Coded GM car radios with LOC, InOP or error codes in the Display
Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Oldsmobile and Pontiac

LOC - There is a customer's code stored in the radio. The car radio is locked.

InOP - Too many wrong code attempts have been entered and the radio must be left powered on for one hour with the battery and ignition applied before three more attempts can be made. Entering only the correct code will unlock the car radio.

SEC - There is a customer code stored in the car radio, but the car radio is unlocked.

To unlock the car radio - Have a pen and paper ready. Push and hold stereo preset buttons 2 and 3 simultaneously for several seconds. Three digits will appear in the display "XXX", write them down. Push the AM/FM button, three more digits will appear in display "YYY", write them down. With this six digit number, "XXXYYY", your local dealership can retrieve your stereo unlock code.

Most unlock codes are four or six digits.

• Unlock procedure for four digit codes. Push the "Hr" button, 000 will appear in display. Press the hour button until you match the first one/two numbers of your unlock code. If first two digits of unlock code are greater than 9, the display will become a four digit number, continue until first two digits match unlock code. For second two digits of unlock code press the "Min" button until numbers match. When unlock code is entered into display, push the AM/FM button. Radio will become active.
   

• Unlock procedure for six digit codes. Push the "Hr" button, 000 will appear in display. Press the hour button until you match the first number of your unlock code. For second two digits of unlock code press the "Min" button until numbers match. When first three digits of unlock code is entered into display, push the AM/FM button. Repeat the above process for second set of three numbers of unlock code.

LOCKED in display? Beginning in 1998, many GM car stereos were manufactured to communicate with the car computer. These stereos are programmed by the dealership to operate in the car it is installed. Removing the stereo and reinstalling in the same vehicle causes no communication problem. However, installing the car stereo in any other vehicle will bring LOCKED up in the display. Only your local dealership can help. They may charge up to $175 for this ten minute process, call several dealerships for pricing.

There are car radio error codes, most common, "err", "e20" for CD and E13, E14 for cassette. These codes appear when inserting a CD or cassette. The following procedure will not unlock or remove this code from the car radio. This is a CD or tape malfunction that requires repair. For repair estimates, see the link to Car Stereo Repair at top of this page. For car stereo removal, 9000 instructions are posted on this website.  See the link to Car Stereo Removal at the top of this page.

"Clean Tape" or "CLn" may appear in display while inserting a tape. There are procedures posted for clearing this message from the display in the repair section of Car Radio Repair Estimates website.

Radio does not turn on or has no display is not a code problem. Check ALL fuses, there are two radio fuses for most stereos. Radio works with no or partial display, this is a stereo problem. See Car Stereo Repair link at top of page for repair estimates.

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