Honda Radio

[JohnnyO]

As some of you know from Facebook, my wife's sister recently died from cancer. I am currently in custody of her 2009 Honda Civic which she left in her will to her nephew and my instructions were to check it out and fix anything that needs fixed. The radio is non-functioning but the display lights up with "Enter Code". Is this an anti-theft code or something else? The car sat at her place for a month while she was staying with us and the battery went dead, if that matters. Thanks in advance.

 

[fastpakr]

Sounds like an anti theft code for sure. Anything written in the owners manual or with other info in the glove box?

 

[Ranger850]

Pull the head unit out. There should be a code written on a label somewhere. My dad & I did this a few years ago with an Acura CL. The car came with 2 head units, because the PO couldn't get one to work. My dad found the code, with some help from the "Google" and it worked fine until we got rid of the Acura.

 

[Snoranger]

I know at one point you had to take the VIN and radio serial number to a dealer and if they matched, they gave you the code... I think you can do it online now.

 

[Dirtman]

Are Honda radios really so expensive that they need a rediculous theft system? Seems like it would be easier to just toss the thing in the trash and throw a cheap aftermarket unit in.

 

[Ranger850]

I know at one point you had to take the VIN and radio serial number to a dealer and if they matched, they gave you the code... I think you can do it online now.

I think that's what Pops did, without going to the dealer. Each unit it tied to the car, like the chipped keys.

Are Honda radios really so expensive that they need a rediculous theft system? Seems like it would be easier to just toss the thing in the trash and throw a cheap aftermarket unit in.

There not super expensive but they are better than Dual or whatever the cheap stuff is these days. Yes the Old Honda units are better than todays cheap sh!t. Why would somebody go spend $$ on a cheap stereo when you have the better quality unit for free plus a little internet digging.

 

[Snoranger]

Are Honda radios really so expensive that they need a rediculous theft system? Seems like it would be easier to just toss the thing in the trash and throw a cheap aftermarket unit in.

In the late 90’s/ early 2000’s, the RKE was built into the radio. If you removed the radio on some models, the power locks wouldn’t work. Aftermarket installers would stuff the factory radio down inside the dash and install the new one in front of it.

 

[Dirtman]

Are Honda radios chowdah-proof?

 

[Curious Hound]

Nope

(See Cantaloupe, chapt 3, paragraph 15, line 7)

 

[Dirtman]

Nope

(See Cantaloupe, chapt 3, paragraph 15, line 7)

Then they are garbage.. in the trash with it.

 

[Snoranger]

Are Honda radios chowdah-proof?

Nope

(See Cantaloupe, chapt 3, paragraph 15, line 7)

Maybe we can do some testing if JohnnyO can’t get it working.

 

[JohnnyO]

Are Honda radios really so expensive that they need a rediculous theft system? Seems like it would be easier to just toss the thing in the trash and throw a cheap aftermarket unit in.

It’s pretty much part of the dash so I don’t think an aftermarket unit would work. That’s why used radios are dirt cheap, a radio for one car won’t fit in another car. I ran into that with my dad’s car a few years ago, I got a new (used) radio on eBay, literally paid more for shipping than I did the radio, and had to take it to the dealer to get it to work because the anti-theft kicked in.

 

[fastpakr]

It’s pretty much part of the dash so I don’t think an aftermarket unit would work.

Scosche HA1561B Dash Kit (Blue)

Allows you to install a new single-DIN or double-DIN car stereo in select 2006-11 Honda Civics

www.crutchfield.com

 

[Curious Hound]

If it’s like the 01 Accord my wife had, there was a special security code to type into the radio every time it lost power or it wouldn’t work. I wouldn’t waste 2 seconds on re-using a Honda radio for anything else.

 

[broncc]

Honda friend called the dealer to get his radio code. I don't think it cost him anything.