Can't Find Your Radio S/N? Follow These Steps for Honda Fit 2017
Very useful thing to know is that factory radios use a specific serial number to identify each unit.
Your anti-theft system links the code directly to the serial.
Unlike car-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 installed afterwards.
Depending on the manufacturer and radio installed in your Honda Fit, the retrieval method varies.
These are the best ways to locate it.
2017 Honda Fit factory radios
The 2017 Fit kept the 3rd-gen GK head-unit lineup unchanged from 2015-2016. The LX trim continues with the basic 5-inch color LCD AM/FM/CD audio system - 160 watts, four speakers, hard buttons, a tuning knob, Bluetooth, and a single front USB. There is no touchscreen, no HondaLink, and no smartphone projection on the 2017 LX. The EX and EX-L trims carry the 7-inch electrostatic Display Audio with HondaLink - 180 watts, six speakers, dual USB, HDMI input, and Pandora compatibility, but still no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in the 2017 model year (those features arrived with the 2018 mid-cycle refresh). Both head units enforce a 5-digit Honda anti-theft code after any battery disconnect, fuse pull, or unit swap.
Before Removing the Radio, Try This Screen Method
The method for 2017 Honda Fit is this:
The 2017 Honda Fit could have Honda's Display Audio touchscreen (7" depending on trim) or a standard non-touchscreen radio. All versions support serial number retrieval via the 1+6 button method:
- Turn ignition to ON. Wait for the radio to power up. The screen shows "CODE" when locked.
- Hold down preset buttons 1 and 6 for 3-5 seconds.
- The serial number displays in two halves (e.g.,
U3210+L0482).
Also: On 2017 Fit with the Display Audio touchscreen, navigate to Settings → System → Device Information – the serial may be displayed there without using the button combination.
Pulling Out the Radio Unit to See the S/N on the Tag
If the serial number cannot be accessed via display, use the pull-out method.
Most Honda Fit OEM radios include a sticker with the serial number printed on the casing.
The process:
- Remove key from ignition.
- Carefully remove surrounding dashboard trim.
- Release clips holding the radio.
- Slide outward to inspect the label.
If none of these methods succeed on the 2017 Honda Fit:
- Power down the vehicle.
- Remove the dashboard trim. The 2017 Fit's modern dashboard uses friction clips.
- On touchscreen trims: Unscrew the fasteners (Phillips) securing the screen unit.
- On base trims: Remove the four screws holding the head unit.
- Pull the unit out and locate the serial on the label on the unit casing.
Tip: The touchscreen unit is larger and more tightly fitted than the standard radio. Be careful when removing it.
Removing the head unit on a 2017 Honda Fit
Safety first. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait a few minutes before working around the steering column or center stack - the SRS (airbag) capacitors need time to fully bleed down. Battery disconnection is precisely what triggers the anti-theft code lock on the 2017 Fit, so reach for the on-screen 1+6 serial method first if all you need is the serial number.
The 3rd gen Fit dash exposes a small pry notch on the edge of the audio bezel once the upper dashboard storage lid is open. Slip a plastic trim tool or a tape-wrapped 3-inch putty knife into the notch and walk the bezel free; the head unit and climate-control panel are both attached to this bezel, so support the assembly with one hand as the clips release. Use plastic panel tools rather than metal blades - the GK Fit dash material scars visibly. Tip the bezel forward, unplug the wiring harnesses for the climate controls and the audio unit, then back out the three to four small chassis screws evenly so the head unit slides straight out of its bracket. The narrow trim ring around the screen comes off only after the audio unit is out, not before. Photograph each connector before disconnecting it so reassembly is unambiguous.
Example: Honda Fit serial number label location
Common Serial Number Structures
Depending on the radio equipped in the 2017 Honda Fit:
U1234L5678– Most common Honda OEM formatHBM####– Found on Display Audio and nav-equipped units913A####– Some Alpine-manufactured radios
The 2017 Fit may have: base CD radio (U/L format), Display Audio 5"/7" (HBM format), or navigation unit (HBM format). All require a 5-digit unlock code.
Important Verify you copy the serial number, not the part number (which starts with 39100, 39101, or similar Honda part coding).
2017 Fit radio serial format
Expect an 8-character alphanumeric Honda serial on the 2017 Fit - letters and digits intermixed, with no dashes, spaces, or punctuation. On the 5-inch LX the value is typically split across two alternating screens prefixed with U (first 4 characters) and L (last 4 characters); disregard the prefix labels and record the eight characters between them. The 7-inch Display Audio usually shows the serial as a single 8-character string. Watch for the usual look-alikes: 0 versus O, 1 versus I, 5 versus S, and 8 versus B. A single mistyped character routes you to the wrong code.
Fast Honda Fit Radio Unlock Process Explained
To get the code, you'll take only a few easy steps.
- Locate the radio's serial - this is the only information required to generate the correct unlock code.
The difference with the dealership lookup is that no VIN or paperwork is needed. - Enter the serial number into our generator above.
The system checks it against a database of supported factory radios and automatically finds the matching security code. - In most cases, the code will appear instantly on the screen after you pay and is also sent to your email , just in case.
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.
Final Step - Enter the Radio Code
Now that you've found the S/N and retrieved the unlock code, the final step is entering it into your radio.
Honda factory radios display a locked screen when ready for input.
The process is usually quick, but button layouts and confirmation methods may differ slightly depending on the radio version installed in your Fit.
In-depth Input Instructions for Fit 2017
To input the code on the 2017 Honda Fit:
- Ignition ON. Radio displays "CODE" or "ENTER CODE".
- Non-touchscreen models: Press preset buttons 1-5 to cycle to each digit, then press and hold button 6 to confirm.
- Display Audio touchscreen: An on-screen keypad may appear. Enter each digit and press "Enter" or "OK".
Lockout: 3 wrong codes trigger a 60-minute lockout. Leave ignition ON. Don't cycle the key or the timer starts over.
Entering the 5-digit code on a 2017 Fit
Turn the ignition to ON so the head unit powers up and displays CODE or a numeric entry prompt. Honda 3rd-gen Fit codes are always 5 digits, and they only ever use the digits 1 through 6 - the keypad effectively maps to preset buttons 1 through 6. If you ever see a 0, 7, 8, or 9 in a code claimed to belong to your 2017 Fit, it is wrong. Press your five digits and confirm with the right-arrow / Enter control on the 5-inch LX, or the on-screen Enter control on the 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen. If the radio rejects multiple wrong codes it locks out for roughly one hour; keep the ignition ON for the entire wait, because powering it off resets the timer back to a full hour.
Fixing Common Code Entry Problems for 2017 Fit
On the Display Audio, a rejected code is typically caused by the serial was taken from the wrong source. Both the button method and the settings menu can produce the correct serial — double-check that the serial you submitted came from the radio itself and not from an online database.
After one failed entry, stop and contact support before trying again — a second wrong attempt brings you closer to the 60-minute lockout. A free serial reverification is available on request.
The Display Audio era covers radios using multiple serial prefixes depending on which unit was fitted:
U####L####— base CD radio serial (10 characters, two halves).HBM####— Display Audio 5"/7" and navigation units.913A####— some Alpine OEM configurations.
Part numbers on the same label start with 39100 or 39101 — do not submit these. If uncertain, use the Settings → Device Information menu or the 1+6 button method to pull the serial directly from the unit.
Code entry depends on the specific radio in the Display Audio-era Fit:
- Non-touchscreen base radio: Press preset buttons 1–5 to scroll to each digit, then press and hold button 6 to confirm — identical to older Honda platforms.
- Display Audio 5" or 7" touchscreen: An on-screen numeric keypad is shown when the code prompt is active. Enter the digits and press OK or Enter on screen.
Should the touch input not work, attempt the physical preset buttons — certain units accept both input method. Ensure the screen is fully booted before starting entry.
If the Display Audio screen powers on but goes straight to the home screen without a "CODE" display, check the following:
- Anti-theft may not have triggered — some battery changes skip the lock if power was restored fast.
- On some Display Audio units, the code prompt shows only on the audio portion of the screen, not the navigation display — wait a moment after startup.
- Try the Settings → System → Device Information route; if the serial is visible there, the unit could still be functional without a code.
If none of these apply, a fuse check is the next step — a failed fuse prevents the radio from showing any display at all.
The Display Audio platform uses the same 3-attempt lockout as earlier Honda radios. Recovery steps:
- Keep the ignition in ON or ACC — avoid turning it off.
- Allow the full 60-minute period. The touchscreen may go to sleep during this time — that's normal.
- After 60 minutes, the radio re-displays "CODE" and another attempt is possible.
On Display Audio touchscreen models, the lockout countdown operates even when the screen is off. Simply leave the vehicle running or the ignition on ACC for the full hour.
Why Did the Radio Lock and Ask for a Code?
Honda's Display Audio system carries the same anti-theft architecture as earlier radios: losing battery power triggers a code request at next startup. This affects both the base radio and the Display Audio unit.
- Battery replacement — the most common trigger.
- Battery disconnect during repairs — service that interrupts battery power will re-engage the lock.
- Completely dead battery — a fully discharged battery also triggers the request.
Worth knowing: a number of higher-end Display Audio models from the 2014–2021 period might not use a traditional code-based lock — if the radio never prompted for a code after a battery change, it could have a different anti-theft method linked to the vehicle VIN.