When you replace the battery in your 2004 Honda Pilot, it will automatically reset the radio—and you will need your radio code to access your car's sound system again. The code that disables this security feature can be found in your glove compartment, owner's handbook, or online.

Knowing the codes and serial numbers for each component of your vehicle isn't usually a concern for the average car owner. But you never know when you might need one—and if your car is asking for a radio code, you’re going to need to do some digging.

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Why your 2004 Honda Pilot needs a radio code

The radio may not appear to be the most critical component of your car, but it's actually one of the most commonly stolen items. This is why radio codes exist: they serve as a security mechanism that aids in the prevention of theft.

If you recently replaced or disconnected the battery in your 2004 Honda Pilot, it will prompt you to enter a radio code. The fact that you won't be able to utilize your car's sound system until you enter the code serves as a powerful barrier to thieves.

Finding the radio code for your Honda Pilot is pretty easy and shouldn't take you more than a few minutes.

How to find your 2004 Honda Pilot radio code

Try this before you go looking for your radio code: press and hold down the power button on the radio for a few seconds. Your radio should reset itself in about two or three seconds.

Most of the time, that's all you need to do to fix your radio. If that doesn't work, you'll need the radio code.

The 5-digit radio code for your vehicle can be located in the glove compartment or in the owner's handbook. It's commonly printed on a sticker or label, along with the serial number of your radio. Look for the words "Anti-Theft Radio Code" or something like that. In this case, you're searching for a 5-digit code—anything longer is probably for something else.

How to look up a 2004 Honda Pilot radio code

If you don't have the owner's manual or the sticker in the glove box, you'll have to look for the radio code on your own. You'll just need your

vehicle identification number (VIN)

and radio serial number before you can look up your radio code.

Your 17-digit VIN can be found on a variety of documents, including your car's registration and insurance, or at the base of your vehicle’s windshield on the driver’s side.

To retrieve your serial number, hold down 1 and 6 on the radio's preset buttons and turn your key to the ON position while you hold down these buttons. This won't start the car, but it will turn on the vehicle's electrical parts. After a few seconds, a 10-digit alphanumeric code will show up next to your stereo's serial number—this is the number you need to write down for your radio.

Once you have both numbers, you can look for your 2004 Honda Pilot's radio code, either by using Honda's

online lookup tool

or by calling 1-800-999-1009.

If you are having difficulty retrieving your serial number (or simply want to skip all these steps), you can make an appointment at your local Honda dealership for help.

MORE:

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It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to locate the radio code for your 2004 Honda Pilot—and the same can be said for finding hundreds of dollars in

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