Conference hips::uk_audioo

    It is rumoured that putting the unit in a freezer overnight causes 
    the code to reset to all zeros. It's worth a try (allow plenty of 
    time for it to warm up and condensation to dry off afterwards), 
    otherwise you are into working your way through the possible 
    codes, or seeking professional help.
    
    Another rumour is to disconnect/reconnect the internal battery 
    supporting the PROM.
    
    I don't hold out much hope for either method personally, if it was 
    that easy, then coding would be no deterrent whatsoever.
    
    Mike in Warrington.
    
    P.S. If you can get hold of some 'freezer spray' used by 
    engineers, freezing individual chips might be an alternative to 
    putting the unit in the freezer!
    
    P.P.S. The above ideas are offered without any responsibility for 
    consequential damage, they are just rumours from the Manchester 
    'Badlands', where radio theft is rampant!

    I heard somewhere that if you take the unit out and put it in the
    freezer overnight, the code will be cleared. Not that I've ever tried
    it.....
    
    Failing that, it's a back-to-the-factory job to have the EPROM zapped.
    
    Dave

    Well, you've had it from both sides of the Pennines now, so it's 
    got to be worth trying!
    
    Let us know how it goes, it could be a new cottage industry, Home 
    Freezing with a difference.
    
    Mike in Warrington.

    re .2
    
    It is the top of the range RDS unit that comes standard on Volvo
    760's.
    
    Will the dealer beable to do anything about it OR will it need to
    be removed from the car and sent to the manufacturer.
    
    Grant

    The dealer will need to remove the unit and return to Philips, I guess.
    
    Unless you want the hassle of doing it yourself, finding out which
    division to send it to, finding packaging, paying postage, chasing it
    up (assuming you can find someone in Philips who'll own the
    problem).....
    
    If you're going to do that, you may as well try the freezer first.
    
    Is there a lesson here somewhere? ;-)
    
    Dave

    re-1
    
    When I said removed from the car I meant by the dealer NOT me.
    
    Grant

    Re the freezer - so that's why they call it ICE!!!

    Grant,
    
    	    Have you had a chance to try this?  I now find that I will 
    have to follow my own advice! 
    
    	    During a run down to Basingstoke, the lug on the power 
    lead from my alternator fractured, making intermittent contact, 
    arcing, sparking and popping. Just about everything electronic on 
    the car went berserk, engine management system warnings, ABS 
    working permanently, dials not reading, heated rear screen 
    switched on all by itself. I pulled into the Crest, switched off 
    the ignition, and the alarm promptly set itself and went off, and 
    the rear windows wound down!!
    
    	    It's all sorted now apart from the radio/cassette, which 
    previously did not have a security code, but now not only thinks 
    it has a code, but also believes that I've tried incorrectly and 
    has locked itself out for the past 36 hrs.
    
    	    Return to Phillips will take about 2 weeks, so I'm gonna 
    try and crack it myself first.
    
    	    I will report on progress soon.
    
    Mike in Warrington.

    This happened to me. I foolishly decided to code it and it ended up
    with an unknown code which didn't correspond to the one I was trying to
    put in.
    
    It's quite possible that it was my mistake (I blame the poor
    instructions) but when I took it to a garage they were perfectly
    willing to believe it was the manufacturer's fault. They had had no end
    of complaints, even from cases where the battery level had dropped a
    bit in the cold weather (not cold enough to freeze the chip though :-).
    
    Anyway they sent it off and 2 weeks later I got back a brand new radio,
    the model above the one that was originally there.
    
    dick
    
    From now on I'll just rely on the stickers on the windows.

    re last 2
    
    No I have not tried anything to rectify the problem.  The ICE unit
    is in my dads lease car (A Volvo 760 Turbidiesel Estate) and came
    as standard.  To buy a new one would cost �700 so we are leaving
    it to the garage to sort out.  The car went in for the 1200 mile
    oil/filter change last night.
    
    We should get the car back tonight.  I will let you know what happens
    on Monday.
    
    Grant

    Well, I tried the freezer technique. Put it in a green plastic 
    bag, sat it on a pyramid of pork chops (Well Peter Belt would 
    expect that, wouldn't he?) and left it on fast freeze overnight.
    Took it out early this morning, and tried it still frozen 
    (Naughty!). No change!!! I left it to warm up, defrost and 
    condensation to dry off, and tried again. Still duff!
    
    Scratch that from the ideas pool. Over to the auto-electrician, 
    and see if I get an uprated model as well.
    
    Mike in Warrington.

    Welll we picked the car up last night and the unit had been fixed.
    Well done Lex Brooklands.
    
    Grant