Radio Theft LED Does Not Flash - keywords indicator inoperative lamp light program red theftloc theftlock

This PI is being updated to add 2007 model year. Please discard PIT3420A.

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.

Some owners may comment that the red radio theft LED does not flash. Starting with the 2003 model year, owners no longer have to enter a security code into the radio to activate the theft feature like past model years. The radio theft feature works automatically by learning a portion of the VIN. During assembly the radio "manufacturer's counter" is set at 255 counts for assembly purposes and should be set to 0 counts at the end of assembly. If the counter is not set to 0 counts at the end of assembly the radio LED will not flash. Each cycle of the ignition switch reduces the counter by 1 count. Example, if the counter is at 255 it would take 255 ignition key cycles to bring the counter to 0 counts, at that point the red LED would start to work normally.

During normal driving the counter will count down to 0 after enough ignition cycles. If an owner is requesting the LED to operate immediately, the ignition key will need to by cycled 255 times, due to prior drive cycles it may not take as many cycles. To count as a cycle the key must be left in the run and off positions for least 3 second.

Note: SPS programming the radio will not correct the concern.

Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.