How do I fix my VW golf stereo?

April 20, 2008 12:28 PM

How to unlock my VW golf car stereo?

I have a 1994 VW golf III gl, and the battery was disconnected (my car alarm was going off because my door was a bit ajar on a busy street and a neighbor disconnected it to save his/her sanity).

When I tried to turn on my stereo after the battery was reconnected, there is nothing in the field that usually says the station - and when the battery is reconnected after being disconnected, it normally says "SAFE" to keep the radio from being used (by someone without the code to turn it back on). I have the code that I am supposed to input, I just can't seem to get to the "SAFE" display where there is usually a procedure to input that code (which I, uh, also can't remember).

So, my question - why is there no SAFE mode displayed? Is the battery not connecting to my stereo somehow? Am I screwed because of this? And is there another procedure to get my car stereo to work?

thanks all!

p.s. If there's a "car repair" or VW forum you recommend, where I can pose the same question, would appreciate that too..

posted by ethel to travel & transportation (6 comments total)

VWVortex

I'd also try just going down to your local VW dealership today and see if anybody will just tell you.
posted by rhizome at 12:59 PM on April 20

Yeah, you could even try calling your local dealership and they can probably tell you over the phone. Worst case, you have to bring it in and prove you own it before they tell you the code.
posted by pete0r at 1:28 PM on April 20

Gah, sorry my explanation was confusing. I know the code, just not the procedure. And SAFE is not coming up on the display as it should (which would let me enter the code, that I have).

But thanks, good advice..
posted by ethel at 1:34 PM on April 20

Try this (which I got from a forum after Googling)

Power OFF the radio...hold the MODE button in and power the radio ON. A 2 digit code will come up on the screen, keep the mode button held in and everything will come back up.
posted by essexjan at 1:50 PM on April 20

Thanks for that essexjan, I tried it but no dice..
posted by ethel at 3:07 PM on April 20

This happened to me a couple of times. 1989 Golf, so the procedure may have changed since.

Press SEEK and SCAN simultaneously and hold for a few seconds to display the numbers 1000. Then use the first four radio presets to enter the code. Press Preset #1 to enter the first digit, etc. Then press SEEK and SCAN simultaneously and hold for a few seconds. The radio should give a short beep and begin playing.

After three unsuccessful attempts to enter the code, the radio locks, so make 'em count!
posted by initapplette at 10:19 PM on April 20