Radio removal

steady__eddie

Daughter bought a secondhand Ford Ka today and after the trauma of driving it back 10 miles across the city (she only passed her test last week) she left it on the road, handed me the keys with the instructions that I was to put it in the garage after I had garaged my car and she promptly caught the Metro to work.
Just garaged it and after switching the radio on (5000 RDS EON) I see that it is requesting the code. Dealer is now closed and I know that there is a thread on here where I may be able to get the code if I can supply some number which is on the radio and probably begins with M. This is where the problem starts, there are 4 holes on the radio where a couple of U tube thingys can be inserted. I have some of these U tube thingys which came with an Audioline radio which I bought about 20 years ago. They fit in alright and appear to click when fully inserted but no amount of pulling them will release the radio. Am I doing something wrong or are these tools incompatible with Ford radios ?
I would have liked to have got the radio working for her without the hassle of verbals with the dealer next week :eek:

harveybobbles

When you put the "u thingys" in you have to push them outwards slightly to release the pins holding the radio in.

There are plenty of threads on the Motoring section on here for getting the code for free. However, phone the supplying dealer, whose number will be in the front of the radio handbook/servbice book to see if they still have the code on file.

wallbash

The only thing I can add , the u thingy ( would love to know a tech name :rolleyes: )is 3 to 4 inches long , and go a long way in !! but i think a bit more force is required

steady__eddie

Thanks folks, I'll go and have another go now. I am reluctant to use too much force as it is not my motor and I do not wish to cause any damage. (I usually supply the ignorance, this is the first time that I've been called upon to supply the brute force as well) This 'ere U thingy is about 4 inches in length and about an inch and a quarter wide, you've got me going now, must find out what they're called.
As far as the service book/radio handbook goes, these items were apparently not included in the sale when she collected this morning ! Looks like it's a case of an Haynes manual job if anything untowards transpires

steady__eddie

Sorted, it was the outward pressure as suggested by harveybobbles that did the trick.
Now I have to hope that your colleagues on the unlocking thread can provide as much assistance as you have.
Once again. many thanks.