disconnecting battery boggles radio?

[draboo]

a friend just purchased a 2000 chev silverdildo 1500. he brought it to a shop for a remote starter installation. the shop disconnected the battery and afterwards,the radio wouldnt work. it needed some sort of code for the computer for it to work,like an antitheft thing.

he had to take it to a dealer to have it reprogrammed so radio would work. and he paid for it,over and above the cost of the remote start. the shop said it was not their fault.

is this common??i have a 1999 and am having thoughts about a remote starter from the same shop,but i dont want to have to pay more money to have the stupid radio reprogrammed.

thanks,eh??

brad/draboo

[broughy84]

Yeah it's called "Theftlock" I believe they have been on GM since 98. If the theftlock is activated, you will have a flashing light when the car is off....or at least that's how my venture is.

[Ape0r]

I've heard of a lot of people having a problem with that. One time I disconnected the battery to install my XM radio.. didn't have a problem with theftlock on my '04.

[rrousou]

If you search Google you can get the info to extract the code yourself.

[ponchonutty]

Originally Posted by rrousou

If you search Google you can get the info to extract the code yourself.

That only works about 20% of the time. Gm has really put the screws to the average consumer. I mean, you go and get a nice battery to replace the ACJunko then have to give the dealer more money to "unlock" the radio.

On the '03-'05 trucks, the VIN# is stored inside the radio so as long as you always have it in the vehicle it has been programmed to, it will always work. If you swap same radios, they won't until the dealer programs it.

As far as the alarm shop unhooking the battery for the install of a remote starter, dunno why they'd do that unless they are abnormally slow installing. I usually can have a high end DEI remote start installed in under 2 hours. I always shut the interior lights off why installing. I need to have the truck's juice on because of programming of the Class 2 Data interfacing I do with the vehicle's computer. That way the customer can retain the driver's door unlock then unlock the rest, domelight, security arm/disarm, and owner reconition just to name a few.

[tykrz]

To reactivate the radio just punch in the numbers you used to activate the theftguard. If you forgot the numbers your stuck going to a dealer to unlock the unit. Look around, a good reputable dealership will send the service advisor out to do this no charge. I guess they figure if they help you out you'll be back for future business.

[ponchonutty]

[quote=tykrz]To reactivate the radio just punch in the numbers you used to activate the theftguard.QUOTE]

Most of the time this is set by the previous owners or even test drivers before you buy the vehicle. The funny thing is that anyone into stereos can't wait to give them radios away. 1st thing I did when I got my new Silverado was chuck the Delco CD player!

[Jimmiz71]

I had the same problem earlier this year. Here are the Directions on how to unlock the radio.


01. Turn the ignition ON (The radio displays LOC)

02. Hold down the Radio Presets 2 and 3 buttons for six seconds

03. The radio display changes from LOC to a three-digit number. Write this number down. Don’t take forever, fifteen seconds max before the next step.

04. Press the AM/FM button

05. The radio display changes to another three-digit number. Write this number to the right of the first one.

06. You now have a six-digit number, the first three digits are from STEP 03 and the last three digits are form STEP 05

07. Call 1 800 537 5140 08. Press 1 then # (pound). You’ll hear “Invalid Code, try again”

09. Press 139010 then # (pound). You will be asked to enter your four or six digit code followed by * (start)

10. Enter the number from STEP 6 then * (star)

11. Listen to the four-digit number and write it down. It will be repeated twice

12. Turn the ignition ON (The radio displays LOC)

13. Use the MN and HR buttons to enter the code from STEP 11

14. Press the AM/FM button. The radio display changes to SEC Your radio is now “un-locked” and usable. The Theft-Deterrent feature is STILL active! If you want to disable it, use the instruction on page 3-27 in your Y2K Owner’s manual. Use the code from STEP 11 instead of your personal code.

-Jimmy

[White Lightening]

Just wondering.

I had my new 2004 chevy 1500's battery disconnected 3 times since I bought it 4 months ago. I had to reprogram the radio station presets but that was it. No XM radio problems, no theft lock indicators. each time it was disconnected for at least 25 minutes or more.

[Jimmiz71]

The radio Will only Lock itself if the TheftLock is Enabled, Of course my manual doesn't tell you how to Enable/Disable the feature So each time I disrupt power to the stereo it locks.. Not a problem now that I have the Code and know the procedure to unlock it. I bought my truck used and the previous owner didn't write the code down anywhere. Someone in the Corvette Forum supplied me with the Instructions above to retrieve my code. This procedure is effective for any GM Delco Radio.
-Jimmy

[Fireplug]

TheftLock has been on GM from 1996 on the w-body and up