Which factory radio could your 2013 Ram 3500 have?
Even within a single year, the 2013 Ram 3500 could leave the factory with more than one radios. Pick the unit that looks like yours.
Can't Locate Your Unit's S/N? Follow These Steps for Ram 3500 2013
The starting step is writing down the radio S/N.
Many drivers assume the code depends on the Ram model or year, but in reality, the unlock process relies on the unique radio unit's serial number.
The serial is the key used to calculate the correct unlock code.
This is actually better, because if you have bought a used radio, the VIN or other vehicle-specific data wouldn't help.
Based on the radio used, you may be able to see the serial directly from the screen or by looking at the label on the radio chassis.
Factory Radios on the 2013 Ram 3500
The 2013 Ram 3500 sits at the start of the 4th-generation HD truck refresh and was offered with several Mopar/Uconnect head units depending on trim and option packages. The Tradesman entry trims usually carried a small base radio, while SLT/Laramie/Longhorn buyers had access to the new 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreens.
The base unit was the Uconnect 3.0 (RA1), a small AM/FM/CD radio with a basic LCD strip display, hard buttons, and no touchscreen - effectively a fleet-grade head unit. Above that sat the Uconnect 5.0 (RA2), a 5-inch touchscreen with AM/FM, Bluetooth, USB and an aux input, no CD slot, and no factory navigation. Higher trims could be optioned with the Uconnect 8.4 (RA3), an 8.4-inch landscape touchscreen sitting in the upper dash bezel, with capacitive shortcut keys along the bottom of the display and no Nav tile on the home screen. The top option was the Uconnect 8.4N (RA4), the same 8.4-inch hardware as the RA3 but with the Garmin-based navigation database enabled - a Nav tile appears on the home screen and the SiriusXM Traffic/Travel Link splash shows at startup.
Quick tell: no touchscreen at all = RA1; 5-inch screen = RA2; 8.4-inch screen with no Nav tile = RA3; 8.4-inch screen with a Nav tile = RA4. Sales code is printed on the chassis label on top of the radio.
Before Removing the Radio, Try This Screen Method
The method for 2013 Ram 3500 is this:
The 2013 Ram 3500 heavy-duty truck features the same Uconnect infotainment system as the Ram 1500. Based on trim level, it may have a Uconnect 3.0/5.0" (standard trims) or Uconnect 8.4" (upper trims).
For 8.4" Uconnect (RA3): Hold the Climate Up, Climate Down, and Front Defrost buttons at the same time for 5 seconds to launch Dealer Mode. Then go to: System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number.
For base Uconnect: Dealer Mode is not supported. Removing the radio is necessary to read the serial label.
Read the S/N Directly From the Touchscreen
If your 2013 Ram 3500 is fitted with the 8.4-inch Uconnect, the radio supports a hidden dealer/diagnostic menu that shows the unit's internal serial number on screen. This is much faster than dropping the radio out of the dash. The smaller RA1 and RA2 head units do not have a reliably documented on-screen serial readout for this model year.
For the Uconnect 8.4 (RA3) and Uconnect 8.4N (RA4), place the ignition in the RUN position so the touchscreen is fully booted. Then press and hold the driver's temperature UP, temperature DOWN and front DEFROST buttons together for around 7 seconds. A dealer/diagnostic menu should appear on the 8.4-inch display.
From this menu, choose the radio-information entries near the top of the list - they list serial numbers, hardware/software revisions and similar identifiers. Note the full serial exactly as printed, including any letters at the start such as T00AM or TM9. Press Done, or cycle the ignition off and on, to leave the menu.
For the Uconnect 5.0 (RA2) and the base Uconnect 3.0 (RA1), an equivalent on-screen serial-number readout is not consistently documented for the 2013 Ram 3500. If the hidden menu does not bring up a serial entry on those radios, the chassis-label method described below is the dependable fallback.
Manufacturer Label Inspection
If the serial number cannot be accessed on-screen, use the hardware method.
Most Ram 3500 OEM radios include a tag with the serial number printed on the chassis.
The process:
- Shut down the car.
- Lift away surrounding mounting frame.
- Loosen screws holding the radio.
- Move slightly to inspect the label.
To remove the radio from the 2013 Ram 3500:
- Power down the vehicle and remove the negative battery cable for safety.
- Pry off the dashboard trim panel using a plastic pry tool. Ram heavy-duty trucks tend to have sturdier trim pieces compared to lighter models.
- Remove the four Phillips mounting screws securing the radio to the mounting frame.
- Ease the radio forward and locate the serial label on the unit housing.
HD Truck Note: Work truck trims of the 2013 3500 may have a simpler dash layout that makes radio access slightly easier than higher trims.
Pulling the Head Unit to Read the S/N Label
If the on-screen method is unavailable, or the radio is locked at the CODE prompt and you cannot reach the dealer menu, the printed chassis label is the most reliable source for the serial number on a 2013 Ram 3500.
Safety preparation
Switch the ignition fully off and remove the key. Disconnect the negative terminal of the 12V battery and wait several minutes before working near the dash so airbag-related circuits can fully discharge. Stay clear of any yellow airbag wiring while removing trim.
Tools to have ready
Plastic trim/panel pry tools, a T20 Torx driver for the bezel screws hidden behind the rubber beauty plates, a Phillips driver for the screws inside the lower console cubby (if your truck has the centre floor console), a 7 mm socket or driver for the four radio retaining screws, and a phone/camera to photograph the label.
Removal overview
At the top of the dash bezel, behind the rubber RAM-branded beauty plate, lift the rubber pad with a fingernail or a plastic pick to reveal two T20 Torx screws and remove them. There is also a single T20 screw under a smaller rubber plate in the cubby above the centre HVAC vents - remove it as well. If the truck has the centre floor console, lift the rubber pad in the front of the console well to expose two Phillips screws and remove those too. With the screws out, gently pry the bezel away from the dash starting at a lower edge - it is held by retaining clips. Walk a plastic tool around the perimeter to release each clip, then ease the bezel forward and unplug any small switch/HVAC connectors on its back. Once the bezel is off, the radio chassis is held in place by four 7 mm screws at the corners. Undo them, slide the head unit out and disconnect the main wiring harness and antenna lead.
Where the serial sits
The serial is on a printed label on the metal housing - normally on the top or side face of the chassis. Copy the long alphanumeric string next to the barcode and double-check ambiguous characters such as O vs 0 and I vs 1.
Tips
Photograph the label rather than relying on handwriting. Reassembly is the reverse: harnesses on, four 7 mm screws back in, bezel pressed in until each clip seats, T20 and Phillips screws restored, then reconnect the battery.
Example: Ram 3500 serial number label location
Common S/N Formats Used on 2013 3500 Units
The 2013 Ram 3500 shares the same radio hardware as other Ram trucks. Serial number prefixes:
T00AM– Harman Uconnect (standard prefix)T00BE– Continental Uconnect versionTM9– Older Harman unitsT0MYD– Newer Harman units (2019+)
The 2013 3500 may have: RA2 (4.3" base), RA1 (5.0"), RA3 (8.4" Classic), or RA4 (8.4" 4C, newer). Serial is 14 characters.
Reminder The serial number starts with a letter prefix (T00AM, T00BE, etc.) – do not mistake it with the radio part number (starts with P05064 or 68).
Common Serial Number Patterns on This Truck
The 2013 Ram 3500 could leave the factory with several different head units, and each supplier tended to use its own serial-number style. The patterns below are the ones most often reported by owners and unlock services for this generation.
Continental-supplied Uconnect 8.4 (RA3 / RA4): frequently start with a T00AM prefix and a numeric tail, for example a string resembling T00AM1234567. The prefix sits inline with the rest of the serial on the chassis label.
Panasonic-supplied Uconnect units: often start with TM9 followed by additional digits or letters. This pattern has been widely associated with Panasonic-built Mopar radios from the Uconnect 8.4 era.
Uconnect 5.0 (RA2) and Uconnect 3.0 (RA1) base radios: also carry a printed serial label on the chassis, but the prefix can vary by supplier batch - read the full string off the label rather than assume a fixed format.
If the alphanumeric you read does not match any of these examples, double-check that you have the serial line and not the part number. The serial is normally the longest string on the label and is the one tied to the barcode.
From Serial Number to Unlock Code for your Ram 3500 - Explained
- Instead of contacting Ram dealer or searching forums you can find the code online using the radio S/N.
- First locate the serial number. The best place to search is on the unit itself, and in some cases you can see it on the 3500's radio screen.
- Type it into the form above, and our system will calculate the correct 2013 3500 unlock code.
- After getting it, input it using 3500's radio controls to unlock the system successfully.
- The entire process takes less than a minute for most users and requires zero paperwork and no dealer visit.
Unlocking the Radio After Code Generation
Once you receive the correct unlock code based on the serial number, you can restore default functionality by entering it into the unit.
The code entry process depends on the head unit design, but most 2013 3500 systems follow a similar structure using preset buttons, touch controls, or rotary knobs - depending on if it's a factory or an aftermarket unit.
You will typically see CODE displayed on screen.
Detailed Entering Instructions for 3500 2013
To type in the unlock code on the 2013 Ram 3500:
- Turn ignition to ON. The screen shows "ENTER CODE" or "CODE".
- Touchscreen models (8.4" Uconnect): Tap the on-screen keypad to enter each digit of the 4-digit code.
- Non-touchscreen (base Uconnect): Press preset buttons 1-4 to select each digit, then press Enter/OK to confirm.
Lockout: 3 failed attempts = 60-minute lockout. Ignition must remain ON. Commercial vehicles that frequently have battery disconnects may see this lock more frequently.
Entering the Anti-Theft Code Step by Step
Once you have the correct anti-theft code for your 2013 Ram 3500 radio, the entry itself is fast - but the radio will lock you out for half an hour if you keep getting it wrong, so verify before you start.
Limited Attempt Warning
Only three attempts are allowed. Three wrong codes in a row send the radio into a WAIT state and the display reads WAIT. To clear it, the radio must remain powered with the ignition in RUN for a continuous 30 minutes. Cycling the key off does not bypass the timer (the truck may be driven during this time).
Entering the code
Turn the ignition to RUN or ACC so the radio powers up and shows the CODE / Anti-Theft prompt. On the 8.4-inch Uconnect (RA3/RA4), tap each digit on the touchscreen number pad. On the 5-inch Uconnect 5.0 (RA2), enter each digit using the on-screen keypad. On the base Uconnect 3.0 (RA1), enter the four-digit code by pressing the corresponding preset (1-6) buttons in sequence. Confirm with the OK/Enter on-screen control or the equivalent hardware button. When accepted, the radio returns to the normal home screen and audio resumes.
If it does not unlock
Stop after the second wrong attempt and re-verify the serial used to obtain the code. Make sure no leading letters or trailing digits were dropped. If WAIT appears, leave the radio powered for the full 30 minutes before retrying.
Why Is the Radio Asking for a Code?
Uconnect activates anti-theft after any power interruption. Heavy-duty work trucks are particularly prone to this because battery work is routine in construction and commercial fleets.
Common causes:
- Battery replacement — most common in commercial settings
- Blown fuse — especially after upfit installation
- Buying the truck fleet without any unlock documentation
- Battery fully drained from storage
The code is derived from the radio's serial number — not the truck's VIN.
3500 2013 Common Radio Problems
HD Ram code entry varies by radio trim: 8.4" Uconnect (RA3/RA4) uses touchscreen-only entry — press each digit on the on-screen keypad. Base Uconnect (RA1/RA2) uses preset buttons 1–4 to scroll to each digit, then Enter/OK to confirm.
HD Ram radios may have the serial accessible via Dealer Mode (8.4" RA3: hold Climate Up + Climate Down + Front Defrost 5 sec; then System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number) or on the barcode sticker on the unit housing.
Serial: 14 chars starting with T00AM, T00BE, TM9, or T0MYD. Never mistake this with the part number (P05... or 68...).
No code prompt means power hasn't been interrupted. To trigger it: briefly disconnect the battery, then restore power and turn ignition ON. The "ENTER CODE" screen appears on startup.
HD Ram trucks have a mix of radios (RA1/RA2/RA3/RA4 depending on trim and year). Each unit's label includes both the serial (14 chars: T00AM, T00BE, TM9, or T0MYD prefix) and the part number (P05... or 68...). Just the serial generates the unlock code.
Base trim radios often have hard-to-read labels. Wipe it down before reading, or photograph it and zoom in to verify each character.
The Uconnect locks after 3 wrong entries. The screen still shows "ENTER CODE" or "CODE" but ignores all input.
To reset: Ignition ON, 60 full minutes without turning off. Fleet-managed Ram trucks that get turned off frequently must finish the full wait without power interruption. Cycling the ignition restarts the 60-minute timer.