Whenever the battery is removed or disconnected you have to leave the radio on for an hour without the car running to reset the code.
Thanks to Zack Fuller for contributing to this FAQ!
NOTE: If an invalid code is entered the radio will lock, to unlock without going to a dealer hold the "band" button until "Enter Code appears on screen
Thanks to Scott for contributing to this FAQ!
Purchasing radio keys for the car is a must.They are a pair of U shaped metal "keys" that are the same gauge as a coat hanger...($10 at any local stereo shop)...Now if the code is entered wrong, simply pull the radio out, unplug it, wait for 15 seconds, and repeat.
Thanks to K schmitt for contributing to this FAQ!
I replaced the battery and did not have the code. I had to pull the stereo using a coat hanger (worked great), got the serial # and the PU number off the unit, went to http://www.radio-code.com/index.htm and entered all my info, paid $30US to paypal. The next day, I received an email with the code. Entered it and it was music to my ears....
Thanks to Uwe Hesse for contributing to this FAQ!
To get the code, i went to a local Saab-dealer. They sent the Vehicle ID to Saab and the next day I got my code. Cost was 15 Euro.
Thanks to Jaden for contributing to this FAQ!
I unplugged my battery while out of town on a trip to clear a 'service engine' light. This locked my radio, so I called the Saab dealer from my home town and told him the problem. I then used some nails to remove the radio, gave him the number on the back, and he gave me the code, free of charge, and it only took about 5 minutes.
Thanks to Kannan for contributing to this FAQ!
This is for those who know the code but have been locked out of the radio. This deals with mainly a 97, 900SE convertible but should work with allother cars. You need to keep the car on for an hour, but there are a few other things.
Locate the fuse box inside the car. In order to turn the day time running lights off, pull the fuse for that, next pull the fuse for the parking and accessory lights. Now put the key in on position (no need to start) and see that no outside lights are on. Now pull the radio fuse, then pull the radio diagnostic fuse. You should hear the antenna winding down when you pull the radio fuse. Now put the radio diagnostic fuse in first, then the radio fuse. If you get code in now, do nothing. Leave the car on like this and
return in an hour.
Switch the car off (antenna should retract). Start the car on, engine
running (antenna should go up). Code in should be on the screen if you did
not get it one hour ago. Now enter right code. If you mess up, repeat
procedure. If you entered right code and you just the code on the screen ,
then you did not wait one hour. Repeat procedure. If you get 4 horizontal
lines, then I think you may have the wrong code, call a saab Stealership.
Thanks to Kannan for contributing to this FAQ!
This is for those who know the code but have been locked out of the radio. This deals with mainly a 97, 900SE convertible but should work with all other cars. You need to keep the car on for an hour, but there are a few other things.
Locate the fuse box inside the car. In order to turn the day time running lights off, pull the fuse for that, next pull the fuse for the parking and accessory lights. Now put the key in on position (no need to start) and see that no outside lights are on. Now pull the radio fuse, then pull the radio diagnostic fuse. You should hear the antenna winding down when you pull the radio fuse. Now put the radio diagnostic fuse in first, then the radio fuse. If you get code in now, do nothing. Leave the car on like this and
return in an hour. Switch the car off (antenna should retract). Start the car on, engine running (antenna should go up). Code in should be on the screen if you did not get it one hour ago. Now enter right code. If you mess up, repeat procedure. If you entered right code and you just the code on the screen, then you did not wait one hour. Repeat procedure. If you get 4 horizontal lines, then I think you may have the wrong code, call a saab dealership.
Thanks to Another Contributors Experience from Bryan! for contributing to this FAQ!
I own a '96 900 and experienced radio code entry challenge after replacing the car battery. I already had the code from the dealer (got it for free)but when I entered the code nothing happened. The code remained on the radio display panel. I tried the advice of holding the 'band' button for a reset and that worked but after entering the code I got the same result (subsequent depression of the 'band' button would not perform a reset). Taking a tip from Kannan's advice for a '97 900SE, I pulled the fuses for the radio and radio diagnostics (located in fuse box to on left end of dash). When I re-inserted the fuses the radio processed the code and the radio functioned.
Thanks to glenn aspinol for contributing to this FAQ!
if you know your radio code is correct but when you entered all it does is stay on display then try this go into boot of car first check lead to the
changer hasnt come out if all ok eject cd cartridge from changer now place back in wait for all clicking noises to stop coming from changer .right now
go back into car turn ignition on press radio on now put code in and all should be well happy days .i found this solution because i tried all other
solutions on the net and none worked it was me being logical for once that solved my radio problem ,hope this will be useful to some of you at a loose
end like i was regards glenn
Thanks to Ben for the following comment: I'm the owner of a '96 Saab 900s and had the same problem as most of the commentators here. Rather than paying the Hawaii Saab dealership an extortionate $50+ to unlock the radio, I followed Kannan's advice. It worked without a hitch.
Thanks to Rudy Gartner for contributing to this FAQ!
After pressing the wrong number one too many times, the Radio in my 1993 900 Convertible locked me out. I tried every method suggested so far on Thesaabsite. I even swung a chicken over my head during the hour that I had the ignition on without the car running. But no luck...until I combined
these suggestions:
1) I removed the radio from the car for 24 hours.
2) When I reinstalled it, the last wrong number remained on the screen, so I left the ignition on for an hour while I swung the chicken and scanned Craigslist ads for a new radio. After the hour passed, viola! The Code request came on in place of the last number. I entered it correctly and the radio went back to work.
Thanks to Ramon for contributing to this FAQ!
I own a '96 900 SE and experienced that when I entered the code, all it did was that the code stayed in the display. I followed all procedures that were advised but nothing helped. Finally the advise of Glenn Aspinol solved the problem. So for me the problem was in the Clarion CD-changer. The code was already in the display. I turned off the car. In the boot I removed the CD-cartridge. I pulled the fuses of the radio, started the car and reinserted the fuses. And YES, the radio started!
Thanks to April for contributing to this FAQ!
When I disconnect the battery then reset the radio code..nothing happens..I removed the cd cartridge as mentioned above..and took out the radio fuse..which was blown and replaced it and the radio worked.
