Which radio is in your Ford 6000 CD?
Ford fitted different radios over the years. Find your 6000 CD’s years below, but go by the serial: radios are often swapped, and the free check reads it for you.
What is printed on the label
People look these up because they are the only numbers on the radio that mean anything. A part number identifies the unit and is the same on every one ever built; the serial is yours alone and is the one we need. They are easy to mix up, so here is what to expect on a Ford 6000 CD.
| Printed on the unit | What it is |
|---|---|
| M123456 or V123456 | The serial. One letter and six numbers, on screen and on the label — this is the one we need. |
| 97xx-18K876-xx | The shape of a Ford finis part number. Yours will have its own letters; whatever they are, it names the build and not your radio. |
| xxxx-18C815-xx | The later finis shape. Also a part number, also not a serial. |
A part number on its own cannot produce a code — every radio of that model shares it. If the number you have is one of the part numbers above, keep looking for the serial: it is the longer one, and usually on a separate line or a barcode label.
How to find your Ford 6000 CD radio serial number
Most Ford 6000 CD radios show their serial on the screen, so you don’t need to take anything apart. The serial tells us exactly which code your radio needs.
On the screen
- Turn the ignition on and switch the radio on.
- Hold buttons 1 and 6 together for 2–3 seconds.
- Watch the screen: the serial scrolls past, usually last. Write down the letter and 6 numbers.
- Nothing? Try buttons 2 and 6 instead. Still nothing? The serial is also on a label on the radio itself.
On the label
The serial is also printed on a label on the top or side of the radio. Most radios slide out with a pair of radio removal keys (a few pounds from any car parts shop). Push them into the slots on the front until they click, then ease the radio forward. Some have screws to undo first.
Take a photo of the label rather than copying it by hand: it’s easy to mix up 0 and O, or 1 and I.
Tips for your Ford 6000 CD
- Switch the radio on and hold buttons 1 and 6 together (2 and 6 on earlier ones). The serial scrolls across the screen after a few firmware strings.
- If the scroll shows something long like EFD3014V193789, the serial is the last seven characters — V193789 in that example.
- A serial starting M or V is one we do in seconds. Z or A means a 2008-on Sony unit, and those are not ones anybody can work out from the serial.
What your serial looks like
-
V123456Ford V-series (6000 CD)V and 6 numbers Instant -
M123456Ford M-series (Visteon)M and 6 numbers Instant -
Z123456Ford Z / A serials (2008 on)Z or A and 6 numbers Not available
Can’t find it or can’t read it? Send us a photo of the label: £9.99, with a full refund if we can’t find your code.
How to enter your Ford 6000 CD radio code
Once you have your code, key it in like this. The example below shows the button presses. Your order page shows the same steps next to your code.
- Press button 1 until the first number of your code shows. Do the same with buttons 2, 3 and 4.
- Press button 5 to finish (Land Rover: the right-hand arrow button).
- Code not accepted? The screen shows LOCKED and a number. Stop before it gets to 10 and read our locked radio help.
- Press button 1 until the first number of your code shows. Do the same with buttons 2, 3 and 4.
- Press button 5 to finish (Land Rover: the right-hand arrow button).
- Code not accepted? The screen shows LOCKED and a number. Stop before it gets to 10 and read our locked radio help.
If your Ford 6000 CD radio says LOCKED, WAIT or SAFE
Each wrong code makes the radio wait longer before the next try, and some radios lock for good after too many. Don’t guess: get the right code first, then follow the steps for your radio.
| Radio | What to do |
|---|---|
| Ford V-series (6000 CD) | LOCKED 10: leave the radio and ignition on for about an hour, then try again, or hold button 6 for 10 seconds to get 3 more tries. LOCKED 13 means those tries are used up: the radio then needs a Ford dealer or a radio specialist. |
| Ford M-series (Visteon) | LOCKED 10: leave the radio and ignition on for about an hour, then try again, or hold button 6 for 10 seconds to get 3 more tries. LOCKED 13 means those tries are used up: the radio then needs a Ford dealer or a radio specialist. |
What LOCKED, WAIT and SAFE mean, and how long to wait →
Why we use your radio’s serial, not your number plate
A radio code belongs to the radio, not the car. A dealer usually looks it up from the Ford 6000 CD’s number plate or VIN (the 17-character number in your logbook), which only works if the car still has the radio it left the factory with. Radios are often swapped under warranty, upgraded, or changed by a previous owner.
The serial number is printed on the radio itself, so the code we give you matches the radio in front of you. It is also how we can check it for free before you pay. Main dealers often charge £30–£130, and you usually have to book the car in.
Ford 6000 CD radio code questions
How do I get the serial out of a 6000 CD?
Switch it on and hold 1 and 6, or 2 and 6 on earlier cars. The screen runs a diagnostic scroll and the serial is usually the last thing on it: a letter and six numbers.
My 6000 CD says LOCKED 10.
Ten wrong tries and it pauses. Leave the ignition and the radio on for about an hour, or hold button 6 for ten seconds for three more goes. Never keep guessing — LOCKED 13 needs a dealer.
Is the 6000 CD the same as the 6006 CDC?
Same family and the same serial trick. The 6006 has the six-disc changer built in; the code comes from the serial either way.
How much is a Ford 6000 CD radio code?
£9.99 per code. The free check comes first, so you only pay once we know we can do it, and you get your money back if the code doesn’t work.
How long does it take?
Most Ford 6000 CD codes appear on screen the moment you’ve paid, and we email you a copy. If yours has to be looked up by our team, we email it within 2 hours and tell you before you pay.
What if the code doesn’t work?
Check the serial first: 0 and O, or 1 and I, are easy to mix up. Still stuck? Tell us from your order page and we’ll put it right or refund you in full.
Another Ford?
See every Ford radio we can unlock on our Ford radio code page, or pick a model: Focus, Fiesta, Transit, Mondeo, Ka, Transit Connect, Galaxy, Fusion, Escort, C-Max, S-Max, 5000 RDS, 4000 RDS, 6006 CDC, Sony CD, TravelPilot, 3000 Traffic.
Updated September 2026