I want to disconnect my battery to hopefully clear an airbag light. I went to the OEM Bose audio manual and there on the first page is the empty radio code card, with no serial# and no code. Is there any way of avoiding a dealer visit to obtain the codes? From reading it looks like setting the code is a predelivery task; is it possible this was never done and some default values are there, untouched since 2001?

 

Not really. But look inside the spare tire well, it sometimes gets written in there on a sticker.

 

No luck in the spare well; wonder why they didn't write it where it's supposed to go? To the dealer then.

 

Unless you find the miracle tire well sticker, dealer must pull the head unit, get the serial number, confirm your VIN and contact Audi for the four digit code. I just went through this on Wed. Cost was $47.50

 

FYI, got the code; here's what I did. I called Audi Customer Care 800-822-2834, told them I was the new owner, etc. They gave me the original dealer that first sold the car. I called that dealer's service dept., the guy asked for the last 8 digits of the VIN; he had the code on file locally & it worked! Before I did this I called one stealership who wanted $75 to remove the radio, etc. Another stealership wanted $100 to "diagnose" (VAG) the car, said that's the way it's "supposed to be done." Any doubt why these guys are universally hated?

 

ouch.

$35 at driversvillage in syracuse ny, that place is HUGE.

Its a shopping mall, for cars. They have a dealership there for Audi, BMW, Buick, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Hummer, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Lexus, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Porsche, Toyota, and Volkswagen.