Radio locked out in 2000 Malibu

[caterpillar1957]

We bought our 2000 Malibu LS used (93,000 miles!) slightly over a year ago and I have really enjoyed driving and riding in the car. There was no owner's manual with the car when we got it, which has not been much of an issue until now. Within the past week, my husband shut off the car while a cassette tape was still playing. When he got back in and started the car, the radio's display area (which usually defaults to the time when you're not tuning the radio or searching for something on the CD or cassette player) read "Loc," which I assume means "locked," and can no longer listen to the radio or play CDs or tapes, or see what time it is. (We were able to successfully eject the tape.) I was really starting to get annoyed at having nothing to listen to and having to keep checking my watch, so I contacted a dealer's service department (hoping for a simple/quick/cheap solution!) and they told me that we would have to take the car in for them to find the code. I would really rather avoid having to do this because I have no idea what they are going to charge! The battery had not been disconnected before this happened, but there was a blown fuse for some of the rear lights, and I have no idea if this could have been related (and replacing it did not help the radio problem, obviously).

Today I saw my uncle who used to work for GM and asked him if he knew how to fix this. He played around with it and told me that he knew that you push and hold in a button (or two simultaneously) until the display flashes, and then enter a code, but he couldn't remember which one(s). Does anyone know what button or buttons you push to get it to flash? He was also fairly certain that the default code is "1234," and of course that won't work if the previous owner changed the code, but I'm willing to give it a try myself to avoid a trip to the dealer (and some expense, not to mention hours of sitting around waiting).

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[unlocker03]

you can access your specific unlock code and instructions at www.geocities.com/unlocker03 dealers will charge $60-100 to unlock radios and failed attempts will lock it out long term.

[justin9212]

Hi,
I sell this unlock code a lot cheaper than anyone else, including the dealers. I sell them for GM, Saturn, Buick, Pontiac, Geo, Chevy (Chevrolet), Oldsmobile, GMC, and many other makes. Take a look at these pages...

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.d...&sort=3&rows=50

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MESSE%3AIT&rd=1

Thanks,
Justin

[Rhcmlc]

Don't pay money for this service. Just press and hold preset buttons 2 and 3 or 1 and 4 on your radio. Copy the digits displayed by your radio. Let go of the buttons. Next press the am/fm button and copy the next 3 digits. You now should have a six digit code. Call (800) 537-5140 and enter 139010 or 202107. After this, you will be prompted to input your six digit code. Put in your code using your phone buttons and this service center will then give you the unlock code for your car. Simple. Don't pay the dealer or anyone else for this service. I can't believe everyone's out to make a quick buck nowadays!

[devilrayfan]

how do you input 4 digit code?