Which radio is in your Philips 22DC Series?
Philips fitted different radios over the years. Find your 22DC Series’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 Philips 22DC Series.
| Printed on the unit | What it is |
|---|---|
| AR570WX8146086 | The serial. Six characters naming the unit, then eight that are yours. |
| 22DC570/60 | The Philips chassis number — the unit, not your copy. |
| 22DC670/60E, 22DC681/60L | Other chassis in the same family. |
| AR570W, RG594F, GM0205 | Six-character precodes. The first two letters name the maker the unit was built for. |
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 Philips 22DC Series radio serial number
The serial isn’t shown on the screen: it is printed on a label on the radio itself. The serial tells us exactly which code your radio needs.
On the label
- It is not shown on screen, so take the radio out.
- Copy the serial from the label: 14 letters and numbers starting PH.
- Starts PHAP or PHAC? That is a Peugeot or Citroën radio, and the free check will spot it.
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.
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.
Tips for your Philips 22DC Series
- AR and RG are Rover, RN is Renault, VO is Volvo, FO is Ford, GM is Vauxhall, HO is Honda, SU is Subaru, PHAP is Peugeot, FI is Fiat and PH is Philips’ own retail range.
- These will not show the serial on screen. The unit comes out and the serial is on the label or stamped on the metal case.
- These codes were issued by the maker rather than calculated, so we look yours up. The free check tells you whether we hold it before you pay.
What your serial looks like
-
PH123AB1234567Philips own-brand14 letters and numbers starting PH Instant -
AR570WX8146086Rover / MG / Mini Philips14 letters and numbers starting AR or RG Instant -
GM0205Y9019162Vauxhall CDR500 / CDR200514 letters and numbers starting GM Instant -
RN279FY1234567Renault Philips (1989–1997)14 letters and numbers starting RN Instant -
VO652FA9008799Volvo VC-series (Philips)14 letters and numbers starting VO Instant -
FO667SL0457930Ford Philips (early 1990s)14 letters and numbers starting FO Instant -
PHAPEFW9022278Peugeot / Citroën Philips 22RC46514 letters and numbers starting PHAP Instant -
HO681AA9170550Honda Philips (early 1990s)14 letters and numbers starting HO Instant -
SU685AX9012989Subaru Philips (early 1990s)14 letters and numbers starting SU Instant -
FIF001P8000678Fiat Philips14 letters and numbers starting FIF Instant -
NI667SM0474796Philips (other)14 letters and numbers Instant
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 Philips 22DC Series 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.
- Buttons 1 to 4 set each number.
- Hold button 5 or the tuning knob to finish.
- The screen shows CODE (or -C-).
- Press button 1, set the first number with the tuning buttons, then press button 1 again.
- Do the same for all 4 numbers. Two beeps mean it worked.
- Hold AS and switch the radio on. The screen shows SAFE, then 10 - - - -.
- Buttons 1 to 4 set each number.
- Hold AS until it beeps.
- Buttons 1 to 4 set each number.
- Hold button 6 for about 5 seconds to finish.
- VC-601 and VC-608: press P1, set each number with the station button, then press P1 to save.
- VC-602 and VC-802: press P1 until COD shows, then set each number with the right tuning arrow.
- Usually: press button 1, set the number with the tuning buttons, then press button 1 again.
- Do the same for all 4 numbers. The exact steps vary from radio to radio.
- The steps vary from radio to radio (they are not the same as the RD3).
- Usually: press button 1, set the number with the tuning buttons, then press button 1 again.
- Do the same for all 4 numbers. The exact steps vary from radio to radio.
- Usually: press button 1, set the number with the tuning buttons, then press button 1 again.
- Do the same for all 4 numbers. The exact steps vary from radio to radio.
- Usually: press button 1, set the number with the tuning buttons, then press button 1 again.
- Do the same for all 4 numbers. The exact steps vary from radio to radio.
- Usually: press button 1, set the number with the tuning buttons, then press button 1 again.
- Do the same for all 4 numbers. The exact steps vary from radio to radio.
If your Philips 22DC Series 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 |
|---|---|
| Philips own-brand | Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio powered while it counts down. |
| Rover / MG / Mini Philips | Err or WAIT: the wait gets longer each time. Keep the radio switched on. |
| Vauxhall CDR500 / CDR2005 | You only get 10 tries before the radio locks for good, so please don’t guess. |
| Renault Philips (1989–1997) | Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio powered while it counts down. |
| Volvo VC-series (Philips) | Leave the radio on for up to 2 hours after a failed try. |
| Ford Philips (early 1990s) | Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down. |
| Peugeot / Citroën Philips 22RC465 | Radio locked? Leave the ignition on for a full hour. |
| Honda Philips (early 1990s) | Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down. |
| Subaru Philips (early 1990s) | Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down. |
| Fiat Philips | Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down. |
| Philips (other) | Each wrong try adds a longer wait. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down. |
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 Philips 22DC Series’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.
Philips 22DC Series radio code questions
What do the first letters of a Philips serial mean?
They name the maker the unit was built for. AR and RG are Rover, RN Renault, VO Volvo, FO Ford, GM Vauxhall, HO Honda, SU Subaru, FI Fiat, and PH is Philips’ own range.
Why can these not be calculated?
There is no formula — the codes were issued unit by unit at the factory. We hold millions of them, which is the next best thing and why the free check matters.
How much is a Philips 22DC Series 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 Philips 22DC Series 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 Philips?
See every Philips radio we can unlock on our Philips radio code page.
Updated September 2026