Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:17:03 -0600
Reply-To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: Radio stays on
In-Reply-To: <019801caa2c5$765f8930$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Late 80s and this was a Becker thing & not just VW. The Becker radios in Mercedes and BMWs also needed the security code. Before the code, you had to drive to the dealership where they removed the faceplate and reset the radio with a special box.
Thanks,
Tom Hargrave
256-656-1924
Our Web Sites:
www.kegkits.com
www.stir-plate.com
www.andyshotsauce.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 4:33 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Radio stays on
I don't know what year it starts ...
perhaps late 80's, and by early 90's for sure.
if you see a VW or original equipment radio in a VW with a little 'key' icon
on it, it is a code radio.
on a code radio, if the power is disconnected from it ( as in theft ) or
even if the battery is disconnected or goes dead flat, the radio will not
work until you enter the code into the radio. .
the display ( they are all digital display ) will show EEEE I think,
or 'safe' or something like that...if it's gone into 'I need my code' mode.
what you need to know is :
one, what the 4 digit code is,
and two, how to enter it.
I had one dead on like that on a customer's VW car once. The dealer said
'maybe it's 1, 1, 1, 1, try that'
and it was that and I got the radio to come on.
I forget the exact trick right now, you have to hold two buttons at
once.....something like that, to get it into code accepting mode,
then enter the correct code, say 4681 into the display with the right
buttons.,
then it'll work.
so ...if you do see a working code radio with a key icon on it ...
don't disconnect it or the battery without knowing the code !
Usually the only 'repair' is to buy a rebuilt code radio with code, I got
one for under $ 150 once.
also.....you can get a little gizmo, or make one , to connect a common 9v
battery to the cigarette lighter.
with that plugged in, as long as the cig lighter receptacle is hot all the
time........that will preserve memories and you can replace the car's
battery etc.
the newer the car, the more you never want to disconnect the battery unless
you really know what you are doing.
this code radio thing is a good example.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 1:55 PM
Subject: Re: Radio stays on
> So, clue me in about "the code," please. My '91 camper has a good radio.
> Works great. Don't know what "code" you guys are talking about. David Mc
>
>
> ---- Rob <becida@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>> At 1/31/2010 07:09 AM, Mark A Kippert wrote:
>> >For a year and a half I've never used the radio because I needed the
>> >code.
>>
>> When I bought my current Vanagon the radio needed the code, the owner
>> (he'd had it for years and years) told me it never worked, it did fit
>> flush. I tossed it and put in an after market.
>>
>> I wired it to the power source that works the buzzer when you put the
>> key in so just having the key in the ignition is enough for the radio.
>>
>>
>>
>> Rob
>>
>> becida@comcast.net
>> Western Washington State, USA
