Anyone know how they recover lost radio codes?

[littlebrooklyn]

My son has a 5yr old SEAT Leon Cupra and a couple of weeks ago after having some work done on the gearbox he needed to enter the code for his radio as the battery had been disconnected during the work he had done on the car.

Unfortunately he didn't have the radio code in the handbook and phoned SEAT who said they would have to take the radio out of the car and send away for the code. He duly took the car to the service centre and 20mins later was given the radio code. What we are trying to work out now is why when he entered the code although the radio and SATNAV both work, the cd changer and handsfree phone, all of which were factory fitted in the same unit, do not work.

When my son phoned SEAT to ask if they had maybe dislodged one of the cables behind the radio when they took it out, suddently they claimed they had NOT taken the radio out! I can't see any other way that the cd changer and handsfree phone are not working as they were fine before his battery was disconnected. According to his handbook there is only one fuse for this unit and obviously that hasn't blown as the radio and SATNAV are working. I can't make sense of why SEAT originally said they would definately need to remove the radio to get the code but are now saying they got it without removing it, even though the car had to be taken to their service centre.

Any ideas as to what is wrong would be much appreciated.

Lyn

 

[DPJ]

With previous second-hand cars (Non-VAG) I've bought, I've had no trouble going to the dealer with proof of ownership and getting the radio code. (They've looked it up on a database.)

I see no reason why VAG cars should be different.

 

[RobM]

I believe they would have had to remove the stereo to get to the serial number details, so I think somebody is telling porky pies.

If you want to have a go at checking this for yourself, it's a fairly easy task. You can buy the correct 'Euro' or 'Audi' removal tools from the likes of Halfords, or you can try and use a cut up credit card or something similar. There are two slots on the front of the head unit, you push the removal tools into these, which unclips the securing tabs from behind the dash, allowing you to pull the unit out.

From there you can check for yourself to see what has and hasn't been unplugged.

 

[juan]

iv just had to get mine done as the code want in the book, if u ring up the place where in was 1st reg and give them the code on the back then they should do it 4 free or done what i'v done taken it 2 seat down the road and gave them £10 to do it all then i'v faxed the place where it was 1st reged and they r sending me some money back.