Hi kolbdo,
Let me add one more thing to all that has been said. If your battery was disconnected on your car and the radio went into the security mode (----) then yes going to the dealership is what you will need to do HOWEVER your radio should NOT go into the security mode when the battery is disconnected UNLESS the INTERNAL BATTERY of the radio itself is bad. You see the radio has an internal battery that holds the security memory so that when the car is being service it won't lose the memory and thus when the cars battery is reconnected the radio will continue to work. The dealership can reset a radio that goes into the security mode like yours but you will be back to them each time your cars battery is disconnected until you have your radio service for a new battery internally.

Cleeve Morrison
La Jolla Audio Repair

www.lajollaaudiorepair.com