Your Honda stereo is showing CODE and refuses to play. It is not broken — the built-in anti-theft lock has switched on and is waiting for its unlock code.
Every factory Honda and Acura stereo has an anti-theft lock built into it. When the display shows CODE (sometimes with a flashing "C"), the radio has lost power at some point and is refusing to play until the matching factory unlock code is entered.
It is almost never a fault with the radio. The most common triggers are:
Honda radios track failed attempts. Entering guesses can lock the unit for a growing wait period between tries, so it is worth having the correct code before you start entering anything.
Honda and Acura radios keep their own serial number, separate from the car's VIN. Hold presets 1 and 6 together while turning the ignition on and the display will cycle through it. Send us that serial number and we look up the matching factory code.
Once we have your serial number, Standard delivery is usually within the hour and Express moves you to the top of the queue. We're open 7 days a week, no exceptions.
