Golden rules
- Keep the radio switched on — the timer only counts while it’s powered (often with the ignition on).
- Disconnecting the battery doesn’t reset it.
- Don’t guess. Get the right code first, then enter it once.
Radio asking for a code after a battery change?
Nothing is broken. The code is an anti-theft feature: the radio loses power, decides it might have been stolen, and won’t play until somebody proves it belongs in the car. A flat battery, a jump start, a new battery, an alternator change, or the radio coming out for any reason — all do it.
- Reconnecting the battery will not clear it. Neither will leaving it overnight. It wants the code and nothing else.
- The code is not lost. It is set against your radio’s serial number and can be worked out or looked up from it — that is what this site does.
- Not every car does this. Plenty come back on with nothing worse than the clock reset. If yours is not asking, you do not need a code.
- Do not start guessing. Wrong tries are counted and the waits get long quickly. Get the right code, enter it once.
The serial is on screen when you hold two buttons, or on a label on the radio. Finding your serial number covers every make we do, and the free check tells you whether we can produce your code before you pay anything.
What the display means
| Display | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| LOCKED 10 (Ford) | Too many wrong codes | Leave the radio and ignition on for 1 hour, or hold button 6 for 10 seconds for 3 more tries. |
| LOCKED 13 (Ford) | Final lock | No more tries on the radio. A dealer or specialist must reset it. |
| WAIT / ERROR (Renault) | Timed lock | Leave the radio on for 30–60 minutes, then try again. |
| SAFE (VW group) | Waiting for the code | Enter the code. After wrong tries leave it on for 1 hour. |
| SAFE 10 - - - - (Vauxhall) | Attempts left: 10 | Only 10 tries in total — do not guess. |
| WAIT (Fiat) | Timed lock, grows each time | Leave the radio on until it clears. |
| PLEASE WAIT (Jaguar Alpine) | Timed lock | Leave on for at least 30 minutes. |
| ERR (Honda) | Too many tries | Leave the ignition on for 1 hour. |
| WAIT 10 / WAIT 1H (Nissan) | Timed lock | Leave the radio on for the time shown. |
Lockout timer
Start the timer when your radio shows the lock message. We’ll tell you when it’s time to try again.
Keep the ignition and radio on while it counts down.
Need the right code?
Check your serial free — for most radios we’ll show the first number so you know it’s right before you pay.