Radio/cassette in safe mode?

Contacting a Vauxhall dealer won't help. they don't actually care, they'll just say leave the ignition on for one hour, if that doesn't work leave it on for two hours, if that doesn't work keep adding an hour. They'll keep using the word 'should', like leave it an hour, that should work.

I contacted the person I bought the car from. he said best thing to do is rip that radio out & fit another one that doesn't have a security code. After all, he said, who steals car radios these days - especially the very simple basic ones. He even gave me a radio for free he'd taken from a car he scrapped.

But check you don't get an old Vauxhall radio!!

So much for security, haha, this safe mode protects no one. It doesn't stop the thief stealing the radio (so it doesn't help you as the car owner). It doesn't protect the person buying the stolen radio (they won't know it's locked until after they fit it). So just who is being protected?

Disgruntled vauxhall owner
January 2016

I got cd500 in carcwith code and tried all the above but after the beep get no safecor code on display its blank. Any one gotvanyvideascto solve this please

m brown
June 2015

been stressing out with this safe mode sh*t for weeks and just done the old a.s and on button trick and hey presto! not even 20 seconds it took me....if that's what vauxhall charge you £50 for then they're f*cking thieving knock merchants...thanks for the great advice guys now i can drown out the missus teribble moaning and the kids teribble whining

PABLO
January 2015

2003 vectra. Mothers car she had battery replaced and car stuck in safe mode cant seem to get it to ask me for the code radio won't turn on or off so can't do the sequence to put code in. I have left the car running for 3 hours still nothing still in safe mode anyone got any ideas

beefy
January 2015

My stereo is stuck in7 safe mode it won't budge any ideas

kenny
July 2014

I have an old radio cassette in my W reg 2000 Zafira. I have to keep it going, can't afford to replace my car,or buy a new sound system unfortunately, so I do hope these tips work, given my radio 'died' after a battery change. I don't think the radio cassette is the original Vauxhall one however. A former owner replaced it - so, if I pull it out, will the code on it be the one I want...ie: compatible with car and radio? Thanks for any help. Garage dealer wanted £38 just to look at it! No guarantee of a fix!

DEBBIE
October 2013

I need your help, I have a tape recorder and I need code philips brand is GM0400W1985652 pretty please help me

constantin999
September 2013

My code isn't working and I played for this code directly through vauxhall,how do no if I've got the correct code? Or can I decode it somehow and get a new 1?
Someone help me!!!

chlo
August 2013

Fantastic! Vauxhall wanted £50 for half hours work. Took me 30 seconds pressing the as button! Cheers everyone

The driver
April 2013

Start the ignition. Then Please press as and 5 and radio as well for 10 minutes..then it will come as 7 ----.( after couple of wrong attempts activation code comes after 10 minutes) Enter your radio code and then press as and 5 until you hear a beep.it worked for me..but pls be patient and try

Vijay , Birmingham,UK.
April 2013

How long do I have to keep the stereo on to reset when it's displaying "1 SAFE"?

James Sweeney
March 2013

I have a corsa saying safe mode ive got 6 trys left im doing every thing i suppose but not hereing the peep confirmation so i can put the code in . Ive hold the AS button for a little time still nothing.

rachel
March 2013

hi i have a CDR 500 in zafira ive done everything as its suppose to be ive got a small card with the code on but when i put the code in it comes back in safe mode ive only got 6 tries left any sujjestions?ive put the correct code as stated on the card.there was an audio change so i think i have the incorrect code.

thanks my serial is GM050042417880 or if any 1 can tell me what code will be correct it would be appreciated.

shaukat ali
March 2013

hi i have a CDR 500 in zafira ive done everything as its suppose to be ive got a small card with the code on but when i put the code in it comes back in safe mode ive only got 6 tries left any sujjestions?ive put the correct code as stated on the card.

thanks

shaukat ali
March 2013

Hi All,

I just left the radio on for 15 minutes and it did ask the code. I put the code which I got from below website and worked fine . Thanks All
http://forum.eserviceinfo.com/viewtopic.php?p=279409#279409

Rav
March 2013

Hi I have got Vauxhall Vectra dti 2.0, 2000 model. I have used the code which was written back side of the radio but it didn't work now its showing me 7 safe and code prompt is not coming. please help.

Rav
March 2013

my corsa 2500 stero displays 7 safe as I tried to put my code in twice and got my digits the wrong way round, I have tried pressing AS button and holding it whilst turning it on and still displays safe 7 safe ?

Will
December 2012

hi radio code for my astra i think iv had 10 attempts i no the coce but cannott imput is radio had it

paul
July 2012

I have got the same problem mine is 7 safe which I know means I have 7 attempts, I have done what the manual says it came up after so long with the 4 digits but I could not override the last number entered, I have left ignition on for just over an hour and it's not showing the code anymore but still states 7 safe, any help on overriding the previous digits I would be grateful for and also how long should I wait for this to happen as it should only be 30 mins!

Thank you

Nikki
July 2012

thank you so much for the headup on holding as in when turning radio on beeped ans was able to enter code after beeing in safe mode 4 3 weeks saved me lot of money dealer wanted £25 robbing gits

CORNISHJAY
July 2012

hi all i just got my radio going again thank you so much, driving was boring without good music lol thank god for the internet, where would we be without it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

maddog
February 2012

hiya,
have a vauxhall omega car, we bought yesterday so no manuels with car............. now radio in safe mode and how do i turn safe mode off and turn radio on.

sarah whittaker
November 2011

just done the procedure and it worked (meriva). was going to take it out and pay for it to get unlocked. thanks

adrian
May 2011

Thanks
Had SAME problm
Been waiting for 1 month, nearly bought a new radio today. Just tried the procedure. Took literally 1 min and guess what RADIO WORKS NOW
:D
THANKS

JJ
May 2011

Been without my stereo for 10 days and then found this site. I had exactly the same problem with the stereo in safe mode after the battery was disconnected (52 plate vectra). Press AS button, put key in ignition, you will here a "bleep" - the number 10 will appear with four blank spaces, you then used the numbered buttons to enter your pass number (on car pass)- button 1 is used for your first number, button 2 is used for your second number, etc. When all 4 numbers have been keyed in, press AS button again, and there you go, stereo back on!

Nina
March 2011

stereo want turn on wen i turn the car on just got safe mode carnt turn stereo on or off. vaxhall vectra

markus
March 2010

just followed techbuster from fixya dot com's step by step guide and it worked a dream. thank you. just saved me nearly thirty quid.

brougsim
February 2010

1. turn ignition on (dash warning lights on)
2. If radio turned on, turn it off.
3. Press AS button in, and hold it in while turning radio on.
4. Wait approx 10 seconds (do not release AS button).
5. Radio should beep, and display should now read 10 - - - - (assuming no tries have been made in the past with the wrong code)
6. use pre-set button "1" to scroll the first digit in the display to the number you want (it goes 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 then back to 0)
7. Use pre-set "2" for second digit, etc.
8. Once display reads 10 followed by the four digit security code press and hold AS button for about 10 seconds, until the radio beeps.
9. If correct code entered display will now read "code" briefly, followed by"memory-U" briefly, then radio will reprogram it self.
10. If radio goes back to "safe" the code number is incorrect, or you mis-keyed it.

Note: entering the code incorrectly 10 times will render the radio useless.
After the first 3 tries you need to leave the radio on and the ignition on for increasingly long periods of time before it will let you try again. 7 safe need you to wait at least 30 mins, and more like 1 hour.

WARNING - you only have a max of 10 attempts to get it right, but if still no luck after the 8th attempt, STOP and contact a Vaux dealer.

techbuster from fixya dot com
February 2010

i have a corsa b and read tht holding the as button while turning on and w8ing for the beep u can enter ur code and whoever sed it i must thank co sum twat woz guna charge me to do wot i did in under a minute

sum1
February 2010

Just like to add that if you've kept all the car's original documentation, there should be a card called the 'car pass' in the folder containing all the manuals which you can find the four-digit radio code printed on as well as the chassis number etc. When the code's been keyed in don't forget to hold AS down again until it registers. Radio will then auto-search for stations (My Corsa's CAR300 even remembered my presets!)

Simon W
January 2010

I have a vauxhall omega with a ccrt700 radio that is displaying "safe" on the in-car display , i have no idea how to correct this , have tried some of the solutions quoted above ie hold down the as button but that does not work , any ideas or thoughts would be very helpfull.

Dave C
June 2009

by pressing as I got a beep but i do not know the code
from where I can get A code for Opel corsa 2004
thanks

ali Ahmed
December 2008

Just did what you all recommended.
Held down AS button whilst turning on the ignition until a beep was heard then proceeded with the code followed by the AS button again. Brilliant. Thank you everybody

Jim
July 2008

Hiya all.

Ive just returned from being at sea for 4 months and found that the alarm kept going off and it drained the battery. Fortunatly my girlfriends Dad sorted it all out for me while I was away with the exception of the car stereo which kept displaying SAFE. I tried everything to put the code in but would it work...... Would it hell untill I tried pressing the AS button when turning on the stereo and it worked first time! Then just put your code in and Bobs your uncle listening to the funky beats again! Also your stereo code is on top of your stereo so instead of forking out 20 quid for your pass code have a look on top of your stereo if you pull it out. Wish I had done that first!

Mark
July 2008

Hi, Re Safe Mode problem. We all disconnect the battery before working on the car 'don't we'? Well I didn't while fishing with a wire in hollow roof section for broken rear washer pipe, it caused a short a blew a fuse. Didn't have time to put it right for a few days and the CAR300 went into Safe Mode. Main Dealer said drive around with radio turned on. Did this for hours , no good. Tried all other suggestions I could find online, still no good. Then I tried holding the AS button in 'BEFORE' turning on the radio, this immediately produced a beep but still showed Safe Mode the after about 20mins 10---- was displayed and I could then key in code number. It worked!!
Hope this helps someone else but must admit reading of so many others with same problem was a big comfort.

Engin
May 2006

If you've got a philips car400 and know the code, but don't know how to enter it as the radio is in SAFE mode, then try this. make sure radio is off .turn on the ignition, then press the "AS" button hold it in & turn on the radio, keep hold of the AS button untill the stereo beeps. Now it should say 10 ---- on your screen. Using the number 1 key start to enter your code. press once for 0, twice for 1, 3 times for 2 etc. if you pass the digit you want, don't worry. Once it gets to 9 it will start back at 0. then do the same using number 2 key for the 2nd digit of your code and so on untill you've entered the 4 digit code using keys 1,2,3,4. Once you've entered the 4 digits press and hold the "AS" key untill you hear a beep. Your stereo should now be working. This really does work. I've just fixed mine. The code was also on top of the stereo when I pulled it out of the car, so have a look before paying for the code. GOOD LUCK.

laura
May 2006

ive got vauxhall vectra same prob i know you have to leave it on soon as turned off have to wait all over again. i only got 3 trys left and have to wait about 3 hrs.on mine it says safe i have to press a AC button then says 3 safe because that means ive got 3 attemps left like i said now have to wait about 3 hrs.after youve waited you should get CODE _ _ _ _ then enter numbers then press the AC button again and hold for about 3 sec should here bleep then you should be on.only reason ive only got 3 attemps left been trying to put wrong number in going to vauxhall to get correct number tomorrow.

kev
June 2005

I have the same problem with the same radio in a 1996 Corsa. I have been told by the local Vauxhall dealer, and by someone else on here to leave it switched on while driving and it should clear after a while. I've tried half an hour but still nothing yet. Let me know if it works for you, and I'll keep you informed if anything happens.

David Venables
March 2005

Here's an answer to a similar problem from another email discussion. Not sure how long "long" becomes!

Hi Juan,
I've an Opel Omega "b" with Philips Car400. Unfortunately the radio has introduced on the "safe mode". I read with interest the indications that you given to Carlos but my question is this: in my code number there is an "8" and one "0 (zero)". How can I introduce these numbers if the keyboard of the radio has alone 6 numbers? Thanks and excuse for my bad English. Jerry (Rome-Italy)



carlos, each time you enter a wrong number waiting period extends. so be careful. if the first number in your code is 5, you have to press 1 five times. if the second number is 8 press 2 eight times and so on.

Dave J
February 2005