stroh

i recently purchased a 1995 passat and there was no user manual with the car. the radio worked fine and now gives the message "safe" when turned on. would anyone with a manual be able to tell what this message means and if there is a reset option. thanks.

URIN 2ND

Stroh,

This is your theft deterrent radio doing it's stuff. There is a 4-digit code that must be input any time the battery is disconnected or it loses power for whatever reason. This code is normally in the car's paperwork somewhere...most people keep it with the owner's manual.

You have 2 options. Get your car to a dealer. They should either (a) be able to look the code up in the car's MFA, or (b) have a universal code that should get your stereo working again.

Good luck!

__________________
Sean
1990 VW Corrado G60
"If you want to come in second place...follow me!"

Ana

I have a '96 Cabrio without the owner's manual (unfortunately).
After an incidence that requires a very long description, the silent radio shows the terrible "SAFE" message.

I have a 4 digit code but my problem is that I can't seem to get the system to receive it.

I was told that it has to show 1000 before the code is entered.
I was also told to push "mode" and "scan" simultaneously in order to change the SAFE to a 1000.

Well, this radio has a left scan and a right scan (small ones). It also has a bigger SEEK. The seek is the same size as the MODE, in some sort of symetrical positions.

I've tried with the scans and with the seek, both cases without success.

IS there a trick for this? How long do you hold those keys? Do I have to wait for a full moon to do it?

Silently waiting
Ana

BDonner911

OK... we had the same problem that you had on my bro-in-law's 98 Passat. We finally figured out that if you hold the large "SEEK" button... then press and hold the "SCAN>"... THEN... press and hold the bottom "<SCAN"... end result... pressing all three at the same time.

This should take you to the 1000, etc.

Worked for us... GOOD LUCK!

BDonner911

karlns

OK, I have a similar problem with my 95 VW Passat. I got the SAFE message to change to 1000, then I put in a code I thought would work. It gave me 2 tries and didn't work, now when I hold down SEEK, SCAN> and SCAN< all it does is _flash_ SAFE.

Anything I can do now?

Pshelton

Karlns:

I have the same problem you described in your post. Did anyone give you any help?

You wrote: "OK, I have a similar problem with my 95 VW Passat. I got the SAFE message to change to 1000, then I put in a code I thought would work. It gave me 2 tries and didn't work, now when I hold down SEEK, SCAN> and SCAN< all it does is _flash_ SAFE."

Peter

illest7

turn the key to off and leave the radio on for an hour and it will reset itself

Pshelton

Illest 7:

Thanks. I've done that. It won't take the code. When I enter the code (and it's the correct code, according to the dealer and the card), it just flashes SAFE again. Dealer says the radio is now shot and I have to replace it. Is there any other fix?

Thanks.

Peter

PS -- Cool ride. When I lived in Spartanburg (1996), the only RX-7 I ever saw was that sorry car the cops drove around, Written on the side was "CONFISCATED FROM A DRUG DEALER."

illest7

Thanks, I like my car The only one I know of that the police drive around is a shitpile 300zx. Pull the radio out and get the number off of it. It should start with VW. If safe flashes the radio is locked and has to be reset like I described.

gperez19

I am working on a friend's car and she had no idea that she was supposed to keep the Volkswagen stereo supplement. This is the first one that I have done work on and I have no idea how to get this thing off of safe mode. Is there such a thing as a universal code and if so would you please let me know how to obtain one? Thanks.

illest7

A universal code would completely defeat the purpose of having a code at all. You need to remove the radio and find the serial number that begins with "VW" and call the dealership with that and the cars VIN. Ask for the parts department and they should look it up for free.

bridbear

Hey All -
I read the string for the terrible "SAFE" message. I tried to reset mine with the wong code. When I was given the correct code it didn't work and kept flashing "SAFE". I got a new CD player and forgot about it. Now I am selling and when I re-plugged it in there it was again. It will not re-set!!! Please help? I did leave it for an hour and it still did not work.
Thanks in advance!!

Pshelton

I had the same problem (see above). I reset and reentered the correct code and it still wouldn't work. Because it was a factory unit, I just went to Circuit City and bought a cheapie. (Last week, Circuit City offered free installation with any purchase.) The dealer told me I had to replace it, and so did VWs 1-800 number. Sucks.

illest7

if you cant get the new code for it you will have to buy another one with the code for it. Theyre pretty easy to find.

bridbear

Hey there -
Yes, i do have the correct code which worked before. Does that mean that I have to buy another radio and code?

thanks!

AB