars! Thanks again!
THANK YOU!! We had the same problem. The Honda dealership we bought our car from( 98' CRV )wanted to charge us $130 to take the radio out.The 5 digit number was in the glove box. We did have to disconnect the battery for a minute, then the word code came on and we punched in the number and BINGO, we had music!!! All I can say is thankyou so much for people just trying to help each other out!!!!!
Good information. Thank you. I looked for the sticker containing my code and could not find it. I have a '99 Civic. The only thing on the glovebox was a number that consisted of letters and numbers higher than 6. I called my local Honda dealer and was told that I needed the radio serial number, which was on top of the radio. After pulling the radio, I realized that the serial number was on the bottom and was the same number on the sticker in the glovebox. I call the dealership back with the serial number and was given the code free of charge.
XOXO. Riding around w/o music...UGH! Have 2000CR-V, tried all listed below, had to combine info. Went to website suggested, https://radio-navicode.honda.com/, and got my code. Disonnected neg battery connection for 1 minute & off I went singing & car dancing to my hearts content! Need more websites like this one, easy and free!
Man just wanted to say THANKS for the info. I had my battery go dead on me this morning and bought a new one on my 06 Accord. I was ticked off about the code issue but the info you gave out really baled me out of a jam, Again Thanks!. Randy
Great advice! I had my battery replaced and, although I had the code, the radio only displayed "C" instead of "Code" and would not accept the 5 digit code. I disconnected the battery for a minute and after I reconnected the entire word "Code" was displayed and the 5 digit code was accepted. Thanks.
Thanks for a great and usefull article. Your recommedation worked!I went to one website that wanted $30 to obtain the send me the code. Free is better.
Thanks again,
I too had the experience of having my radio replaced and having no radio. I called the dealer that I purchased the certified pre-owned 2002 Honda Accord vehicle. I got someone in the service department who talked me through the process even though the sticker wasn't in my glovebox nor did I have the original card (since I wasn't the original owner). He had me push a series of buttons on the radio in various states of the power being on and off and was able to come up with the code just by what the radio display was showing. Good luck to all with this problem and maybe you will be fortunate enough to get someone nice in your service department that doesn't mind helping for free.
howdy.. have a 2007 honda fit.. turned on the air cond and no go.. thought must be a fuse.. so i messed with some wires in the fuse box... managed to unplug the radio and found out it also has the anti-theft thing on it... i know that card with the code is SOMEWHERE????
so after a weekend of searching, i found this simple message.. thanks.. opened the glove box and there was the sticker.. entered the 5-digit number and ... wahhhh-laaaaaa... radio back!!!... thanks for saving me a trip the dealer and probably $50, at least.. really appreciate forums like this....
and .. oh yea... the air cond doesn't work and the green light doesn't come on, if the fan is set to off.. ARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!
thanks again
I would also like to add my thanks for the helpful advice for restarting the radio in our 2000 Accord EX. First I located the code, which fortunately we'd saved with the car papers, then disconnected the negative cable on the battery as you suggested. After reconnecting, the radio came on and ejected the CD, which we thought was jammed. My wife has her music back, and I'm out of the doghouse. Thanks again!
Funny thing on my own advice - I had the same thing happen on my 00 Accord. Looked all through the glovebox and no code! The dealer wanted $100 to pull the radio and get the serial number.
I ended up calling American Honda customer service who gave me several alternate locations to find that sticker with the code. One of those proved to be correct and it's been happy motoring since then.
You think at 145K it may be time to retire the original battery?
Got a flashlight out and searched the car from top to bottom. Found my code under the hood. After opening the hood and looking at the top right hand corner there were two codes on a piece of white tape. One code was a five digit code - entered it when code appeared on the screen and the radio was back in service. Thanks for your help in saving mega bucks!
Great info. We found the number in the center console! Of course I had to disconnect the battery to reset the radio but it all worked after a minute of work. You save my daughter a lot of trouble and money. Thanks.
A memory maintainer can save your clock and radio settings when you change the car battery. It's basically a 9 volt battery gizmo that plugs into your car's power port or cigarette lighter. The power port needs to be powered when the key is out of the ignition for it to work.
This was a great great write-up. My battery died on my 2004 Accord right after a cop pulled me over. Had to get a new battery, but radio wasn't workin. Read the manual. It said i had to find out the radio s/n and take to dealer. Everybody hates goin 2 the dealer. They take 4ever and charge u lots of $$. I thought imy son & i would just suffer without music for a while. Whose got time to go to the dealer? Anyway, after running across this article, i feel like i've won the lottery. THank you thank you thank you
This was a great posting. This has happened to me several times when Honda did some work on my car -- they left me with a radio that didn't work. Finally, one of their service managers talked me through this process. Sure beats having to take it back to the dealer for something that was their oversight in the first place!
fjohansson,
I recently bought a used Honda Accord. Of course, no radio code. So I looked in the manual and it indicated that the dealer would give me the code if I had the serial number of the radio. You may want to call your local Honda dealer and ask how to get the code for your car. (If your local dealer gives you a hard time, call the local dealer I use toll free at 1-800-577-4853. Just ask for the service department and they will be able to help you find your serial number. It helps if you have the VIN number handy)
Anyway getting the serial number may involve pushing in some of the station preset buttons while turning on the radio. Or, as is the case with my car, you must remove the radio. If you must remove the radio to get the serial number, you have two options,
1. You can take it to the dealer and they will charge you for there time and labor to remove the radio, get the serial number, and replacement of the radio. Many people have the mistaken idea that the dealer is charging them for the code. This is not the case. They are charging them to remove and reinstall the radio.
2. You can do this yourself. I found a free removal and installation guide for my car at:
www.installdr.com
Or if they don't have it, it's available as a download for a few dollars at:
http://www.carstereoremoval.com/htm/stereoremovalHondaOdyssey03_05P.htm
Once you have this number you can go to your local Honda dealership and they will be able to look up your code.
-sdj
I have the same prob, only I killed the battery. Bought the Odyssey 2003 at Carmax and the manual plus radio code is missing. Can't get it started without the code and Honda wants $80 to do the job of opening the panel to get the serial from the stereo to figure out the code.
I looked everywhere in and around the glovebox as well as the breaker box in the engine compartment and under the dash. Could it be somewhere else seeing that it's a '03 model or does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm afraid I'll break the panel if I try to get it off. If nothing else, what is the easiest way to get the panel off so I can read the serial off the stereo?
Thank you, F
Also - for earlier model Hondas such as Civics, etc. You might need to look for the 5 digit code and 10 digit serial number under the fuse box lid beside the battery.
