Need opinion - Radio Code for The Car Not Available at Nissan

expertreader on 23/09/2013 - 23:14

Hello Everyone,

I bought an ex rental car from a car dealer about 2 years ago. recently i started to have some battery issues (found that the battery had some cells without any liquid so had to refill them with distilled water and it is going ok- so far). I am just afraid that it is just matter of time before battery gives up and I will have to change the battery. I wasnt supplied any radio codes(which i didnt realise till few days ago) from the seller. I called nissan thinking that they would have radio codes of all the cars - I found out that they dont have it either and they suggested that I go to the dealer and get the radio out to find serial number, which the dealer would have to send to nissan and they will supply code to the dealer. I havent enquired but all this is going to cost me possibly few hundred dollars. Has anyone been through similar situation? Does the radio code only stops radio/cd player from working or it will stop the car from starting? would i be better off buying a new player for the car?- the current player is original nissan cd player which doesnt play mp3 anyway.

My car is 2009 model - Nissan Tiida.

Automotive

Comments

  • jimbobaus on 23/09/2013 - 23:29

    The code will only prevent the head unit from being used.
    the radio code is usually printed inside the car manual… but if its not then could be a drama.
    Most head units in modern cars will be find if the battery is changed within 30 minutes (well mine is anyways)
    After that you need the code,
    worst case, find out how much its going to cost you through a dealer… you can pick up pretty good head units these days for around $250 installed. So maybe look into that, use it as an excuse to upgrade the sound system :P

    • ESEMCE on 24/09/2013 - 08:43

      In my 2003 Pulsar (essentially the same vehicle) the radio required its code in the time it took me to swap the batteries over.(ie ~2 minutes)
      From memory it played radio/CD for about 5 minutes before flashing CODE at me.
      Fortunately I did have the code.. Do a thorough search of the documentation, to ensure you don't have it.

      I definitely wouldn't be paying Nissan to get the codes for your crummy old unit if it comes to that. Definitely worth putting that money towards a new unit with better features.

  • altomic on 24/09/2013 - 00:23

    do you even need a cd player? that is, you could just purchase usb/sd/aux input audio stereo with radio.

    seriously, I'd buy this - AUS$21.47 shipped from aliexpress.com

    http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Car-Audio-Stereo-In-Dash-Fm-R…

    • ESEMCE on 24/09/2013 - 08:44

      The security "feature" locks out the entire unit.. not just CD

      • altomic on 24/09/2013 - 12:20

        just get rid of the original unit and buy the linked unit. and get the advantage of usb/aux/sd input as well.

  • RockyRaccoon on 24/09/2013 - 07:11

    If you have a battery pack you can plug this into the cigarette lighter socket which will provide power enough to keep radio alive while you change the battery. That works with many cars.

    BUT I find your comment

    I havent enquired but all this is going to cost me possibly few hundred dollars

    a little strange assumption.

    To contact a dealer takes a call, and then find out how much. I really doubt if it will cost you anything at all I got a code for a VT commodore for free. You do need to take the car in so they can see its the car and the unit that belong together

  • peterlong1952 on 24/09/2013 - 07:35

    Some radio installers use part of the vin number for the code. Don't know how many digits in the code, but check out the cars manual.

  • artxty on 24/09/2013 - 07:37

    It'susually the last 4 digits of the VIN of your car. Let us know if this works. Cheers.

  • ShannonN on 24/09/2013 - 07:42

    My Holden dealer charged me 15 to look it up, you need your rego papers to say its your car and match the vin, I'm sure a nissan dealer could find it. If not drop by your mechanic (non delaler) and ask him to put a tech 2 device on the car, it will read the radio code for you. Cost usually free if their not busy.

    Otherwise, don't wait for the battery to fail, replace now, use RACO or NRMA etc they hook some cables from their van to keep the computer in a car powered while they change batteries. remember to check water levels every mont or so?

    Shannon

  • JediJan on 24/09/2013 - 11:47

    When my Holden vehicle's battery was replaced by the RACV I had no problems at all. However when my vehicle was sent off to the auto electrician's by a mechanic who couldn't identify a head gasket problem … vehicle came back with CODE notice. Could not use radio or CD player only. Was advised to contact the original Holden dealer that may have code; unfortunately they didn't have it on their books. So, armed with Registration paper to identify myself as owner of said vehicle took it to another Holden dealer who at a fee of $20 printed out the list of applicable codes for the vehicle. Unfortunately for me too, the original vehicle owner did not provide the codes I would have needed. Still, although only $20 I do not believe Holden should have charged me. Code should have been provided as a courtesy once I had proved ownership.

  • ZRXS12 on 25/09/2013 - 11:45

    Take the opportunity to purchase a half decent branded unit.
    I personally wouldn't buy a unit from Aliexpress.

  • mattie on 25/09/2013 - 22:52

    The code on modern cars is usually only needed if the radio is removed not if the battery is changed, if worried use the battery pack idea. I've worked in car yards it was pretty rare to need a code after a battery change.Good luck.

  • JohnoS on 28/01/2015 - 21:19

    Hey expertreader! Did you get this sorted? I have the same issue - Nissan are being useless.

    Did you try artxty's suggestion: last 4 digits from VIN number? I will try it but locked out for an hour at the moment. Please let me know if/how you got your code.

    Thanks
    John

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