Hi,

I have a problem with the Symphony head unit in my Fabia, which since having a hands free kit fitted today has displayed the word SAFE followed by 1000. On reading the manual this seems to suggest I need a code, but I thought these units auto set themselves up when the ignition was on and you then turned the radio on? Can anyone help or suggest where I can get the code from?

Cheers.

The engine shouldnt be running when turning on the HU. it takes a minute or 2 to get the code from the ECU. If it still doesnt work, the HU may not be the one coded into the ecu, in that case a dealer visit maybe necessary.

Thanks - I thought that was the case - I'll call my dealer on Monday. Just hoping there was another option!

You will have to take the car to them so they can get the serial code from the radio, you will also need to take ID and proof of ownership.

How does the coding with the ECU work? I think all Symphonies have this. Seems that if you unplug the radio from the dash the code isn't stored, if you remove the battery it is. (or something...)

You might find that the code is written on the radio!! When I got my car I drove about 2000 miles before getting round to going down to Skoda to get them to find the code. When they took the unit out to get the serial number, they found that some helpful person had put a sticker on the unit with the code on it

Very helpfulll to the person who nabs your stereo.

Kinda defeats the object of having a secutiry system.

Well yeah but they're not going to know that the code's on it until they rip the stereo out.

To my mind anyway, the purpose of the code is to reduce the probability that someone will try and pinch the unit. Once they've got the unit I don't really care whether it works for them or not!

Granted, this logic relies on the vast majority of units not having the codes written on them.

Out of interest (and apart from the blip in Cardiff last year when there was the mistaken belief that you could chip a Sky box with a Ford stereo), do a lot of OEM stereos get stolen (especially from less common makes e.g. Fabia)?

A quick call to Skoda and they had the code to hand - begs the question why they don't supply it with all new cars?

A quick call to Skoda and they had the code to hand - begs the question why they don't supply it with all new cars?

They do, or should, IIRC. When I bought my fabia, I had the code written down somewhere in the handover documentation, but can't remember for the life of me where it was

When I removed my HU to fit an iPod adapter I initially had this SAFE problem - it was only after panicking, discovering I didn't have the code written down, phoning the dealer who hadn't a clue and swearing a lot that the thing decided to start working of its own accord. This would be the ECU thing I assume. Saved me.

The code is in the user manual. There are some printed four digit letters - not the ones which tell you the service intervals; and there's a pealable sticker. It should be one of those, either the first or last.

Try both.

Sorry for being vague but I hoper you know what I'm on about!