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Changing battery without losing Radio code

  • 06-12-2006 12:21pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 139 ✭✭


    Folks,

    Anyone know of a way of changing a car battery without losing the code on the radio. DOnt have the code and dont want to have to pay to get it. Car is a volkswagon.

    If I take the radio out before changing the battery would that make a difference?

    Cheers


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 294 ✭✭$Leon$


    have you looked in the boot for the code?
    Sometimes it's on a little sticker in the wheel well of the boot on the VW's


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,907 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    Hook another 12v battery up to the leads before you take the old one out.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 139 ✭✭Higgsy


    Had a look in the boot Leon....there is a sticker with the vechicle id number etc. with a series of other numbers, no mention of code for the radio.

    CJ.....I will have to disconnect from one battery to hook into the other, so there is a chance that the radio will be affected. unless I hook jump leads to the battery connectors before I disconnect from the old battery


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,801 ✭✭✭✭Gary ITR


    Higgsy wrote:
    Had a look in the boot Leon....there is a sticker with the vechicle id number etc. with a series of other numbers, no mention of code for the radio.

    CJ.....I will have to disconnect from one battery to hook into the other, so there is a chance that the radio will be affected. unless I hook jump leads to the battery connectors before I disconnect from the old battery

    That would work but there is a good chance you will electrocute yourself so be careful


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 294 ✭✭$Leon$


    Is there a little sticker like an old fashioned price tag sticker with a 4 digit code anywhere under the carpet in the boot?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭OldmanMondeo


    Higgsy wrote:
    Folks,

    DOnt have the code and dont want to have to pay to get it

    You should not have to pay to get the code from a dealer. All they need is the Chassis number and they should give you it. You probably will have to bring the car to a dealer to prove the radio is yours.

    I would slip the radio out, the previous owner might have written the code on it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,570 ✭✭✭Rovi


    Most motor factors carry this sort of thing-
    http://www.toolsource.com/ost/product.asp?pf_id=71759&sourceid=nextagkas295a

    Plug it into the cigarette lighter socket and it'll supply a bit of juice to the radio/alarm system/clock/etc/etc and keep all their settings intact while you change the main vehicle battery.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 139 ✭✭Higgsy


    Thanks lads.....

    One of the above is bound to work :-)

    Cheers


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Thank goodness for a radio with a secuity card system!

    Mike.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 294 ✭✭$Leon$


    You should not have to pay to get the code from a dealer. All they need is the Chassis number and they should give you it. You probably will have to bring the car to a dealer to prove the radio is yours.

    Not necessarly. The radio codes for VW's are not usually recorded on the MDL system. Most dealers don't record them either. Only way to get them is to plug the car onto the diagnostic computer to get it. Dealers will charge about an hours labour for the job


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,360 ✭✭✭Antenna


    Rovi wrote:
    Most motor factors carry this sort of thing-
    http://www.toolsource.com/ost/product.asp?pf_id=71759&sourceid=nextagkas295a

    Plug it into the cigarette lighter socket and it'll supply a bit of juice to the radio/alarm system/clock/etc/etc and keep all their settings intact while you change the main vehicle battery.

    Make sure the cig lighter socket stays live in your car when the ignition is off (not always the case, but should be the case with VW) before buying that thing. Make sure everything (interior lights, door lights etc) is OFF.

    BTW
    I recall temporarily removing a radio (called a 'Beta' made by Philips) from someone's Golf a few years ago and attempting to run it indoors (on a 12V supply of course). Prompted for a code! Oh dear.
    Put radio back in the car. Again prompted for code. It was a secondhand car (no code available).
    However on starting up the engine - thankfully the radio sprang back into life! I presume the ECU in the Golf must automatically 'tell' the radio the code provided it is installed in the original car!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 294 ✭✭$Leon$


    If your disconnecting the battery the thing that runs the radio off the cig lighter won't be much good as cig lighter won't work either.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,237 ✭✭✭AMurphy


    CJhaughey wrote:
    Hook another 12v battery up to the leads before you take the old one out.

    Perfect.
    Or plug a 12v DC supply into the cigarette lighter socket, assuming your cig lighter is powered when the car is off.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,340 ✭✭✭Cmar-Ireland


    Haven't ried this, but seemingly a 9v PP3 battery joined across the terminals before you take out the car battery will retain radio codes. Like has been said, ensure all interior lights etc are off, because they will suck the life out of the 9v very quick (even door open warning lights!!)


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