If your Acura RSX battery has recently died or been replaced, you may need to enter a radio code to regain control of your sound system. Usually, you can find your car’s specific radio code on a decal inside the glove box, but if it’s not there, you may need to look it up with the help of Acura’s online search tool.
Maybe it’s happened to you—you jumpstarted your car, you’re getting ready to get back on the road, when all of a sudden your radio starts flashing “CODE”—and there’s no music! Where is this code your radio’s asking you for, and how do you find it?
Here to help is Jerry
, the app that helps you save time and money on more than just your car insurance
. We’ll break down radio codes, help you find yours, and help you uncover bonus savings on your Acura RSX car insurance costs
. Why do I need an Acura RSX radio code?
You may not think of your car’s radio as much more than background noise on your morning commute, but it’s actually a key component in your Acura
infotainment system—not to mention a popular target for theft. For these reasons, many Acura RSX radios come with a radio code that you may have to enter in the following circumstances:
If you’re performing a radio reset
If your car’s battery has recently died, been disconnected, or been replaced
If you’re replacing your radio with a new OEM Acura radio
Thankfully, finding the numbers you need to unlock your radio is easy if you know where to look!
How to find your Acura RSX radio code
There are a couple of different places you can find your Acura RSX radio code, but the first place to check is inside your glove compartment. Keep your eye out for a decal located on the inside wall labeled “Anti-Theft Radio Code” or something similar. Your RSX radio code will appear as a series of 5 numbers.
If you don’t find it there, you can also check the door jamb, trunk jamb, the underpart of your engine compartment fuse box cover, or your vehicle’s maintenance journal.
No sticker? No problem! Your owner’s manual also comes with an anti-theft radio identification card that will have your radio code printed on it. Remember, your radio code should only be 5 digits long! Anything longer than five numbers, or that’s a mix of numbers and letters, isn’t the code you’re looking for.
How to look up your Acura RSX radio code
Let’s say you’re not so great with records. Maybe you bought your car used, maybe you lost your owner’s manual—whatever the case, if you can’t find the decal with your radio code inside your vehicle, then you’ll have to look up the code manually.
Looking up your radio code requires a few extra steps, but they only take a minute or two to complete! First, you’ll want to jot down your Acura's vehicle identification number (VIN) and your device serial number.
If you don’t already have your VIN jotted down, finding it is as easy as checking your registration or insurance cards, or locating the sticker at the base of your windshield. Your VIN will also appear on your insurance statements or any Acura Financial Services statements you may have.
Finding your device serial number, on the other hand, is a bit trickier. For Acura RSX models newer than 2001, you can find your device serial number printed right on the radio itself. Alternatively, you can follow these steps to retrieve your device serial number:
Turn your car’s ignition switch to ON
You should see the word “CODE” appear on the radio display. If the “CODE” message doesn’t pop up, try pulling the backup fuse for 60 seconds or so, then restart your car
Once you’ve confirmed the “CODE” message has appeared, turn your radio back OFF
Press and hold down all six radio preset buttons
Simultaneously turn the radio ON while still holding down the present buttons
After a few seconds, your radio should display an 8-digit code. In most cases, the 8-digit code is too long for your display to show all at once—instead, you’ll see the first four digits of the serial number pop up (preceded by a letter “U”, and then the last four digits will follow (preceded by a letter “L”). You won’t need to write down the letters—the numbers are what really matters!
Once you’ve gotten both your VIN and device serial number copied down, you can use Acura’s online search tool
to manually look up your radio code information, or call (800) 382-2238 any weekday between the hours of 6:00 am and 5:00 pm PT. Alternatively, you can take your vehicle to the nearest Acura dealer for assistance. The technicians at the dealership will have the information you need to crack your radio’s code and get your sound system back in working order.
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