Question about theft lockout on VW radio

[Larry N]

OK Hope I can explain this right. My battery went dead due to the alternator not charging. I do have the code but my problem is this the LCD screen is scrambled and I can not determine if the safe mode is up. I hit the mode button then the scan button as it says to and something in the background is flashing. Supposedly it should be 1000, you then enter the code on the first four channel buttons. I am assuming 0 is first then 1,2,3 and so on. Then your supposed to hit mode and scan simultaneously and the radio is supposed to be up and running again. Question is their someone who knows if the flashing is the 1000 like I think it is or maybe someone has a VW Jetta 1997 that they can unhook their battery and go though the sequence to see if this is the way I think it is. The flashing may be something all together different than what I think it is. Without the LCD readout I may be had big time and might just have to get another radio. BTW This radio / cassette is great sounding hate to spend the money for a new one.

Thanks in advance.

[Warped Bezel]

Those stereos were likely outsourced and on top of that your description of a scrambled display indicates to me damage to the deck. You might have lost a diode or even a chip in the tuning circuit.

Here's a google search result for you:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=Volkswagen+stereo+repair&oq=Volkswagen+stereo+repair&aq=f&aqi=g-v1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=3635l19668l0l20449l24l22l0l9l9l0l451l3684l2-5.3.3l11l0