2020 Ram 3500 Radio Units and Their Makers
Even for a single year, the 2020 Ram 3500 could leave the factory with different head units. Start with the one that matches your dash.
Why Is the Radio Asking for a Code?
The Ram 3500's Uconnect 4C activates anti-theft after the battery is disconnected or replaced. Heavy-haul truck owners encounter this most often because of:
- Battery replacement — the most common trigger. 1-ton trucks have higher electrical loads from trailers and accessories, making battery changes more frequent.
- Upfit and accessory work — those installing towing accessories working on the electrical system will encounter this.
- Blown fuse — frequent after heavy electrical work.
- Buying fleet-retired without the code.
The code is tied to the radio's serial number — not the VIN.
From Serial Number to Unlock Code for your Ram 3500 - Explained
- Instead of contacting Ram dealer or searching forums you can retrieve the code online using the radio serial number.
- First locate your radio's serial. It is always present on the unit itself, and sometimes it can be visible on the 3500's display.
- Enter it into the form above, and the system will generate the correct 2020 3500 unlock code.
- After getting it, type it in using 3500's radio controls to unlock the system fully.
- The entire process takes only a few minutes and requires minimal effort.
Can't Locate Your Radio S/N? Follow The Steps Below for Ram 3500 2020
The first part is to locate the radio's serial number.
Depending on the radio unit fitted in your 2020 3500, the serial can be accessed either through the screen menu or by pulling the unit out and checking the label on the radio itself.
Below are the most common methods to identify your S/N the right way.
2020 Ram 3500 - Which Radio Did You Get?
The 2020 Ram 3500 - part of the all-new fifth-generation DT HD platform launched for 2019 with a redesigned dash - shipped with the Uconnect 4 family of head units. Across the trim ladder (Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Power Wagon on the 2500, Limited and on Chassis Cab models Tradesman, SLT, Laramie and Limited) several screen sizes were available.
Uconnect 3 / Uconnect 4 (sales code UAG) - 5-inch base touchscreen. Standard on Tradesman and base Chassis Cab. Visual ID: small 5-inch screen mounted high in the centre stack with conventional climate controls below; Bluetooth audio and basic media support.
Uconnect 4C 8.4 NAV (sales code UAQ, Canadian equivalent UCQ) - 8.4-inch touchscreen with built-in GPS navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wired). Standard or part of the upgrade group on most mid trims. Visual ID: 8.4-inch landscape glass dropped into the upper centre stack with a dedicated NAV/Map tile on the home screen.
Uconnect 4C NAV 12-inch (sales code UAX) - 12-inch portrait touchscreen with split-screen capability, GPS navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wired). Optional on Laramie, standard on Limited. Visual ID: large vertical 12-inch glass that fills the upper centre stack and can show two apps stacked on top of one another.
Quick test for the 2020 3500: 5-inch screen means UAG, 8.4-inch landscape means UAQ/UCQ, and a tall 12-inch portrait screen means UAX.
View the S/N via the Radio Screen
The method for 2020 Ram 3500 is this:
The 2020 Ram 3500 1-ton heavy-duty truck features the Uconnect 4C (RA4) 8.4" touchscreen in the HD's center stack. The serial number is accessible via Dealer Mode:
- Turn ignition to ACC or ON.
- Press the bottom-left and bottom-right corners of the physical screen bezel (plastic frame) at the same time for 5 seconds.
- Dealer Mode appears on the display.
- Select: System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number.
Note Dealer Mode could be disabled on some 2020 Ram 3500 units after a software update. If the bezel press fails, physical removal is the fallback.
Find Your Serial Number on the Radio Display
The 2020 Ram 3500 ships with Uconnect 4 hardware (8.4-inch UAQ/UCQ landscape and the optional 12-inch UAX portrait), and both touchscreens respond to a hidden dealer/diagnostic shortcut that prints the radio serial on screen - no head-unit removal required.
Switch the ignition to RUN/ACC and let the Uconnect interface finish booting.
Press and hold the driver-side temperature UP button, the driver-side temperature DOWN button and the front DEFROST button together for roughly 5-10 seconds until the dealer/engineering screen opens.
If the climate-button shortcut does nothing, press and hold the bottom-left and bottom-right corners of the screen at the same time for about 5-10 seconds.
Once inside the diagnostic interface, browse to the radio/system info section to read the serial number printed on screen.
Photograph the screen so each character can be transcribed without typos - treat 0/O, 1/I and B/8 carefully.
The 5-inch UAG base radio is much less consistent with the on-screen shortcut, so for that unit fall back on the chassis-label method described below.
3500's Hardware Label Method
If the serial number cannot be accessed via display, use the removal method.
Most Ram 3500 OEM radios include a label with the serial number printed on the chassis.
Steps:
- Switch off the vehicle.
- Remove the bezel surrounding the radio.
- Release the clips.
- Pull the unit outward to access the label.
The serial number is usually located near the printed code.
If Dealer Mode is unavailable on your 2020 Ram 3500, the radio must be removed to read the serial label:
- Turn off the vehicle.
- Pry off the center stack trim with a plastic pry tool. The 3500 HD's dash may have heavy-duty trim that requires steady pressure to release the friction clips.
- Unscrew the mounting screws (Torx T20 or T25) securing the radio.
- Pull the unit out to access the serial on the side or top of the chassis.
Wiring can remain connected while you note the serial.
Locate Serial on the Ram 3500's Radio Chassis
The factory radio in the 2020 Ram 3500 also carries a printed barcode/sticker label on the chassis. On the fifth-generation DT HD dash the head unit (especially the 12-inch portrait UAX/UBQ) sits inside a wide centre-stack bezel that integrates the screen surround with adjacent climate and storage trim, so the work needs to be done methodically.
Safety first: turn the ignition fully off, remove the key fob from the cabin, disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait at least 10-15 minutes before touching wiring so the SRS/airbag capacitors can discharge. Avoid yellow airbag/SRS connectors entirely and use plastic trim tools so nothing shorts or breaks.
Tools you will need: plastic trim/panel removal kit, T20 Torx bit, Phillips #2 screwdriver, 7mm socket and short extension, flashlight, clean microfibre to rest the bezel on.
Removal overview (2020 Ram 3500 dash): lift the rubber beauty pad on top of the centre stack to expose two T20 Torx screws and remove them; lift the rubber mat in the small cubby behind the 120V outlet to expose a third T20 Torx screw and remove that as well. With those three screws out, pull the centre-stack bezel rearward starting at the lower edge to release the spring clips around its perimeter. The bezel carries the hazard/HVAC switches, so unclip those harnesses before setting it aside on a clean cloth. Remove the four 7mm screws securing the radio cage to the dash support bracket, then slide the head unit straight rearward and disconnect the antenna lead and the multi-pin power/data connectors at the rear.
Where the serial sits: the serial number is printed on a barcode/sticker label on the top or one side of the radio chassis, alongside the part number and supplier markings. Photograph the label up close and double-check ambiguous characters such as 0/O, 1/I and B/8 before submitting the value.
Tips and professional advice: the 12-inch UAX/UBQ portrait head unit on the 3500 is deeply integrated into the wider centre-stack trim and shares hardware with the climate cluster, hazard switch and 120V outlet bezel - if the trim resists, stop and double-check for hidden screws rather than pulling harder. Owners who are not comfortable working around airbag wiring or releasing the wide integrated bezel should have a professional installer or dealer technician remove the unit instead; an experienced shop typically completes this in well under an hour.
Example: Ram 3500 serial number label location
What a Valid Serial Number Looks Like
The 2020 Ram 3500 Uconnect 4C (RA4) serial number formats:
T00AM– Harman Uconnect 4C (most common prefix)T00BE– Continental variantT0MYD– Newer Harman production (2020+)
Radio designation: RA4 (Uconnect 4C, 8.4"). Serial: 14 characters. The Ram 3500 shares the same RA4 platform as the 2500 HD.
Important Don't confuse the serial with the part number (P05064... or 68...). Only the 14-char serial generates the code.
Common S/N Formats Used on 2020 Ram 3500 Units
The factory radios fitted to the 2020 Ram 3500 use the standard Mopar/Uconnect head-unit serial style. The exact prefix depends on the Uconnect tier shipped with the truck and the supplier (Mitsubishi Electric, Continental, Harman or Visteon) that built the unit, so any prefix list found online should be treated as a guide rather than a strict rule.
Uconnect 4C 8.4 (UAQ / UCQ) and 12-inch UAX
Typically a 14-character alphanumeric string printed on the chassis label.
Commonly begins with T - frequent prefixes include T00AM, TM9 and TQ1 - or with A2C on Continental-built variants.
Usually a continuous run of letters and digits with no dashes or spaces.
Uconnect 3 / Uconnect 4 5-inch (UAG)
Usually carries a Mopar/Visteon or Panasonic-style serial on the chassis sticker, so the printed label on the unit itself is the authoritative reference.
Always copy the serial exactly as printed and avoid guessing characters that look unclear.
Entering Your Unlock Code
After locating the S/N and received the unlock code, the final step is entering it into your radio.
Ram OEM units display a ENTER CODE message when ready for input.
The process is simple, but button layouts and confirmation methods may change depending on the radio version installed in your 3500.
Detailed Entering Instructions for 3500 2020
To input the unlock code on the 2020 Ram 3500's Uconnect 4C:
- The 8.4" display displays "ENTER CODE" after a battery event.
- Tap the touchscreen keypad to enter each digit of the 4-digit code.
- The radio auto-unlocks after the 4th digit – nothing else needed.
Lockout Warning: 3 wrong attempts = 60-minute lockout. Keep ignition ON. Cycling the ignition resets the timer.
Correct Entering Process
Once the unlock code has been retrieved, the 2020 Ram 3500 Uconnect 4 head unit can be unlocked at the dash without a scan tool or dealer visit.
Limited Attempt Warning: Mopar/Uconnect head units only accept three incorrect tries before the radio enters a WAIT state. If the lockout activates, the radio must remain powered with the ignition in RUN for roughly 30 continuous minutes (the vehicle may be driven during this time) before another attempt is allowed. Repeated wrong-code lockouts can extend the wait significantly, so confirm every digit before pressing it.
Place the ignition in RUN/ACC so the radio powers up but the engine stays off.
Wait for the display to show CODE, Please enter Anti-Theft Code, or a similar prompt.
On the Uconnect 4C 8.4 (UAQ/UCQ) and 12-inch UAX, tap the on-screen number pad to enter each digit and confirm with the OK/Enter touch button.
On the 5-inch UAG base radio, use the numbered preset buttons (1-0) to key each digit of the code in sequence; confirm with the OK/Enter soft key if the unit prompts for it.
If WAIT appears after wrong attempts, leave the radio powered with the ignition in RUN for the documented cool-down period before trying the correct code again.
If a correct-looking code is rejected, double-check the radio serial that was used to retrieve the code, and that the VIN tied to the code matches the truck the radio is currently installed in - a VIN mismatch is the most common reason an apparently correct code is refused.
Understanding Unlock Issues with Your 3500
The Ram 3500's Uconnect 4C locks after 3 wrong entries. The screen continues to display "ENTER CODE" but ignores all input.
To reset: Keep ignition ON for a full 60 minutes. Any power interruption resets the timer. High-use work trucks must complete the full wait in one session.
The Uconnect 4C serial on the Ram 3500 can be read via Dealer Mode (System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number) or on the physical label on the unit housing after removal. Serial: 14 chars starting with T00AM, T00BE, or T0MYD.
Ignore the part number (P05... or 68...) on the same label.
A rejected code on the Ram 3500's Uconnect 4C usually means a serial number error. The RA4 label shows both the serial (T00AM, T00BE, or T0MYD, 14 chars) and the part number (P05... or 68...) — the serial alone generates the code.
Work truck labels may be hard to read in heavy-use environments. Wipe it down or photograph it. Reach out for a free re-check if needed.
The Ram 3500's Uconnect 4C uses touchscreen-only code entry — tap each digit on the on-screen number pad. No physical preset buttons are involved. The radio auto-unlocks after the last digit.
No code prompt means the Uconnect 4C isn't activated. Force the lock: pull the radio fuse and reinsert it, then turn ignition ON. The prompt shows on startup.