Grundig Security

Important Information

The official smart manual for the stereo contains errors about the theft protecting settings. Thanks to Tomas for pointing out their errors regarding the >>CODE<< and >>SAFE<< status.

I Don’t Know My Radio Code

First off, check in the owners pack and flick through all the pages of the manuals. You are looking for a credit card sized piece of card with a 4 digit code on it. If it isn’t there, check in the drawer below the stereo or sometimes it is taped onto the top of the stereo itself, so pull it out and look.

If it isn’t there then you have 3 options:
1 – Never disconnect it or get the code from smart.
2 – Smart will only charge you about £25 to get the code for you, they’ll need the stereo serial number and possibly some form of identification.
3 – Read the data from the chip and I will calculate the code for you.

Don’t think that you can just deactivate the security code before disconnecting it either. Unless you have the security code, you cannot turn this security feature off.

What If I don’t Have A Dealer In My Country?

You had better go and find a company that can decode it for you then. There are plenty of radio decoding companies all over the world. You will have to physically send them your radio.

Are There Any Online Decoder Sites For This Stereo?

Nope, none of them work for this type of stereo. The code is not related to the serial number. Grundig have a list of serial numbers and codes and they are the only people who know them.

What About From Grundig Themselves?

Originally they would only tell you to go to smart but it seems that it has all changed. Now that the 450 and Roadster are discontinued, Grundig seem happy to just give you the code.

Max J contacted Grundig, told them the car type, year, stereo type and serial number. 2 days later they emailed him back. The email reply just contained the code number. If you want to give that a go, try emailing Grundig by clicking here or here.

Decoding The Stereo

Have a look here.

Theft Protection Code

Your radio has a theft protection code which you may turn on or off. With the protection on, the stereo will require a code if the power is removed. When the power is reconnected a code must be entered before the unit will continue to function.

Your code number should be with your car documents, note the number down and don’t leave this card in the car, also don’t lose the card.

If the theft protection is turned off, the stereo will operate without a need for a code if the power is disconnected and reapplied.

Checking The Theft Protection

Press the smart logo button until either:

>>CODE<< Theft protection is not activated
>>SAFE<< Theft protection is activated.

Pressing either the track up or track down button will change the setting. Before it changes the setting you have to insert the correct code, you will see:

>>—-<< or >>1 —-<<

Entering The Theft Protection Code

Find your radio code card and enter the code into the stereo as follows.

Repeatedly pressing one of the station buttons (1, 2, 3 or 4 circled below) changes one of the numbers in the code line on the display. The first digit is increased by continually pressing station button number 1. For example, if the code was 4628 the code would be entered thus:

Press station button 1 four times, >>4—<<
Press station button 2 six times, >>46–<<
Press station button 3 two times, >>462-<<
Press station button 4 eight times. >>4628<<

It is also worth remembering that pressing and holding a button for a second before releasing will decrease the number which is handy if you have a 0 in your code.

When you are happy the code is correct, press the CD button (with the smart logo next to it shown circled in yellow above).

The display will then show either:
>>CODE<< Theft protection is not activated
>>SAFE<< Theft protection is activated.

Operating The Radio

When the theft protection is activated, the radio is electronically locked. The protection is automatically bought in when the power is removed.

Switch the radio on, the display will show >>SAFE<< and after three seconds the display will change to >>1 —-<<

Enter the code number shown on your code card and press the smart logo button. The radio will then become fully functional again.

Entering The Wrong Number

>>SAFE<< will stay on the display and the stereo will not function.

Every time you enter the incorrect code you will have to wait for a longer period each time before you can attempt to enter the code again.

When the time has elapsed and the radio is ready to accept a code you will see:
>>2 —-<<, the number shows what attempt number you are currently on.

Waiting Times

Attempt 1 = 21 seconds
Attempt 2 = 1.5 minutes
Attempt 3 = 5.5 minutes
Attempt 4 = 22 minutes
Attempt 5 = 1.5 hours
Attempt 6 = 6 hours
Attempt 7 = 24 hours

Every attempt after number 7 will involve a 24 hour wait until you can enter the code.

If you have got to attempt number 6 and haven’t managed to input the code correctly you can pretty much bank on the fact that:

• You have the wrong code,
• You are some sort of idiot,
• You don’t understand how to input the code.

If you get to attempt 6 with no joy, just stop.