Programming CDR-500

[Quinny1999]

Hi,

I am new to this site so would just like to say hi to everyone on here and hope that someone could help me out!!

I have a Siemens CDR-500 radio in my Vauxhall Astra Coupe and the other week when I turned the ignition on the Radio just displayed SAFE, even though it worked 5mins before hand. I hadn't disconnected the battery so no idea why it lost the code.

I know what the code is, however I cannot get to the point in which it shows CODE ---- in order to enter the code.

If I turn the ignition off, turn the radio off, then turn the ignition on, press the AS button and then turn the radio on, the display then shows 10 SAFE. I assumed this means that I have 10 tries left to enter the code, however I never see the dialog to enter the code I have, even when I press the 1,2,3,4 preset buttons nothing happens.

I am a bit stuck, have the panel, the code but don't seem to be able to get the option to enter the code!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and if anyone has experienced similar or has any pointers it would be appreciated.

Martin.

[Dom]

Someone might have entered the code incorrectly before so give it 10-15 minutes on 10 SAFE before trying again.

[Quinny1999]

Yeah I have left it 24 hours at a time. I do not get any option to enter any code and I am the only one to have tried. All I ever see when I press the AS button is 10 SAFE. There is never the ---- in order to enter the code.

I was wondering whether the panel may have been faulty, but this doesn't appear to the case as when I press the AS button and turn on the radio, it does display 10 SAFE, where as if I just turn the radio on, it shows SAFE, so the AS button does register a press in order to show 10 SAFE. Just got no idea why it doesn't give me the option to enter the code.

I have the radio and the code but no way of un-locking it, it is so frustrating.

[Astra Dan]

Sounds like it's died to me. However, it does say in the maual that the period between code entries after the first 2 double with each failed attempt, and that the igintion needs to be ON in order for the unit to reset.

But as it says 10 SAFE on the display, I think it needs to be reset by someone in the know. You could try removing it from the car for a day or two, or even try the overnight in the freezer trick, but I'm not hopeful.

[Quinny1999]

Yeah I was fearing the worst, seems a bit odd that it died just by turning the ignition off and then back on again with 5mins in between.

Something isn't right though as I still have my 10 attempts showing but I cannot get the ---- code entry to display.

Cheers anyway guy's, maybe I will just have to take a trip down to Vauxhall.

[Dom]

Check the wiring at the back of the radio as it might have been altered. Some people rewire the vaux loom to keep their radio on with the ignition out.

Check that any black wires have 12v on ignition, red wires are permanent live and I know some people swap the red and yellow wires on some looms.

It could be something as simple as that.

[Quinny1999]

Ok thanks I will check that. So if the radio does power on when the ignition is off, does this mean the radio has been wired incorrectly?

It just seems odd that I have only just had this issue, yet I have had the car for 3 years with no problems.

If it is wired incorrectly, does this mean that the re-coding of the unit would react in a different way, i.e. when the ignition is off, the radio isn't truly powered down so doesn't recognise being powered on, pressing the AS button then turning the radio on?

[Dom]

Possibly. Its stabbing at straws a bit but well worth a look before paying VX £££ to have a look at it.

[Dom]

Oh and you might want to take the radio out and leave it for an hour or so just to see if it resets itself - it might have got confuddled somewhere along the line.

[stewron]

Now this IS interesting - I am getting exactly the same problem, and I too have an Astra Coupe with a Siemens VDO CDR500. My wife lost her panel so I got a replacement, but I can't get past the 10 SAFE display - CODE or ---- never appears! Did you manage to find out what was the problem Quinny?

[movingwifi]

I realise this thread is 18months old, but it's frustrating there isn't a solution as I'm having the same issue.

This morning my CDR-500 went into SAFE mode for no obvious reason. Just back from a long trip last night, this morning I drove down to the shops and when I started the car to head back home, the display came up as SAFE.

Wondering how stewron and Quinny1999 resolved their issues.

I dug out the instructions and my code, but I can never get past the 10 SAFE display. When I hold AS and press the on button, there is never a tone or beep as mentioned in the instructions, so there is no indication when to let go of the AS button.

A couple of things which aren't clear from the instructions:
1. At which point does the waiting time come into play? The manual suggests there will only be a 3 second delay if it's the first attempt, though posts in other forums suggest 10 seconds. I've tried waiting for various durations at a variety of points.

2. When it says, "turn the ignition on", does that mean turn the key to position 1 where the radio would normally come alive, position 2 when the dash lights come on or actually start the engine?

Concerned at the lack of a beep or tone when 10 SAFE appears - does this suggest the unit is now faulty or has some fuse maybe blown?

Thanks

[Paul]

Turn radio off

Turn key till ignition lights are on

While holding the AS button, press the power button

Keep holding the AS button, and after about 10 second the display changes so you can enter code

If somone or something says turn the ignition on, do just that. Turn the key till the ignition lights are on.
Dont' start the car, as thats not what they are asking.

Paul

[BigDave1979]

Check that it powers up with the key completely removed (on some the ignition live to the radio stays on until the steering lock engages). If it doesn't, look for a popped fuse - this would cause it to go to safe in the first place and without both battery and ignition I don't think you can enter the code. Anything else mysteriously not working?

On the Corsa for example the battery live to the radio is on the same circuit as the power for the interior light. I shorted a wire on the boot light once and spent ages trying to figure out why the radio wasn't playing ball - wasn't until I went out in the dark that the penny dropped!

[movingwifi]

Thanks Paul and BigDave1979

I've held the AS button for 10seconds and longer to no avail, so the fuse idea may be worth exploring especially since this just happened without any isolation from the battery. The radio could normally be switched on without the key and it still can be powered on (to display SAFE) without key.

The car is a 2004 Astra 1.6 Enjoy for what it's worth.

Gerry

[movingwifi]

I've had a look at the fuses and didn't find any blown ones, so I'm still at a loss. Stuck with 10 SAFE - never getting to 10 ----.

I'll call a mechanic on Monday.

Any other suggestions?

Gerry

[Phillo]

Hi did you get anywhere with the mechanic?! I have the same problem, popped into a friends to drop off xmas pressies last night, on leaving the car the stereo was normal, on return display showa 'PANEL'.

Have been able to get the '10 CODE' option up by turning the ignition on, holding down AS. no beep and no option to enter the code.

I have entered the code previously when battery was disconnected for maintenance but this time no battery disconnection just this 'PANEL' display (the handbook says this display is for when the panel is not connected properly but I didn't take it off between when it worked and when it didn't and the AS button is obviously working as can get the 'CODE 10' option)

Please help, my wife's favorite CD which I bought her for christmas then stole is trapped!

[movingwifi]

Hi did you get anywhere with the mechanic?! I have the same problem, popped into a friends to drop off xmas pressies last night, on leaving the car the stereo was normal, on return display showa 'PANEL'.

Have been able to get the '10 CODE' option up by turning the ignition on, holding down AS. no beep and no option to enter the code.

I have entered the code previously when battery was disconnected for maintenance but this time no battery disconnection just this 'PANEL' display (the handbook says this display is for when the panel is not connected properly but I didn't take it off between when it worked and when it didn't and the AS button is obviously working as can get the 'CODE 10' option)

Please help, my wife's favorite CD which I bought her for christmas then stole is trapped!

The PANEL thing is a bit different from my situation. I only got PANEL if I took the PANEL off.

Anyway I let my mechanic have a look and he concluded it was faulty. Nothing for it but a new head unit. I picked up something reasonable off eBay.

Gerry