Stereo & Electronics - 02 Theft Lock

Does anyone know if the 02 cars have the radio vin locked? I tried turning off the theft lock with the owners manual instructions pressing butons 1 and 4 but that doesn't work. I read some later cars gm vin locked the radios so you can just remove the battery power and when you hook it back up the radio will still work. Anyone know about this? Thanks.

No, none of the 4th generation f-bodies have head units integrated with the car's electronics. The TheftLock system used is completely internal to the HU. Later model GM vehicles with double DIN size head units have several other circuits that integrate with the car electronics for VIN locking, OnStar, alarm systems, and even the audible chimes (seat belt, etc.) but those functions are handle by the Body Control Module (BCM) in our cars.

The HU is not locked from the factory.
No need to, because nobody in they're right mind would steal it. :turd:

THe light is flashing on the radio,I want to replace the battery but i'm afraid it will lock the radio out. I took the car to the dealer and they don't know what to do either! The secuity light is flashing but nothing but the time will display when you try to set a sec code or retrive it. Pressing 1 and 4 do nothing. I'm betting its vin locked to the bcm.

THe light is flashing on the radio,I want to replace the battery but i'm afraid it will lock the radio out. I took the car to the dealer and they don't know what to do either! The secuity light is flashing but nothing but the time will display when you try to set a sec code or retrive it. Pressing 1 and 4 do nothing. I'm betting its vin locked to the bcm.I'll take that bet because it's not possible for a factory 98-02 Monsoon system to VIN lock to anything. You can send payment to my PayPal account. :devil:

I took it to the dealer and they don't know what to do with it! They tried what the owners manual says pressing 1 and 4 but nothing happens. Now if i remove the battery and it locks they want 40 dollars to unlock it!

Is it possible the 02's don't even have a real secuity feature? Maybe the lifgt is just to scare would be thiefs off?

No, the 02 has the same security features as the 98-01 models did.

Have you followed the steps exactly? First turn the ignition switch to RUN or ACCY, then turn off the radio power, then press and HOLD the 1 and 4 buttons together for several seconds until SEC appears on the display.

These things are very sensitive to those steps being performed exactly in the order specified for them to work. It's even worse when you're programming the alarm system.

The instructions for unlocking a locked head unit are in the Monsoon FAQ sticky so you can avoid paying the dealer $40. But I'm concerned that if the unlocking doesn't work before you disconnect the battery then it might not work afterwards either.

Well the dealer also tried it like i said and nothing other than the time displays. I guess i'll have to risk it and try disconnecting the battery to find out.
OR
Hook up another battery temp while i change it...i guess i better do that.