Lost Your Acura Radio Code? Here’s How to Get It Back Fast

Sitting in your car with a dead radio display is frustrating. If you’re seeing “CODE” or “Enter Code” on your Acura’s audio system after a battery change or power loss, don’t worry. Your radio isn’t broken—it’s just locked for security reasons. You’ll need a specific five-digit code to bring your music back. Let’s walk through the easiest ways to retrieve and enter your Acura radio code without the headache.

What Is an Acura Radio Code and Why Do You Need It?

An Acura radio code is a five-digit security feature designed to prevent theft of your vehicle’s audio system. Your radio automatically locks when:

• Your car battery dies or is disconnected
• The radio fuse is removed or blows
• The radio loses power for any reason

Think of it as a digital padlock that keeps your expensive audio equipment safe. Without this code, your radio remains unusable—an effective deterrent for potential thieves.

Where to Find Your Acura Radio Code (Check These Places First)

Before digging too deep, check these quick and easy places where your radio code might be hiding:

In Your Vehicle Documentation

The simplest place to look is in your car’s paperwork:

• Glove compartment: Look for a small white sticker inside the glove box or on the fuse box cover with “Anti-Theft Radio Code” and five digits
• Owner’s manual packet: Many Acuras include a wallet-sized card titled “Anti-theft Identification Card” with both your radio serial number and code
• Maintenance booklet: Sometimes the code is written on a sticker inside your vehicle’s maintenance journal

This method takes just minutes and requires no technical skills—just a quick look through your car documents.

On the Radio Unit Itself

Some Acura models have the code printed directly on the radio:

• Look for a label on the side of the radio unit (may require removing the unit)
• Check the top of the radio chassis if accessible

This is more common in older models (pre-2001), so don’t disassemble your dashboard just yet if you have a newer Acura.

How to Get Your Radio Serial Number (You’ll Need This)

If you can’t find your code in the documentation, you’ll need the radio’s serial number to retrieve it online. Here’s how to get it:

For Most Acura Models (2001 and Newer)

1. Turn your ignition to the ON position (don’t start the engine)
2. Make sure your radio is OFF
3. Press and hold radio preset buttons 1 and 6 simultaneously
4. While holding buttons 1 and 6, turn the radio ON
5. The display will show an 8-digit serial number (sometimes displayed as two 4-digit groups labeled “U” and “L”)
6. Write down this complete number—you’ll need it for the next step

For Navigation Systems

If you have a navigation system that’s also locked:

1. Turn the ignition to ON
2. Press and hold the MAP/GUIDE, MENU, and CANCEL buttons simultaneously
3. The serial number will appear on the navigation screen
4. Record both the navigation and radio serial numbers separately

Retrieving Your Acura Radio Code Online

Acura offers a free online tool to recover your radio code:

1. Visit Acura’s radio code retrieval website
2. You’ll need:
   • Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
   • Your radio’s serial number
   • Your zip code
   • A valid phone number
3. Enter all information carefully (mix-ups between letters I, O, Q and numbers 1, 0 are common errors)
4. Submit the form and the radio code will be displayed on screen (and usually emailed to you)

Contacting Your Acura Dealer for the Code

If online methods aren’t working, your local Acura dealership can help:

1. Call your nearest Acura dealer’s service department
2. Provide your VIN and radio serial number
3. You may need to verify ownership of the vehicle
4. Most dealers will provide the code free of charge for the original owner

Some dealers might ask you to bring the vehicle in person to verify ownership and retrieve the code, especially if you’re not the original owner.

How to Enter Your Acura Radio Code Correctly

Once you have your five-digit code, here’s how to enter it:

1. Turn your ignition to the ON position
2. Turn on your radio so it displays “CODE”
3. Use the preset buttons to enter each digit of your code
   • For example, if your code is 12345, press:
     • Preset 1 for the first digit
     • Preset 2 for the second digit
     • Preset 3 for the third digit
     • Preset 4 for the fourth digit
     • Preset 5 for the fifth digit
4. On most models, the radio will automatically accept the code once all five digits are entered
5. If your radio has an “Enter” button, press it after inputting the code

Your radio should now unlock and return to normal function immediately.

What If You Enter the Wrong Code?

Be careful when entering your code. If you make mistakes:

• After 3 incorrect attempts, your radio will display “ERR” and lock for 1 hour
• The radio must remain powered on during this lockout period
• After 1 hour, you can try again
• 10 incorrect attempts may permanently lock some units

If you’ve tried your code multiple times and it’s still not working, there might be an issue with the radio unit itself.

Special Cases and Workarounds

For Newer Acura Models (2019+)

Some newer Acura models have simplified the process:

1. Turn the ignition to ON
2. Press and hold the radio power button for 5-10 seconds
3. The system may reset and bypass the code requirement

Note: This only works for original factory-installed units, not replacement radios.

When All Else Fails: Hard Reset Method

As a last resort, you can try resetting the radio completely:

1. Disconnect your car battery for at least 1-2 minutes
2. Reconnect the battery
3. In some cases, this resets the radio to accept the code again or bypass the security feature

This method isn’t guaranteed to work on all models and may cause other systems to reset.

Why Your Acura Radio Keeps Asking for the Code

If your radio repeatedly locks and requests the code, there might be an underlying issue:

• Weak battery: A battery that’s losing charge can cause intermittent power loss to the radio
• Loose connections: Check for corrosion or loose connections at the battery terminals
• Electrical problems: Issues with your car’s charging system can cause power fluctuations
• Faulty radio memory: The radio’s internal memory may be failing

Consider having your vehicle’s electrical system checked if the problem persists after entering the correct code multiple times.

Preventing Future Radio Lockouts

Take these steps to avoid future radio lockout situations:

• Write down your radio code and keep it in a safe place (not just in the car)
• Store a photo of your code card in your phone
• When replacing your car battery, consider connecting a backup power source temporarily to maintain radio memory
• If using a battery charger, keep it connected while removing the main battery

This small bit of preparation can save you significant hassle in the future.

Dealing with Replacement or Aftermarket Radios

If your Acura has a replacement or aftermarket radio:

• Factory replacement units typically need the original code or a new code from the dealer
• Aftermarket units usually have their own reset procedures (check the manual)
• Some replacement radios won’t have anti-theft features at all

Contact the installer or manufacturer of replacement units for specific unlock procedures.

Getting Radio Codes for Older Acura Models

Owners of vintage Acuras (pre-2000) might face additional challenges:

• Online retrieval may not work for very old models
• You may need to remove the radio to find the serial number
• Contact a dealer with your VIN and serial number for assistance
• Acura Client Relations can help at 1-800-382-2238

The dealer may charge a small fee for research on very old models, but most still provide this service.

Real World Success: Community-Tested Methods

Acura owners in online communities have reported success with these approaches:

• Using the Honda owners website (mygarage.honda.com) instead of the Acura site
• Calling Acura Client Relations directly rather than the dealer
• Checking forums like Reddit where owners share experiences with specific models

Remember that while community advice can be helpful, official channels remain the most reliable option.

Your Acura’s radio code is designed to protect your property, and retrieving it is usually straightforward using these methods. Keep your code in a safe place after retrieving it, and you’ll never face this inconvenience again.