Monsoon factory radio.

[widecamels]

Does anyone know how to tell if the factory radio thats in my NB belongs in there? I am wondering because I need the unlock code(just in case).

[Palmettoguy]

Code can be found on the radio card in the OM, on a sticker in the trunk by the spare tire, and some have even said their code was actually on the radio itself.

I doubt there is anyway to tell if the radio is the original one the car came with unless it's an upgraded/downgraded model..i.e. year of car should have a tape deck but it has a cd HU, ect...

[widecamels]

The card in OM has been blacked out and I'm not sure if it's because it doesnt go with the car or not or something happened to the radio and they changed it. I am going to check the other locations you described thank you!

[Stlbug]

Go to dealer and get code if needed. I have an 05 and the car knows if the radio belongs there.
there is no problem disconnecting power.Have done it several times and the radio always turns on.

[widecamels]

Thats what I am worried about, the manual said not all of them have the convenience coding like yours does. I contacted the dealer already and they said that if the radio doesn't belong with the car they can't give me a code for it.

[widecamels]

Can't get the radio out until I get VW radio tool, only thing with spare tire was the build sticker. But thank you!

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

There may be a build code sticker in the front of your OM at the very beginning of the Maintenance Section. Does the VIN match the VIN on the car. If so, the the Radio Card is probably also for your vehicle. If its a Monsoon CD HU then it is probably the original to the car. VW changed from Tape to CD, from '03 to '04.

There are ways to deal with not having the code for the radio, but I don't know what they are, figure $. Check some of the big eBay Radio refurbishers and resellers. Run a search for VW Radios, you'll quickly find them.

I'm willing to bet you can disconnect and reconnect the battery without having problems with the radio. Check with Tico4Life, he upgraded his '03 to a Monsoon CD HU. See what, if anything he had to deal with, as related to the code.

MORAV

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Palmettoguy

Code can be found on the radio card in the OM, on a sticker in the trunk by the spare tire, and some have even said their code was actually on the radio itself.

I doubt there is anyway to tell if the radio is the original one the car came with unless it's an upgraded/downgraded model..i.e. year of car should have a tape deck but it has a cd HU, ect...

Hey Buddy! How goes it?
In the trunk, thats the mini-build sticker, no Radio Code on it, as far as I know.

M.

[Tico4Life]

I got my code from Can't find your factory car stereo radio code? We can help! for $28. Vw dealer wanted 3 times that figure

If the radio has been replaced you need the donor car's vin# for the dealer to "help u" but if all you have is the radio serial number then the above link is the only suggestion I have.

[widecamels]

Cool thanks Tico!

[Tico4Life]

My pleasure. Don't discard the possibility of the radio being the original one. Radio code could have been blacked out for security reasons. Just a thought anyway

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Tico4Life

My pleasure. Don't discard the possibility of the radio being the original one. Radio code could have been blacked out for security reasons. Just a thought anyway

Yes, thank you J. Added it to my growing list of resources!

M.

[slpopp]

As far as the convenience coding, you may have to start the car for it to work. I thought I read this somewhere but I can't remember where. I know on my 2005 I removed the battery for around 20 minutes and when I connected the battery back up I turned on the radio before I started the car and got the "SAFE" mode. I entered the code for the radio by hand, I didn't even think to start the car before I turned on the radio. I know the temp display doesn't work after disconnecting the battery until the next time the car is started.

Does the code sticker in the Owners Manual/Code Card have just the safe code blacked out or is the whole label blacked out? Is the label this info is printed on made of thermal paper or is it an ink printing. If it is thermal paper the label may have just gotten hot enough to turn the entire label black. Did you try holding it at an angle to a bright light to see if you can make out the numbers through the blacking agent?

[widecamels]

The code sticker was blacked out with a marker, and as far the OM there was no VIN filled out on it. Thanks for the advice!

[Tico4Life]

Forgot to ask, did you check for a 4 digit number on the trim/options code sticker in the spare tire well?

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

@PMG, T4L - Where are you getting this radio code on the "build sheet sticker" info. Below is a copy of the typical build sheet sticker placed in the trunk and in the manual, at least from '00 - '05, by the manuals I have. There IS NO radio code. The radio code is obtained during the build process, not when the build sheet is created. It's a handwritten fill in, in the Premium Sound System Booklet IF it was filled in. Think about it! Think about the assembly process. The assembler would have to go find a radio with the right code.

@OPer - You should be able to read the code thru the black marker in the right light at the right angle.

MORAV

[widecamels]

MORAV, I can read it through the marker...but if its not the OM that came originally with this car it doesn't do me much good and since I haven't gotten the radio out yet to compare the serial numbers to the book I have no way of knowing. My main concern was getting the code if something were to happen to the battery.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by widecamels

MORAV, I can read it through the marker...but if its not the OM that came originally with this car it doesn't do me much good and since I haven't gotten the radio out yet to compare the serial numbers to the book I have no way of knowing. My main concern was getting the code if something were to happen to the battery.

You're absolutely right Buddy, we tend to get off post and wander from here to there and back around here. T4L gave you the simple inexpensive solution, and you don't have to spend the money until you know, and then you don't have to leave the comfort of your home to do it. I'm sure you simply send the money with the request via the web, although I didn't open his sight. Way better than having to send the unti off or make a trip to a Dealer! But I'm betting since it's already programmed into your vehicles computer, the computer will recognize it anyway. T4L was upgrading from a donor vehicle.

Keep us posted on your outcome.

M.

[Palmettoguy]

@ MORAV...
I'm getting the radio code from the sticker in the trunk
I will take a pic of it to show where it is and what info is provided on it...minus MY radio code, ha!

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Palmettoguy

@ MORAV...
I'm getting the radio code from the sticker in the trunk
I will take a pic of it to show where it is and what info is provided on it...minus MY radio code, ha!

Excellent! Which Bug? Now I'm going to have to go look at mine! I've been needing to look and see if I have the mounting holes for the trunk mounted cd changer anyway.

M.