Manuals always glibly talk about disconnecting the battery before doing any electrical work.
I don't have any documentation for our KA (54). Does anybody know whether the radio will come alive again without demanding a magic spell?
Radio codes
Mar 04, 2012
24 Replies
No, it will require the four digit code to be entered:
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A dealer or car electrical specialist can use software to recover the code from the serial number on the unit. If you want to try doing it yourself, the decoding software can be found online.
Alternatively, if you post the serial number here, some kind soul is sure to be able to help you out ;-)
Chris
Just stitch a 12 V supply across the battery leads when you drop the battery out. Easy.
But that would leave the same parts of the system powered as having the battery connected!
Chris
But you'd only need around .5A if that to hold the radio up. So long as care is taken it stops all that messing about losing codes.
Yup, which avoids variations on
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In message , Mike writes
I just remember mine. It tests me from time to time by demanding it.
I keep mine of my mobile + the Emergency key code. There's just too many numbers to recall these days !
Andy C
[...]
It would still be the wrong thing to do if the battery was disconnected for reasons of safety. Even if you used a supply that was current- limited, 500mA is more than enough to create a spark capable of igniting petrol vapour, or of frying car electronics.
Chris
and setting off air bags and explosive seat belt pretensioners.
That's not the main reason for disconnecting it though, it's the enormous flash & melting/burning insulation when you short the battery out. If you've got petrol vapour in concentrations that you can detonate with a small spark then you'd be using brass tools & worring about the sparks from the distributor.
Oh indeed. I was just pointing out that replacing one 12v supply with another, whether current-limited or not, isn't going to make you free of risk.
Chris
Why should you short the battery out?
It will reduce it to the point of being negligible.
Well the well known trick is the back of the starter solenoid.
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Pretty much instantly AFAIK.
Getting the code is so trivial, it's worth doing anyway.
Chris
You might think so; I'll continue to disconnect as it's such a trivial thing to do.
Chris
or placing a socket handle on the battery, or letting the alternator lead dangle when you change said alternator, or pinching the main battery lead between the gearbox and engine when changing the clutch
It is until you get stuck without codes as the OP seems to be.
As I've already explained to the OP, getting the code is trivial, and probably free.
Chris
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