Radio Help Needed

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Jeff Strickland - 04 Nov 2006 19:10 GMT

I have an E36 with the standard anti-theft radio. It says CODE on the
display, and apparently my wife and child attempted several inputs, and now
the radio will not reset even when the correct code is input.

I have two different radios with the same trouble. (this is my second E36,
and I kept the radio and owner's manual set from the first car, and this is
what is now installed in the second car.)

What the problem is ...
Even though I input the correct code, the radio(s) is convinced that it is
stolen. How do I retrain the radio that it is not stolen so that I can input
the correct code and get the radio working again? (I have two radios, and
two Code Cards, so I know the correct code for each unit.)

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s - 04 Nov 2006 20:48 GMT

If the radio reads error put a battery charger on the car, turn the ignition
on and wait of the error display on the radio to switch back to code this
normally takes around an hour. If you turn the ignition off before the
display changes you will have to start again. Once the display changes enter
code.
Good luck

>I have an E36 with the standard anti-theft radio. It says CODE on the
>display, and apparently my wife and child attempted several inputs, and now
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> input the correct code and get the radio working again? (I have two
> radios, and two Code Cards, so I know the correct code for each unit.)

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Jeff Strickland - 04 Nov 2006 21:46 GMT

Thanks. It is fixed.

I set the key to ACC (position I on the ignition switch) and left it like
that for a while. I was able to input the code key and that restored the
radio.

> If the radio reads error put a battery charger on the car, turn the
> ignition on and wait of the error display on the radio to switch back to
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>> input the correct code and get the radio working again? (I have two
>> radios, and two Code Cards, so I know the correct code for each unit.)

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TonyK - 04 Nov 2006 21:50 GMT

> Thanks. It is fixed.

I was just about to post the "freezer fix". Don;t know if it actually works
of if its an urban myth. Anyone else?

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s - 05 Nov 2006 15:11 GMT

Anytime..

> Thanks. It is fixed.
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>>> can input the correct code and get the radio working again? (I have two
>>> radios, and two Code Cards, so I know the correct code for each unit.)

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Clive Bagg - 05 Nov 2006 03:25 GMT

>I have an E36 with the standard anti-theft radio. It says CODE on the
>display, and apparently my wife and child attempted several inputs, and now
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>Hi

If the radio code has been entered more than 5 times the radio becomes
useless until the code chip has been replaced.The radio code is probably
indorrect. How old is the radio? With the Phillips radios you can pick up
the serial number by turning on the ignition and holding the TP button down
for 10 seconds. The radio will come on and the serial number will be
displayed.You can then contact the dealer to obtain the correct code.

Clive B

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Jeff Strickland - 05 Nov 2006 04:56 GMT

>>I have an E36 with the standard anti-theft radio. It says CODE on the
>>display, and apparently my wife and child attempted several inputs, and
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Clive B

I have the correct code for both of my radios, the trouble is that the
people that were in the car when it displayed CODE did not know what to do,
so they attempted the hit-or-miss method several times and now the radios
are convinced they are stolen and they refuse to accept the correct CODE
input.

It turns out that the radio need only be connected properly and the Ignition
set to I for an hour or so. The radio sees the constant power as an attempt
to correct the theft situation, and it agrees to accept additional CODE
inputs.

My radios are the Alpine (?) variety. (Both are the same.)

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Jeff Strickland - 05 Nov 2006 05:14 GMT

Connect the radio normally and set the Ignition to position I for about an
hour. (It could take less time, but that's about how long before I looked to
see if it would accpet the correct code.)

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