What Caused the Radio to Lock?
The 2012 Chrysler 300 MyGIG radio activates its anti-theft whenever the battery is disconnected. A removed radio is useless without the code.
The usual trigger: battery replacement or disconnect. Other situations:
- Blown radio fuse — common after electrical work
- Buying the 300 used without a code
- Battery disconnect for service work
- A dead battery from sitting unused
The code comes from the radio serial number, not the VIN. Valid in any car the radio is installed in.
How Serial Numbers Work and Where to Find Them on 2012 Chrysler 300 Radios
The important fact to know is that factory radios use a unique serial number to identify each unit.
Your anti-theft system links the code directly to this serial.
Unlike vehicle-specific data such as VIN or registration information, it is not determined by the model or production year, so you'll be able to generate it even if you have a radio that you bought afterwards.
Depending on the maker and radio installed in your Chrysler 300, the access method varies.
Here are the most reliable ways to find it.
2012 Chrysler 300 - Which Radio Did You Get?
For 2012 the Chrysler 300 carried over the same three-radio lineup, with anti-theft codes now mandatory across the higher-end units. Knowing which head unit is in your dash makes locating the serial number and entering the unlock code straightforward.
- Base AM/FM/CD (sales code RES / RE6 family) - Standard on the entry 300 trim. A small non-touchscreen head unit with a monochrome display, single CD slot, and physical preset/tune buttons. No Bluetooth, no color screen, no Nav button. The most common factory radio fitted to entry-level 2012 300 cars.
- Uconnect Touch 8.4 (sales code RBZ / RE2) - Optional on Limited and standard on 300S and 300C. Large 8.4-inch color touchscreen with very few physical buttons, dominating the center stack. The home screen shows app-style tiles for Radio, Media, Controls, Climate, and Phone, but no Nav tile. Adds Bluetooth, USB, voice command, and SiriusXM. Starting with 2012 builds, this unit requires a factory anti-theft code after a battery disconnect.
- Uconnect Touch 8.4N with Garmin Nav (sales code RHR / RB5) - Optional on Limited, 300S, and 300C, and standard on 300C with the navigation package and on SRT8. Same 8.4-inch screen and bezel as the non-nav 8.4, so the easiest way to tell them apart is to look at the home screen: a Nav tile on the home page (and Garmin splash at boot) means you have the 8.4N. Adds GPS navigation, SiriusXM Travel Link, and on SRT8 cars a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system.
Tip: if the screen is touch and a Nav icon is visible on the home page, you have the 8.4N (RHR/RB5). If the screen is touch but Nav is missing, you have the 8.4 (RBZ/RE2). If there is no touchscreen at all, you have the base RES.
Quick Method: Find the Serial Number on the Screen
These are the steps you should follow for 2012 Chrysler 300:
The 2012 Chrysler 300 full-size sedan was equipped with the MyGIG REP 430 or RBZ 430 radio in most trim levels. Both base-era systems cannot show an on-screen serial number display — there is no Dealer Mode accessible on these head units.
The serial number is only accessible by pulling out the radio unit from the 300's center stack. The prominent center console of the 300 gives good access once the trim bezel is removed. The serial is on a label on the side or back of the radio chassis.
Access the Serial by Pulling Out the Radio Unit
If the serial number cannot be accessed via display, use the pull-out method.
Most Chrysler 300 original radios include a tag with the serial number printed on the casing.
The process:
- Ensure the ignition is off.
- Carefully remove surrounding dashboard trim.
- Remove fasteners holding the radio.
- Pull forward to inspect the label.
In the 2012 Chrysler 300 full-size sedan, the radio sits in the upper center stack position below the climate controls. The 300's prominent center stack provides decent clearance once the bezel is off.
- Switch off all accessories.
- Gently pry off the center stack bezel framing the head unit. It snaps on.
- Unscrew the four Phillips screws securing the radio to the dash frame.
- Pull the unit forward to reveal the serial label on the side or back of the casing.
You don't need to fully disconnect the wiring harness — just pull the unit out far enough to read the label.
Releasing the Unit to Access the S/N on the Tag
- Prepare the vehicle and yourself. Turn the ignition fully off and remove the key. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait at least a few minutes before working in the dash so any SRS/airbag capacitors can discharge. Keep clear of yellow airbag wiring and never pull on connectors without releasing their lock tabs.
- Gather your tools. Have plastic pry/trim tools ready (or a flat-blade screwdriver wrapped in tape), a #2 Phillips screwdriver, and a small tray for the four chassis screws. A clean shop towel laid over the steering column protects the dash from accidental scrapes.
- Pop the center bezel. The radio/HVAC trim bezel on the 2012 300 is held by perimeter spring clips. Start in a lower corner, slide the trim tool behind the panel, and work outward around all four sides until each clip releases. If a metal clip stays behind in the dash hole, fish it out and re-seat it on the bezel before reinstallation.
- Disconnect bezel-mounted controls. Tilt the loose bezel toward you and unplug the hazard switch connector at the top, then the connectors behind the climate controls. Set the bezel aside on a soft surface.
- Unbolt the radio chassis. Remove the four Phillips screws (usually one in each corner of the chassis bracket) holding the radio to the dash subframe. Slide the unit straight out toward you.
- Disconnect the rear connectors. Release the locking antenna connector and pull it free, then unplug the multi-pin electrical harness(es) at the back of the unit. Pulling the antenna cable straight out without releasing the lock can damage the connector.
- Read and record the S/N. The 14-character serial number is on a label (typically a white or silver sticker, often with a small Pentastar logo) on the chassis - top, side, or rear depending on the unit - alongside the Chrysler part number and barcode. Photograph it and transcribe it carefully, mind the zero-vs-letter-O distinction.
- Tidy up. If you are leaving the radio out, support it on a foam pad, label any disconnected harnesses, and avoid pulling on the antenna cable.
Tips: for stubborn clips, work the trim tool in small increments rather than levering hard at one spot; warm weather makes the plastic more forgiving than a cold morning in the garage; and keep the four chassis screws together with the bezel screws so you do not mix lengths during reinstall.
Example: Chrysler 300 serial number label location
Standard Serial Number Patterns on This Radio
The 2012 Chrysler 300 REP/RBZ radio serial follows one of these 14-character formats:
TM9– Found on Harman MyGIG REP/RBZ 430 units in the 300T00AM– Another Harman format seen on some 300 trimsT00BE– Continental-manufactured variant
The part number on the same label starts with P05064 or 68 — skip it. The serial is 14 alphanumeric characters.
Common S/N Formats Used on 2012 Chrysler 300 Units
- RES (Base AM/FM/CD): typically a 14-character alphanumeric string commonly beginning with
T, followed by a family identifier and a production sequence printed on the chassis label. - RBZ / RE2 (Uconnect Touch 8.4, no nav): commonly begins with
T00-style prefixes such asT00AMorT00BE, with the remainder being numeric digits to total 14 characters. - RHR / RB5 (Uconnect Touch 8.4N with Navigation): commonly begins with
TM9followed by a numeric sequence to fill out the 14-character serial. These are typically encountered on 300C with the nav package and on the SRT8 for 2012. - General notes: ignore any
S/NorSERprefix printed on the label, as well as spaces, dashes, or barcodes - the value you submit is the contiguous 14-character alphanumeric code. Capitalisation matters, and prefixes can vary slightly between production runs and supplier batches, so always verify against the printed label.
How Code Entry Works on Your Chrysler Radio
Now that you've generated 2012 Chrysler 300 anti-theft code from the serial number, you're ready to reactivate the radio.
Some drivers get stuck at this stage because input methods can look different across radio versions, but it's usually easy.
When the radio shows dashed lines, it means the unit is waiting for the correct numbers.
Step-by-Step - Correct Entering Process
To enter the code for the 2012 Chrysler 300's MyGIG radio:
- Turn ignition to ON. The screen shows "ENTER CODE" or "CODE".
- Use the touchscreen number pad (REP/RBZ 430) to enter your 4-digit code digit by digit.
- The radio auto-confirms after the 4th digit.
Note: 3 wrong attempts cause a 60-minute lockout. Keep ignition ON for the full wait period without switching off.
Step-by-Step Correct Entering Process
- Read the limited-attempt warning first. Mopar Uconnect units (and the RES base receiver) for the 2012 300 typically allow up to three attempts to enter a valid 4-digit anti-theft code. After three successive invalid entries the radio drops into a WAIT (LOCK) state and the display will show
WAIT. To clear it, leave the ignition in RUN with the radio powered for a continuous 30 minutes; only then will theCODEprompt return for another set of attempts. Do not cycle power during the wait - it generally resets the timer. - Power up. Turn the ignition to RUN (or ACC if the cluster supports it) and wait for the radio to finish booting and display
CODEorENTER CODE. - Enter the code on a Uconnect 8.4 (RBZ/RE2 or RHR/RB5). Use the on-screen numeric keypad to tap each of the four digits of your code in order. After the fourth digit is shown, an
OK/GObutton becomes active on screen. - Confirm on the touchscreen. Tap the
OK/GObutton to submit. A correct code clears the prompt and the radio returns to normal operation; an incorrect code is counted as one of your three attempts. - Enter the code on the base RES (single-CD) radio. With the ignition in RUN and the display showing
CODE, use the station preset buttons (1-4) to dial each of the four digits, then press the labelled enter/OK button to submit (or briefly hold the assigned preset, depending on the unit's labelling). - If the code is rejected. Stop, double-check the code against your paperwork, and start a fresh entry from the first digit on the next attempt. Never burn the third attempt on a guess - it is far cheaper to wait 30 minutes for the lockout to clear than to risk additional escalations.
Understanding the 2012 Chrysler 300 Radio Code Retrieval Process
To get the code, you'll take only a few easy steps.
- Find the radio's serial number - this is the only info required to generate the correct unlock code.
Unlike dealership lookup, no VIN or paperwork is needed. - When you've found the S/N, type it into the form above.
Our system checks it against a database of supported units and automatically finds the matching anti-theft code. - In most cases, the code will appear instantly on the screen after payment and is also sent to your email for backup.
If we need to check it manually, you'll be notified before checkout. - When you receive it, simply enter it into the radio to restore full functionality.
Understanding Unlock Issues with Your 300
The 300's MyGIG label carries both the part number (P05064... or 68...) and the serial number. Just the 14-character serial starting with TM9, T00AM, or T00BE generates the unlock code.
Double-check each character. If the serial looks right, contact support for a free re-check.
If the 300 radio plays normally without asking for a code, the anti-theft is inactive. It only activates after a power disconnection.
To force it: pull the radio fuse, then reconnect and turn ignition ON. The code screen shows within seconds.
Three wrong entries put the 300's MyGIG into a timed lockout. The display shows "ENTER CODE" but blocks all taps for 60 minutes.
Keep ignition in ON or ACC for the full 60 minutes without turning off. Switching off the ignition restarts the timer.
The 300's REP/RBZ 430 radio uses touchscreen-only code entry. Touch the numbers directly on the on-screen keypad. No preset buttons are used. The radio auto-unlocks after the 4th digit.
On the 300 label shows both serial and part number. Use the serial: 14 alphanumeric chars, starts with TM9, T00AM, or T00BE. The part number starts with P05064 or 68 — that's not the one you need.