I replaced my instrument cluster with a substitute while I replace all of the stepper motors in my original, But after doing so my radio says locked and doesn't work. Will it still be locked when I put the original one back in?

The substitute cluster is out of a 2001 and my van is a 2004 if that makes a difference.

Thanks

when the car was new the owner should of put a 4 diget code in
for security reasons.not sure how to retreve the code if forgotten

when the car was new the owner should of put a 4 diget code in
for security reasons.not sure how to retreve the code if forgotten

If it was me, I'd say the owner (that's you) should have REMOVED the 4 digit security code as a precaution against a loss of power to the radio. That's what trips the security--a power interruption to the radio. The idea that the radio won't work if the power is removed unless you entry a security code is bogus IMO. This is not going to deter theft--thieves don't care if the radio is locked or not--they just resell them.
You, on the other hand must now go to a dealer and pay for the privilege of proving to them that you didn't steal your own radio so they will unlock it for you.

Some advice--when you do get the radio unlocked, get rid of that security code and never use it again.

I've removed the power from the battery in the past, and there has never been a problem. This all happened just from replacing the instrument cluster.

The newer radios read the Vin from the PCM, the older cluster may have screwed with the datastream...... fix the cluster asap and put it back in, it may be ok.....

They stopped making these things in 05. To my knowledge, none of them used a system that could read from the pcm prior to that. If your radio is locked, you will need to visit the dealer for a code.
Read the manual--it tells you how to disable that 'feature' so it won't happen again.

Probably would be cheaper to install a new aftermarket radio , than to take your car ( with original radio ) to a dealer , if putting the original cluster back doesn't fix the situation ? Just my :2cents:

Same problem ..pulled the wrong fuse, and now my radio is locked. Has anyone ever used one of those "buy a code" services, such as www.radio-code.com (http://www.radio-code.com) where they charge 8 bucks to email a new code. Is this legit, or a rip-off??

I rebuilt the original cluster and reinstalled it, Everything works like a charm now, Phew! The clusters must be married to the ecm or something?