Unlocking the radio in the Hoe

[Offgrid]

The battery has been disconnected a few times whilst I was sorting out the Hoe prior to its MOT. The radiio looks to be an original Volvo cassette radio, and it displays "CODE" when I turn it on. The local Volvo dealership was very helpful, and gave me the code for the original radio. I've tried typing this in, and I get firm clicks every time I enter a number, but it doesn't work. I understand that if I type in an incorrect number three times, then the radio displays "OFF", and can't be used for 2 hours. This doesn't happen.

Am I doing something wrong, or is the radio faulty?

[360beast]

It sounds like the buttons aren't doing what they're meant to, try spraying some contact cleaner around them and press them a few times.

I can't remember the exact process for typing the code in as I only had to do it once before swapping in a more modern stereo.

[Offgrid]

I haven't managed to dig out the switch cleaner yet, but I did play around with the buttons, and I got some odd results. The radio model is VC802 btw. Obviously the on/off switch works, and this is combined with the volume control. I pressed and pressed and held all of the buttons in sight, and none had any effect except for one. Thuis was the "1" button, and that displayed the digit "0" every time I pressed it. "0" is not a valid digit in the security code sequence. Also I tried the trick of holding dowb the "6" button whilst turning on the radio. This gave me a blank screen until I released it, and then it displayed "CODE".

I think the next stage is to remove the radio using the bent coat hanger trick, and check and clean all the connections.

I'd be grateful for any comments on this problem, and my proposed solution.

[bob12]

I think these Philips radios were only fitted to the 400 Series and may not be original to Hoe.

This link might be helpful: https://www.dndservices.co.uk/Volvo-VC-802-code.html

Bob

[Offgrid]

Thanks Bob, that was really useful, and explains all. I thought that you use the preset buttons to enter the code, but it loks as if you use the tuning up button with preset "1" to get things going. I'm now desperate to see if it works, but I'm on my favourite table in the Sainsbury cafe, so I need to be patient.

Just as an aid memoire, here is the entry sequence -

Switch Radio On - Display Shows
" Cod "
Press Preset " 1 " and display will show " 0 "
Press Tuning Up Button " > " For Correct Digit
Press Preset " 1 " to Enter
Press Tuning Up Button " > " For Correct Digit
Press Preset " 1 " to Enter
Press Tuning Up Button " > " For Correct Digit
Press Preset " 1 " to Enter
Press Tuning Up Button " > " For Correct Digit
If the correct code number is now shown
Press Preset " 1 " to Enter

[bob12]

I've just got back from Sainsbury's as well! Unfortunately after COVID they closed down their excellent cafe/restaurant at out Mega store.

I hope that the code you got works. At least from your second post the sequence looks hopeful but I have a feeling that the VC802 isn't the original radio. Hopefully I am wrong.

Best of luck.

Bob