96 Dodge Caravan radio needs code for P04858531

[simpleton]

Hi,

You can skip the long description between the arrows unless my radio debugging experience interests you.



Been without a radio for almost a year, and my is girlfiriend starting to mind. Weird thing is that since 2005, the radio suddenly stopped working in late Fall, then it suddenly started working in early summer. That repeated in '06-'07, then quit altogether in '08 and I removed it. Dealer and indy shop said could be radio damaged by moisture. None would test it.

This week, I decided to again try the radio. Surprisingly, it almost worked, but not the controls and only loud noise in the speakers (from no radio station at AM530, I suppose).

I managed to open the case, checked all the pcb's, solder joints, etc. No telltale moisture marks, only some dust that I cleaned with alcohol and a soft toothbrush. All controls functional (switches, pushbuttons, and variable resistors) but don't control the radio operations. Searched the web for radio problems, ICs in radio, etc. Powered it with ac-to-dc converter and got same action as installed in van (including lockouts of 30 seconds and even 15 minutes). If powered with on-off switch off, "12:00" appears; if switch on, "AM 530". Sometimes playing with the on-off switch got display to change. Cassette recognized if inserted prior to power applied, and forward and reverse always work.

Car battery has been disconnected a few times to do engine work and to clean battery contacts. Battery is actually quite old, but I recharge it ocassionally, and it never fails to start the engine. Probably has lasted so long (7+ years) because I drive very infrequently.



I finally concluded the radio is fine, that I simply need the unlock code. Is it stored in the BCM? and if the battery is disconnected, does the BCM lose the code? or is it strictly the radio itself that needs the code?

Can someone supply the code to me? Thanks in advance.

Radio data:

P04858531 Issue 2
date code 1286
supplier 7910
S/N T 53 AH 128 6 C1359

[tmcu]

[simpleton]

Thanks for the quick response, the attempt, and the link!