Why is it blocked?
With the advent of car acoustics in standard sizes 1 and 2 din, manufacturers have resolved the issue of protecting head units (GU) from theft. If the +12 V power supply is lost, the radio will automatically lock and will ask for a code the next time it is turned on.
When carrying out welding or other work that requires de-energizing the vehicle's on-board network, all settings of the control unit are lost, including encoding. Some users tested the Ford 6000 CD (standard radio) by reducing the voltage of the car network. When the value reached 8 V, the device was blocked. This situation may arise if the battery freezes.
Standard device classes
In most cases, the Ford Focus 2 is equipped with a Ford 6000 CD car radio, nicknamed “square” for its external shape. There are products of the 6000 series of oval shape (“oval”) and a restyled model. They have the same set of functions, but the differences lie in the methods of fastening and entering the code. The last 2 models are fixed with screws to the body elements and covered with decorative overlays. The “square” is held in place by latches, which are released from engagement with special keys.
On some Ford cars, the serial number of the car radio begins with the Latin letter M, and on Ford Focus 2 - with V. The difference in marking is that in the second case, the lock code was set using a special program, which means it is much more difficult to select the code.
What are the ways to unlock the radio?
Why is the car radio blocked? Since the standard devices of Ford cars have an anti-theft function, disconnecting them from the battery may cause the audio system to be locked and the need to enter a special code to return to its previous operating state. Also, the cause of blocking can be a drop in the voltage of the on-board network to 8 volts, for example during severe frosts.
Unlocking the Ford 2 radio and other models is done by entering a four-digit code through the device control panel. This can be done in a few seconds, but the more difficult task for us is to find this very code. The easiest way for lucky motorists is to find it in the instructions for the device, on the first or last page of the Ford service book, or look for the inscription handwritten on the glove compartment by employees of the car production plant. If you find this code and it turns out to be correct, consider yourself lucky. In other cases you will have to try harder.
Another relatively easy way to unlock the Ford Focus 2 radio is to press and hold numbers 1 and 6 on the device’s button panel at the same time. After a few seconds, you will see a lot of inscriptions and numbers on the display, and at the end of the line there will be that same four-digit unlock code (usually four numbers come after the letter M or V - depending on the car model).
If the car is under warranty, you can also call the car dealer and ask them for the unlock code. To do this, the dealer will ask you to provide the number and series of the car radio, and you will have the code immediately or in the near future.
Where to get a PIN code
If, as a result of work or installation of the purchased device, it becomes necessary to decode it, you will have to start searching for 4 digits. Before you find out the code for the Ford Focus 2 radio from third-party sources, you need to look for it in the car or car documentation. Most often, in this car model, a sticker with a PIN code can be located on the inside wall of the glove compartment or can be written on one page or cover of the instructions (service book).
In some cases, the code was found stuck to the bottom of the trunk under the mat, near the spare tire. The code can be printed on the body of the GI. But for this it needs to be dismantled. If it is not there either, you will have to contact the dealer.
It is not recommended to enter unconfirmed combinations of numbers into the Ford radio, as this may lead to the exhaustion of the unlock limit.
Users online offer GI decoding services. On forums of Ford car owners, databases are created with series of devices and codes for them. There are algorithms for selecting a combination of numbers to enter independently into a 6000CD radio. In some cases, to determine the code you will need not only the serial number, but also the VIN code of the car. It should be noted that sometimes all attempts to determine the desired combination of numbers may be unsuccessful. In this case, you will have to contact official dealers who have a special program for unlocking car radios.
For a series of head units starting with V, the code can be obtained by entering the VIN code into a search program designed specifically for receivers of this series. The vehicle identification number is stamped on a plate located under the hood. There is no publicly available program for this series of devices, which means the service will be paid.
Decoding
How to Remove Steering Rack Ford Focus 2
Head unit code
A car does not last forever and tends to break down. After a technical repair has been carried out by a good technician, everything works like clockwork again, but as soon as the owner turns on the car radio, he is faced with a new problem. The message “CODE” or “SAFE” is displayed on the device screen. What to do and why did this happen? It turns out that the standard head units on the Ford Focus 2 are equipped with a locking function that protects against theft. As soon as the power supply from the battery is stopped, the protection is triggered and until the code is entered, the device will not work.
Where to find the code
It is clear that entering a code can solve the problem, but where can you find it? It’s simple: most manufacturers of standard Ford car radios place the code either in the instructions or stick it on the glove compartment.
Car radio code in glove compartment
If such a code could not be found, then there are two universal ways to find it out. You need to do either this:
- Press simultaneously buttons 1 and 6 on the car radio;
- A bunch of information should appear on the display, and a code will be shown at the end of the line.
Or like this:
- Remove the car radio;
- View the code, which is often placed on the label (as in the photo).
Ford Focus 2 car radio and its decoding
As a rule, any acoustic car head units can be unlocked independently. There are only two known cases where decoding is a problem:
- The first involves the display of “LOCKED” on the display, which means that the number of attempts to enter the code has been exceeded;
- The second case is a V-series car radio, for which a code can be entered using a special program. This, in turn, after entering the serial number of the head unit, shows the required code.
Finding the code on the car radio
As mentioned above, you can find a unique code on the car radio itself, but to do this you need to remove it.
It is not difficult to dismantle the radio from its original place if you use special keys. They usually come with the device.
Standard car radio for Ford Focus 2 and its removal
If for some reason there are no keys, then you must either buy them (their prices are usually high) or make them yourself from available materials. Used plastic cards or, in extreme cases, a blade from a stationery knife are ideal for this. You can make a key from a plastic card like this:
- Take a card and cut it into 4 identical strips;
- Grind off the corners of each strip on one side, as in the photo;
Keys for car radio made from a plastic card
- Insert homemade keys into the 4 holes provided on the car radio (they are at the edges of the device);
- By rocking the keys in the holes, act on the radio latches. They will work and the device can be easily removed by pulling it towards you.
Code on the top cover
The car radio code can be seen at the top of the cover. Then we insert the device into place, enter the code and that’s it. If the Sony 6000 square version is dismantled using the method described above, then the other two modifications of the device are even easier to remove:
Removing the Sony radio with a ruler
- The casing can be easily removed after this;
- We see 4 bolts, which we unscrew with a 6-sided screwdriver or socket.
Contact the dealer who services the car during the warranty period and tell him the series and number of the car radio. Typically, dealers will send the code as soon as possible.
How to enter the code correctly
Unlocking the radio if you have the correct code will not be difficult. The owner must carefully dial all the required numbers and enter them into the machine. The character dialing method will depend on the receiver model. Before entering the code into the radio, you must turn it on and wait until “CODE” or “SAFE” appears on the screen. In the Ford 6000 CD GU, the first 4 keys are included in the set, and the value of the number is determined by the number of presses. For example, the radio code is 1212. Dialing must be done as follows:
- Button 1 is pressed 1 time. 1- — - is displayed on the screen.
- Button 2 is pressed 2 times. 12 — - appears on the screen.
- Button 3 is pressed 1 time. On the screen - 121-.
- Button 4 is pressed 2 times. The required code is displayed on the screen - 1212.
After this, you need to press the key with the number 5 to enter the code into the head unit. If the radio unlock code is entered correctly, a music screensaver will appear and the device will start working.
However, a situation may arise when the wrong number is entered during dialing. In this case, nothing bad will happen. After entering the last number, continue dialing from the beginning. It should be remembered that the number of incorrect entries is recorded by the device and is displayed as a number after the word CODE - - - - (for example, 02). After 5 unsuccessful attempts, the message WAIT 30 will appear. This means that the next 5 dialings can be continued after 30 minutes, during which time the device must be turned on.
Before decoding the Sony radio (restyling), you must complete all preliminary steps, as on the “square” and “oval” models.
On this device, a combination of numbers is dialed by pressing the corresponding key from 0 to 9. The code is entered with the 5 or * button. In this model, the manufacturer has provided for a greater number of unsuccessful attempts. After 10 unsuccessful dials, you need to press and hold button 6. This action will allow you to make 3 additional entries, after which the “LOCKED” message will appear. This lock can only be removed at a service center.
Special cases
It is not always possible to find out the code by searching for records in the car or documentation. Then you need to contact an official dealer or run the code using the existing serial number. This can be done for free on car enthusiast websites or for a reasonable fee in a service workshop. Most often, problems arise with V series devices. For example, if you have V025541 GU serial number, then finding the code may be difficult. Even if you find a site with paid services, the proposed code does not always fit such devices.
In this case, a dealer or specialized service center can help solve the problem. Some craftsmen offer to completely remove the lock as an unnecessary function, and many car enthusiasts use such services. Experts do not recommend buying devices without a code, since it can be stolen and you will have problems when contacting the dealer.
The found code must be remembered or written down so as not to engage in lengthy searches in the future.
- Renault Duster radio code
- Decoding car radios
- Remove the Ford Focus 2 radio
- How to update Navitel in a car
Important nuances
If you unlocked the radio once, then for some reason it was locked again, for example, the power was lost, then the code will have to be entered again. Each time the audio system is blocked, a new code must be generated using the same programs. If you are a confident or advanced PC user, then I’m sure you can handle it yourself by simply downloading the software described above.
It usually takes 5-10 attempts to enter the code, it depends on the version of the radio. After 5-10 incorrectly entered codes, the radio will ask you to enter another code. This is necessary so that an attacker cannot guess the code.
Results
In general, if your radio is blocked, it is not a problem. Unlocking the Ford audio system is not difficult, but rather takes a lot of time. If you have a special code or even a serial number and special programs, you can solve the problem that has arisen.
If by some miracle you don’t have a code, or even a serial number, then go to a car repair shop and talk to the specialists. I’m sure they will agree to solve this problem for a fee, because almost all workshops have programs that will allow you to unlock any radio without any data. The simplest and most reliable way is to store and monitor the status of documents for the car; it contains the basic and most important information that can help the owner out more than once.
