Not the original owner and had to replace dead battery. Used car dealer did not have radio security code. Any idea how to get it without paying $200 to Acura dealer for a service appointment?

 

Look for a code in or by the glovebox this is the serial # then the dealer can look up the radio code for you. If not you need the serial # from radio so you need to work it out, or sorry it's the dealer.

BTW in the same boat used car don't know the code so maybe the same for me.

 

Check on the side of the glove box. Like open it up and look on the outside of it. You should find a sticker there. If not, pull out your coin tray there may be a sticker under there. Those stickers are the codes, and thats where they are commonly placed.

 

Also, you can look under the fuse box cover in the engine bay.

Acura is going to charge you $200 for labor. They need to take out your radio and look at the serial number on the back. If you could get this serial number somehow, then they will get your code for free.

Move your driver's seat back. Then get your head down into where the feet well is. Pull open the carpeted flap on the side of the center stack console (right behind where the radio's end would be). With a flashlight, look inside. There's a metal bracket and two phillips head bolts that go up (into the radio). If you loosen those with a 90° screwdriver or a socket wrench, the radio will pull straight out.

Or you can take a plastic spatula and pry away the wood trim... But you better get input from the other people here because I've never done it this way.

 

To take off the plood trim (plastic wood), get out a piece of metal thats very thin, strong thin plastic works too. Start on the far right, now just gently pull using your hands, dont force it and take your time if you have to. There are clips holding it. Once you get started its pretty obvious from there.

You may wish to disconnect the wiring harnesses for the climate control unit and then get at the radio.

Putting it all back on is pretty straightforward.


If you have questions feel free to ask.

 

The wood trim is just held in place by a few tabs. Its one whole piece with "plugs" or tabs behind it. I used to think that it was glued to the dash but its not. As long as you are careful not to bend your trim too far when removing it to cause it to like bend in half or something u should be okay.

 

or instead of going through all that painstaking trouble... get an aftermarket headunit
the stock headunit suks anyways.. imo

 

your stock headunit will give you more problems later on.

 

Thanks to Wackjam a solution has been found! I popped the hood in search of the serial number under the cover of the fuse box and found both the serial number AND the five digit security code! Entered in the radio and it worked like a charm.

Armed with this knowledge I popped the hood of my 2003 TL-S, opened the fuse box lid and found the same info - serial number AND five digit security code.

Thanks for the tip Wackjam!

 

Try checking the drivers side door for the radio code sticker, mixed in with the paint code stickers etc. That's where I found mine after driving around for a month without a radio post-battery replacement last winter...I refused to pay Acura for them to find the radio code, it didn't seem right to have to pay to use the radio that I had already paid for when I bought the car! Good luck!

 

No problem Grossburger. Anything that keeps money out of the pockets of greedy service techs.

Oh by the way, that'll be a $200 consulting fee. I accept paypal.

 

THANKS FELLAS!

I just spent last night trying to get my radio out of my car to get the serial number off the back so I could unlock my radio after my battery died this past Monday. (I was unsuccessful because I didn't realize I had to take out the entire center console to do it, and it was too dark outside to continue after I realized this, so I had to but everything back together.) BUT, I did look under the fuse box, and memorized the numbers there hoping they would be a serial number, little did I realize till I just read this post that I had in fact memorized my radio unlock code!! I just went out and typed it in without even having to look under the fuse box again, and presto, my radio works once again.

For future reference of anyone else interested in this thread, I have a 2000 3.2TL.

 

A dead battery killed my radio. I spent twenty dollars on a special screw driver and spent about an hour all twisted up in the floor board of my car and I was still unable to get into that tight little spot to get the screws loose in order to get my radio out just to find the stupid serial number. I wish I had of checked here first, becuase I popped my hood and removed my fuse box cover and the code was right there. THANKS for the advice, I was going crazy. '97 TL

 

96 TL 3.2

I found my radio code under the coin holder.

As always, thanks to acura-tl.com and all who post to the forums!

 

Hmmm...this is weird. I checked the fuse box (the power distribution center, right?) under the hood and there was nothing there. I also checked under the coin box and there wasn't any either. I also checked the glove box and I didn't really understand it, do you have to pop the glove box out first?

 

Don't know about if you have to pull the glove box out or not, but in my 97 2.5, it was nowhere to be found, so I made a write up on getting the serial number off the bottom of the radio itself if it would be helpfull, pretty easy to do though.

 

Hey guys has anyone had to reset the security system in their TL? I've got a 98TL and replaced the wire distributer cap etc... had to remove the battery. Got it all together and walah no power. Spent the $85 on diagnostic check and all they did was reset the security code. Where is this code and how do you reset it??
Here's hoping!

 

The code is permanent. You have to get the code from the dealer. Sucks that your dealer charged you for the code. I got mine for free.

 

Thanks for the radio update - I actually had the code written on a card in the drivers armrest! What really flarred my unit was the car wouldn't start due to the security system. The dealer charged $85.00 to check the fuses - and "reset" the system - What did they reset?? Is it true all you need to do is turn the ignition key on and leave it for 15minutes? Love to know next time I have to change the battery.