Changing the battery and radio code

[neilledgar]

Hi Guys, can anyone help me please, im disabled, and have my convertible, easy to remove wheel chair etc etc, but, she is going to need a new battery soon, and having bought the car second hand, i never got any Radio Code details, ive searched the paperwork/service records and cant find it mentioned anywhere. I cannot afford to go to a Saab dealer as the nearest one is some 400 miles away, and with no electronic engineers, or other dealers near i will have to try and change the battery myself. Now the thing is a fear i will lose my radio due to the fact that once the battery is replaced, i think the radio code will need to be inserted, so hence my question...

Is it possible, to get the radio code from the radio, before i change the battery, or is there an online service that can search and confirm the radio code, im really lost with this one, i live in the country, with no, or very few technical guys around and very few dealerships, i asked one guy and all i got was a shrugg of the shoulders and the statement,mmmmmmm damn cars and computers, i would'nt have one!! so, i really am at a loss

Its going to be a huge job for me anyway, as i have greatly reduced mobility of my legs and arms, and dont want to do this and find that the radio wont work, or worse that my car wont run either, due to the need of some codes etc. Can anyone help me with some advice, as i need to change the battery before it breaks down on me , as i say i live in the country side and dont want to be left stranded in the middle of knowhere.

Thanks guys!! & Gals any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[bullet]

After a CEL light came on a few years back, I disconnected the battery on my 96 NG900, not thinking about the radio. After connecting the battery, the radio didn't work without a code. Luckily I was able to find it written on a piece of paper inside the owners manual. I then wrote it on the inside of the door in case I ever lost that paper. Check the paperwork throughly and also try to imagine where one would write the code. There is a posibility it is written on the back of the radio itself, but that means gently getting it out, without disconnecting the wiring.
You can also try to contact the former owner, may be he has some info.

[Burnsside42]

1999 9-3 did not have a radio code FYI - 1999 - 2011 9-3 radio's are all MARRIED to the car. You will not need to worry about that when replacing a battery. Only when replacing the radio itself.

[nordwulf]

My WIS only shows info for 1998 and up but it shows you shouldn't need a radio code. It's the same with my Saab 9-5 where you can disconnect the power source and it will be fine when connecting it again. Only if you replace the had unit with a different one, you'll need help from a Saab repair shop that has a Tech2.

Replacement of audio system

The main unit and CD changer (CDC) on the Saab 9-3 are equipped with a new type of theft protection. The main unit and CD changer are both connected to the I bus. When the main unit and CD changer are first installed, they are married to the vehicle. This is a process which is performed by means of Tech 2. During the marriage the main unit and CD changer identify the theft protection information from the vehicle. From this moment in time the main unit and CD changer will only work in this particular vehicle. Consequently, no radio code is needed in the Saab 9-3.

This also means that if the main unit and CD changer are removed from a Saab 9-3 and are not to be refitted in the same vehicle, they must be divorced from the vehicle before being removed.

EDIT: what Jeff said...! Note to self: refresh page before replying to thread.

[neilledgar]

Thanks very much to you all for the great news, this will make my life so much easier!!, and in fact, i think that the system you talk about with the saab 9-3 is a far better system than the "Radio code" scenario, as once married to the vehicle, there is no point in anyone removing it, as obviously it wont work!! Many thanks to you all, i sincerely appreciate you taking the time to reply, you are all true gentlemen...Thanks

[biggestgerbil]

These people sorted my 1994 code by return e-mail. The local Saab specialist failed to sort it. Just send them the serial number and model number from the radio and they will find the code and e-mail it to you. I cost me 20 GBP but I think it was worth it.

RADIO CODE UK | Online Radio Code Service. Guaranteed with FREE Code Help

BG

[Tom]

There is an inexpensive device one can buy that plugs into your cigarette lighter. It will provide enough power to maintain radio and computer memories long enough to change batteries.