RCD 510: Help finding out / reseting PIN code

[javab0y]

I have an RCD 510 which I swapped for an RNS recently; I want to sell the RCD but I don't have the PIN code.

I have asked the dealer over the phone, and he told me they need to swap the units out, plug in the cable to get the PIN out. All this costs $$ of course.

I didn't believe them, based on the advice from the forums so I went in there today with the unit and they tried to tell me the same thing again (different guy). After some "convincing", he then (to his credit) tried to punch in the details into the VW Web site and spent some time trying to put in the various numbers (VIN, serial etc. I assume?) but could not get the PIN number.

I suspect because he did not know the exact procedure. He asked others around him, and they were equally clueless so I came away empty handed: no PIN

Now, my questions are:
1) is there any other way I can find this PIN out?
2) is the unit worth anything without the PIN - ie can people somehow get around this?
3) should I just use the unit as a doorstop? shame if that was the case.. as it it was less than 3 weeks old.. There must be another way?

Thanks in advance

[kamold]

The dealer should be able to get you the PIN provided they have the VIN and you prove you own the car. They don't need anything else.

The unit is locked until the PIN is entered once it is connected to a new vehicle.
There MAY be a way to bypass it like with the RNS510, but it would require custom hardware and software to do so. Not sure if anyone has bothered to make this solution.

So in other words, you need to go back to a dealer.

[javab0y]

Thanks for the response.

Bugger... the guy at the dealer (and those that this guy asked around for advice) did not inspire much confidence in me; didn't look like they could get this done without spending too much time. Maybe they had not done too many of these?

Proving that the car belonged to me was not an issue as they had me on the system. It's just that they did not know what values to put into the system to get it to spit back the PIN. I think he got unstuck with the value for the Accessory Code or something (from what I overheard).

I don't think going to another dealer will help (there's only 2 to start with in Canberra); there's no incentive for the other to help me?

Can I email/write to VW Australia head office or something and see whether they can do it?

Looks like a doorstop it is then...

[Qwertypants]

If you bought the car new from the dealer you would have been given a card with the pin on it. If you lost this then they 'should' be able to give you the pin no problems, with a fee of-course. I don't remember how much, probably around 15$.

Your best best is to call up the next higher power, VW head Aus office as you mentioned, and state exactly what happened and the noobs you had to deal with. They might even give it to you for free considering you went through so much trouble with the staff.

But be careful, do not try and test pin codes as there are 9999 possibilities and if you get it wrong 3 times (I believe) you're screwed.
They have to have this on record. Just be persistent.

[javab0y]

If you bought the car new from the dealer you would have been given a card with the pin on it..

Definitely not the case - I was not given this card. I have had a look.

I will try VW Head Office and see what response I get.

[Pawnii]

I took my RCD500 to the dealer last week and they gave me the pin code for free. (pretty sure they got it from the car)
In the booklet it says that entering in the wrong pin will lock you out for a period of time then and after that you will be able to retry.

[javab0y]

The problem is that I have now removed the RCD and put an RNS in there; so getting PIN from the car will be now be a bit more time consuming (compared to: if the RCD was already in there). Also the RCD will now require a PIN to startup even if they swap it... assuming this will need to be entered in first? ...leading to a chicken-and-egg situation?

I have emailed volkswagenassist@volkswagen.com.au and see what they have to say... couldn't find any other contact for VW Head Office.

[FJ Steve]

20 minutes to remove the RNS...3 minutes to install the RCD (no need to install the plastic dash fittings.)

Take it to the dealer. Ask for the PIN.

Rinse and repeat (in reverse) the install process. How hard is that?

As for the dealer not helping...search the forums, find anecdotal evidence to suggest it can be done. Get the Dealership to talk to other dealerships. Not hard to stamp your feet in front of the service manager to get some satisfaction.

[buzuki]

mate its easier then that. They only need the serial number of the radio to get the pin. You dont even need to go in.

[ian]

mate its easier then that. They only need the serial number of the radio to get the pin. You dont even need to go in.

Yes thats what i did when i remover my RCD300 i took the radio to the dealer with the service books showing the vin and engine number and he sent it to me over the phone a couple of hours later,

[jords]

They will not (or should not) give the pin out over the phone, otherwise any scroat who has just stole the unit could ring up for the pin.

When swapped my Rcd510 out, I went in to the dealer, with the serial number, and as long as you can verify you own the vehicle, then they should be able to get the pin in a few minutes.

I would be asking them for the official card, as it should have come with the car, along with the service book, user manual, etc.

[javab0y]

Thanks all.

I hear you all, believe me: the dealer *should* give it to me, totally 100% agree... but they are not, that's the bottom line; probably due to incompetence in this case. Which is why I was wondering what my other options were.

I could go back and try again, but I will probably get the same guy at the front desk again.

I could go to another (the only other competitor) dealer (which is a pain as they are further and need to go on a work day on top), but no guarantee they will want to help me. I may have to suck it and see; but don't like my chances.

Getting identified as being the owner of the car was not the problem (either over the phone or when I went in), as they ID'ed me and in the case of on the phone, it was the person that sold me the car that I spoke with.

Quite annoying this. Hopefully VW head office with come through.

I don't really want to go down the route of the dealer taking out the RNS, putting in the RCD, getting the PIN out and the putting back the RNS; as I am sure I will get some BS (over-) charge from them due to their "specialist" skills required at $1xx an hour. Oh the irony...

I know it doesn't take long to swap these units in reality (I saw the RNS being done), but that does not mean that they won't charge me for the privilege. Call me cynical Plus I don't really trust them to screw something else up.

Even if they charge me for an hour at say $150 (?), that would probably not make it worth my while?

[ian]

They will not (or should not) give the pin out over the phone, otherwise any scroat who has just stole the unit could ring up for the pin.

When swapped my Rcd510 out, I went in to the dealer, with the serial number, and as long as you can verify you own the vehicle, then they should be able to get the pin in a few minutes.

I would be asking them for the official card, as it should have come with the car, along with the service book, user manual, etc.

There is no such thing as a card with the pin on it any more, the radio is coded to the car and the car will automaticly know if the radio is the original and turn it on ,
The pin was given to me over the phone as the service desk was busy and he didn't have time to go the site where all the data is stored regarding the cars techicinal data , he had my rego papers my drivers license and a copy of my label, so i think it was ok for him to ring and give me the pin .

[javab0y]

Ok. I now have the PIN... no thanks to VW.

...so off to the For Sale section.

(No word still from VW regarding the email sent 2 days ago - not even an acknowledgement)

EDIT: Oops don't meet the 90 day rule for posting in the Classifieds section. eBay it is...

[Bambazonke]

Javaboy did you lock down the shuttle system before you disconnected it from your vehicle? If not you may want to re install it and power it up and make sure it's done before you sell it! I had rather unfortunate situation where it appears my unit was not locked down and some parts came loose during transit and the unit got jammed 2 weeks after I installed it in my Tiguan. I will be putting out a separate post with photos (if i can up load them to the forum)on this as I feel buyers/sellers of these units need to be aware of this and what to check before they install them as well as other issues I discovered