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How do you reset your car’s radio?
I bought a used car a few months ago and it's been running great. Lately, the radio has been acting up and now it displays CODE when I turn it on. How can I reset the car’s radio?
Jack Walsh · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
The CODE display means that your radio is locked. This is a common occurrence if the vehicle has recently been serviced, had other settings restored, or had the battery replaced.
To unlock the radio, you will need to enter a code to bypass the car’s security system. You can find this code in a few places, most notably:
- In the owner’s manual. To quickly find the code in the owner’s manual, check the security section or the radio/stereo section.
- Visit the manufacturer’s website and see if they have a database of stereo security codes.
- Visit your local dealership to see if they can provide you with the code or unlock it for you.
- Contact a local car stereo installation center and see if they have a list of codes or can unlock it for you.
If you cannot locate the code and the dealership or installation center was not able to unlock it, you should try these steps:
- Turn your car on, but do not start the engine
- Turn the radio off
- Hold the radio power button down for a few minutes until it resets
If this doesn’t work at first, hold the power button down longer or hold the power and seek buttons down simultaneously. Hopefully, one of these methods will have you jamming out again in no time!
While waiting for a tech to unlock your stereo, use the time to review your
car insurance
policy and download the Jerry
app. Jerry is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy that is customized for you.After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. They even cancel your old policy!
More: 5 ways to save hundreds of dollars on your car insurance premiums
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