1987 300d radio code
 

So, my original Becker radio shows -----

It has never asked for a code, or anything else. The car sat, with the battery connected, over the summer; and I did jack the car up before trying to work the radio. Anyway, any help will be appreciated.

Roy

That's an early style of anti-theft system. The dealers (only the dealers I think) have a "tool" for better lack of a word, which inserts into the radio chassis to take it out of that "dashed line mode". They can try resetting it for you, knowing most dealers "for a nominal fee", and see if it lasts. If the dashed line mode would return fairly soon, there is a capacitor or battery in the radio chassis which needs replaced.
Hope this is enough info for ya.
Gilly

No code, has to be reset at dealer... probably easier to just replace that unit..

Thank you, both
 

Thanks for the help. I was worried it would be something like this.

Mine coded too
 

I have an 87 300d and I disconnected the negative battery terminal when bleeding my brakes recently. Now I have the dashed line also. Is this just because I disconnected my battery cable? It was working fine before I did so. If I can expect this every time I disconnect my battery for some bit of maintenance, I am definitely getting rid of this radio. Any ideas what a dealer might charge to reset the radio with that special tool? I suppose they reset it while in the car and with the battery hooked up or it would just go to dashed lines again. I don't suppose anyone has the tool for rent?

Someone should try reverse-engineering what the tool does. hmmmmm.
Yeah the radio stays in place, they remove the face plate only. The tool is a small electrical box with a red and green button on it. It has a bunch of small connectors that plug into the same connector the radio face plate uses. There is an instruction sheet that tells you what to do after it's plugged in. The small electrical box "tool" is really small. I'm sure it just shorts together certain pins, depending on what button is pushed. There are I think only 2 variations to what button is pushed and when.
The radio can be repaired so the dashed lines don't show up immediately if the battery is disconnected or drained, there is a small capacitor or battery which can be replaced.
Gilly

Radio repair
 

Does anyone know of a place I can send my becker radio to for replacement of the battery/capacitor so it doesn't code as soon as the battery is disconnected? There must be someone who services these things I can mail it to for service. The silence in my car is becoming maddening.

Remove radio, get serial number wirtthen on the label attached to this radio and I will give you the code

Rdecode

radio numbers
 

Rdecode, I tried to contact you but got no response, so I'll post the numbers here.
Model number 754
Serial number U6768722
also this last number letter sequence, not sure what it means?
Ftz - nr 21/560 s

The 87 does NOT use a code number, it uses the reset box. 1990 was the first year for radio codes, and even then it wasn't in all of them.
Gilly

Thanks for backing me. :)

I know, I sell enough used Beckers. :D

I used to work at a dealer, so pretty familiar with the reset "box" on what was it, 3 years? Used to grab that and reset the radio for free, no such thing any more I'm sure. Takes all of a minute or two to do it.
Gilly

Reality bites
 

Thanks for the info guys. I guess my hope that you were wrong and rdecode was right was in vain. :( Does the dealer have to take the radio out to reset it? I have read other posts which suggest removing a faceplate, but mine doesn't have a removeable faceplate AFAIK.

Dashed Lines
 

Hi irhunter,
The problem is simple to correct. If you wish to end your frustrations of every time you disconnect the cars battery then send the radio to me and we will install a new battery and power supply capacitors. I would suggest however that a full rebuild would be the better way to go since there are parts, especially the cassette section, that need to be replaced. We have the decoder device needed to reset your radio so no dealer is needed. If you wish more info. please contact me directly at: www.lajollaaudiorepair.com
c/o La Jolla Audio Repair.

What Cleeve is saying does make sense. The radio shouldn't need to have this rest done unless it's removed from power (or dead car battery) for quite awhile. Cleeve any idea how long they should last without power?
Anyways, ranjensen, the face plate is removeable, just not real obvious that it does. Not something that is normally done by the owner, not like a security feature or anything. I wouldn't recommend trying it yourself unless someone shows you how it's done.
Gilly