Audi Radio Code

LSPIII

LSPIII

LSPIII

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Joined
29 Jan 2003
Posts
1,063
Location
Surrey
Hey guys. So it turns out that when I bought the S3 the radio code was missing. No problem I thought, both my Vauxhall and Renault needed the same when I was replacing their stereos and my dealer was able to just read the code off their database. So I merrily popped into Audi and asked for my radio code when my battery went flat a couple of days ago. They say no... no database... They have to book it in to the workshop so they can attach the ecu reader to get the code from that. They want to charge me £51 just for 4 poxy digits that I should be entitled to anyway.

I'm a little bit miffed as you might imagine. I have googled my heart out and can't find anything to help me online either!

Bit of a long short but I don't suppose there's anyone in the Surrey area with a VAG-COM or similar that knows where to read the codes in the ECU from and has a spare 5 mins at some point? I just can't bring myself to spend that sort of money on that code, not when I could get my old Alpine head unit fitted for cheaper. I just didn't want to ruin the pleasing aesthetics of the interior with a cheap stereo fascia plate and "in your face" lighting. I kinda like the subtle red glow!

Any other ideas that anyone can think of would also be much appreciated!
 
Have a look in the radio handbook, it sometimes says that if you loose the code, the manufacturer will retrieve it FOC for you. Worth a look.

Failing that:

Find a friendly (not main) dealer who has a scanner, a lot of back street grease monkeys have them now.

Failing that:

Get a local car audio installer on the phone, they may be able to get the code.

I remember back in the 80/90's that to reset the factory code you popped your radio in the freezer for a while. i suppose that is an urban myth ;-)

EDIT: Nope it is true, but only for older radios that had a battery-backup to store the code. Modern units are flashed and it is in their firmware.
 
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1. See if you can retrieve the code from the serial number using a keygen like software.

2. Get your AUDI dealer to check the national security database.
 
Dandle said:
Can you get the code out with Vag-Com?

Where abouts in Surrey are you LSPIII?
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Well the Audi dealership basically said that was what they were going to do! I'm in Guildford :)

malc30 said:
What make of radio is it ?
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Audi Symphony

BigglesPiP said:
1. See if you can retrieve the code from the serial number using a keygen like software.

2. Get your AUDI dealer to check the national security database.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I have nothing to remove the unit from the dash so getting the serial would be... fun...

I'd have thought if Audi could check a national database then they would have, rather than having to connect a computer and fleece me for £50!
 
Pinter75 said:
Have a look in the radio handbook, it sometimes says that if you loose the code, the manufacturer will retrieve it FOC for you. Worth a look.

Failing that:

Find a friendly (not main) dealer who has a scanner, a lot of back street grease monkeys have them now.

Failing that:

Get a local car audio installer on the phone, they may be able to get the code.

I remember back in the 80/90's that to reset the factory code you popped your radio in the freezer for a while. i suppose that is an urban myth ;-)

EDIT: Nope it is true, but only for older radios that had a battery-backup to store the code. Modern units are flashed and it is in their firmware.
Click to expand...

That is 100% correct. Used to work on old Tranny radios.
 
Hmm. Unusual. Most VAG radios (VW,Seat,Skoda) communicate via the K-line or canbus with the ECU . The car "knows" the radio that shipped with it and automatically enables it - no code required or supplied. You only need the code if the radio isn't the original. Audi may be different.

I'd take this up with the supplying dealer.
 
MagicBoy is correct, the Audi stereo communicates with the ECU.
If the battery is disconnected then when it's re-connected it should work straight away.
It's only a problem if there is a different stereo in there.
 
If its like the VW stereo from a Polo which I suspect it is as they use the same cd changers the code is taken from the serial number as the dealer needed the serial to get the code. The stereo is only "remembered" by the car for so long I had to get the code from the dealer for mine after I removed the battery for a couple of days.

I have vagcom and never seen a option to pull a stereo code. Sounds like the dealer is taking rubbish to get a easy £50.
 
I think you may be out of luck with that.

4.12 Can I use VAG-COM to retrieve my Radio Code to get it out of "SAFE" mode?

No, You'll need to get the radio code from your dealer (it should also be on a card that came with your car). Most likely, the dealer will need to connect their scan tool to your vehicle. Their tool then relays information from the vehicle to the headquarters to retrieve the radio code. VAG-COM cannot retrieve the radio code for you. In many cases, the radio will be in SAFE mode after disconnecting the battery, but it will automatically exit that mode after a period of time, as long as it is still installed in the same vehicle.
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http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/faq_4.html
 
LSPIII said:
That sounds promising, I'll go for a nice long drive with the stereo "on" and see what happens! Better to spend £50 on petrol and have a good time than spend it on corporate pockets :)

And it'll damage the environment that bit more! :p
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Takes about 5-10 minutes in my experience if it was really flat.

I went though a phase of accidentally leaving my headlights on at work when I had the Bora (central locking mech broke so the lights-on buzzer didn't function). After the nice RAC man had been out, used to take about 10 minutes for the radio to work. I think it displayed SAFE followed by OK when it sorted itself out.
 
MagicBoy said:
Hmm. Unusual. Most VAG radios (VW,Seat,Skoda) communicate via the K-line or canbus with the ECU . The car "knows" the radio that shipped with it and automatically enables it - no code required or supplied. You only need the code if the radio isn't the original. Audi may be different.

I'd take this up with the supplying dealer.
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The stereo does indeed work along the K-Line, big stink about aftermarket units been connected to this and outputting +12v which was blowing very expensive VAG service gear.

Never tryed putting my unit back in and using it, however when i was messing around it did ask for a 4 digit code.
 
No luck unfortunately. More digging online found that the Symphony I head unit doesn't connect to the CANBUS so nothing can be done from VAG COM either. I'm probably going to have lube up after all and head down the dealer :(

My last ditch attempt is to contact a local Audi specialist who claim to do radio codes. I'm due a service in 800 miles anyway so I thought I'd give them a try. Weybridge Vehicles. Anyone got any experience or can recommend any other Audi specialists in the Surrey area?
 
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