How fast will I get my unlock code for my 2018 Ram 4500?

You'll usually get your Ram 4500 code in seconds. Rare Ram cases may take up to 24 hours.

Is there a money-back guarantee in case the code fails?

We offer a full refund if the code doesn't work. Verification is quick and easy. See our Refund Policy for full details.

How to Get 2018 Ram 4500 Radio Code [Fast]

2018 Ram 4500 Head Units We Support

Not sure which radio you have? Compare your screen and faceplate with the 2018 Ram 4500 radios below. Each page lists the serial prefixes and how to tell it apart.

Uconnect 5.0 RA2 VP2 Continental - 2014-2018

Uconnect 8.4 RA3 VP3 NA Harman - 2013-2018

Uconnect 8.4 RA4 VP4 NA Harman - 2014-2018

Chrysler Uconnect 8.4 Panasonic - 2013-2018

Why Did the Radio Lock and Ask for a Code?

Uconnect locks automatically after losing power. Commercial vehicles are particularly prone to this because batteries are replaced as part of regular fleet maintenance.

Common causes:

Battery replacement — the most frequent trigger
Failed fuse — especially after upfit installation
Buying the truck auction without the code
Battery completely discharged from storage

The code is specific to the radio's serial number — not the truck's VIN.

How to Find the Serial Number on Your 2018 Ram 4500 Radio?

The first step is locating the radio serial number.

Most 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 even better, because if you have an aftermarket radio, the VIN or other vehicle-specific data wouldn't be of much use.

Depending on the radio version used, you may be able to retrieve the serial directly from the display or by looking at the label on the radio chassis.

Factory Radios on the 2018 Ram 4500

The 2018 Ram 4500 is the final model year of the 4th-generation HD truck before the 2019 redesign, and the radio fleet remains the same Uconnect family that has been on offer since 2013. Four head units were available, depending on trim and option boxes.

Uconnect 3.0 / RA1 - base AM/FM/CD radio on fleet Tradesman builds. Small monochrome strip display, hard knobs, no touchscreen.
Uconnect 5.0 / RA2 - 5-inch colour touchscreen, common on Tradesman and entry SLT. AM/FM, Bluetooth, USB and aux. No CD slot, no NAV button.
Uconnect 8.4 / RA3 - 8.4-inch landscape touchscreen, optional on SLT and standard on Laramie. Capacitive shortcut row across the bottom of the display, no Nav tile on the home screen.
Uconnect 8.4N / RA4 - same 8.4-inch hardware as the RA3 with the Garmin-based navigation database enabled. A Nav tile sits on the home screen and a SiriusXM Traffic/Travel Link badge appears at startup. Standard on Longhorn, optional on most other trims.

Quick tell: no screen = RA1; 5-inch screen = RA2; 8.4-inch screen with no Nav tile = RA3; 8.4-inch screen with a Nav tile = RA4. The sales code is printed on the label on top of the radio chassis.

Display-Based Serial Number Retrieval

Try the following for your 2018 Ram 4500:

The 2018 Ram 4500 heavy-duty truck uses the same Uconnect infotainment system as the Ram 1500. Based on trim level, it may have a Uconnect 3.0/5.0" (base trims) or Uconnect 8.4" (upper trims).

For 8.4" Uconnect (RA3): Press and hold the Climate Up, Climate Down, and Front Defrost buttons at the same time for 5 seconds to open Dealer Mode. Then go to: System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number.

For base Uconnect: Dealer Mode is not available. Physical removal is necessary to find the serial label.

Read the S/N From the Radio Display

For 2018 Ram 4500 trucks fitted with the 8.4-inch Uconnect, the unit supports a hidden dealer/diagnostic menu that displays the radio's internal serial number on screen - much faster than dropping the head unit out of the dash. The smaller RA1 and RA2 radios do not have a reliably documented on-screen serial readout for this generation.

Uconnect 8.4 (RA3) and Uconnect 8.4N (RA4)

Place the ignition in the RUN position so the 8.4-inch touchscreen is fully booted.
Press and hold the driver's temperature UP, temperature DOWN and front DEFROST buttons together for around 7 seconds.
When the dealer/diagnostic menu opens, 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 leading letters such as T00AM or TM9.
Press Done, or cycle the ignition off/on, to leave the menu.

Uconnect 5.0 (RA2) and Uconnect 3.0 (RA1)

An equivalent on-screen serial-number readout for these smaller radios is not consistently documented.
If the dealer-mode shortcut does not surface a serial entry, the chassis-label method is the dependable fallback.

Check the Serial by Pulling Out the Unit

If the serial number cannot be accessed through menu, use the pull-out method.

Most Ram 4500 original radios include a tag with the serial number printed on the casing.

Step-by-Step:

Switch off the vehicle.
Detach the trim surrounding the radio.
Loosen the clips.
Slide the unit outward to access the label.

The serial number is usually located near the manufacturer sticker.

To remove the radio from the 2018 Ram 4500:

Switch off the vehicle and remove the negative battery cable as a precaution.
Pry off the center stack trim bezel using a plastic pry tool. Ram heavy-duty trucks may have thicker trim pieces compared to lighter models.
Unscrew the four Phillips mounting screws securing the radio to the mounting frame.
Slide the radio out and read the serial label on the unit housing.

HD Truck Note: Commercial trims of the 2018 4500 may have a simpler dash layout that makes radio removal quicker than Laramie or Limited trims.

Taking Out the Radio to View the S/N

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 2018 Ram 4500.

Safety preparation

Turn the ignition fully off and remove the key.
Disconnect the negative terminal of the 12V battery.
Wait several minutes before working near the dash so airbag circuits can fully discharge.
Avoid pulling on yellow airbag wiring while removing trim.

Tools to have ready

Plastic trim/panel pry tools to release the bezel without marks.
A T20 Torx driver for the bezel screws hidden behind the rubber beauty plates at the top of the bezel.
A Phillips driver for the two 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.
A phone/camera to photograph the chassis label clearly.

Removal overview

At the top of the dash bezel, lift the rubber RAM-branded beauty plate with a fingernail or plastic pick to reveal two T20 Torx screws and back them out.
Lift the rubber pad inside the cubby above the centre HVAC vents to reveal a single T20 screw and remove it.
If the truck has the centre floor console, lift the rubber pad at the front of the console well and remove the two Phillips screws underneath.
Starting at a lower edge, gently pry the bezel outward; it is held by retaining clips. Walk the tool around the perimeter to release each clip.
Pull the bezel forward and unplug any small switch/HVAC connectors on its back.
Undo the four 7 mm screws now visible at the corners of the radio chassis.
Slide the head unit out and unplug the main wiring harness and antenna lead.

Where the serial sits

Look for a printed label on the metal housing - typically on the top or side face of the chassis.
Copy the long alphanumeric string next to the barcode and double-check ambiguous characters (O vs 0, I vs 1).

Tips

Photograph the label so the serial is preserved as a permanent reference.
Reinstallation is the reverse: harnesses on, four 7 mm screws home, bezel pressed in until each clip seats, T20 and Phillips screws restored, then reconnect the battery.

Ram 4500 2018 radio serial number label location

Example: Ram 4500 serial number label location

Typical Serial Number Examples for 2018 4500

The 2018 Ram 4500 features the same radio platform as other Ram trucks. Serial number prefixes:

T00AM – Harman Uconnect (most common prefix)
T00BE – Continental Uconnect version
TM9 – Older Harman production
T0MYD – Recent Harman units (later model years)

The 2018 4500 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 code prefix (T00AM, T00BE, etc.) – do not confuse it with the FCA/Stellantis part number (starts with P05064 or 68).

Typical Serial Number Examples on This Truck

The 2018 Ram 4500 could leave the factory with several different Uconnect head units, each from a different supplier, so the serial-number format depends on which radio is in your truck. The patterns below are the ones most often reported for this generation.

Continental-supplied Uconnect 8.4 (RA3 / RA4)

Often start with a T00AM prefix followed by a numeric tail, for example a string resembling T00AM1234567.
The prefix is printed inline with the rest of the serial on the chassis label.

Panasonic-supplied Uconnect units

Frequently 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 fit any of these patterns, double-check that you have copied 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.

Got the Code? Here's How to Enter It

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 2018 4500 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 4500 2018

To input the unlock code on the 2018 Ram 4500:

Turn ignition to ON. The radio display displays "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 cycle to each digit, then press Enter/OK to confirm.

Lockout: Three failed attempts = 60-minute lockout. Ignition must remain ON. Heavy-duty trucks that frequently have battery service may encounter this lock more often.

Step-by-Step Code Input on the 2018 Ram 4500

Once the correct anti-theft code for your 2018 Ram 4500 radio is in hand, entry is fast - but the radio will lock you out for half an hour if you keep guessing, so verify the code 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. Switching the key off does not shortcut 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 the digits using the on-screen keypad.
On the base Uconnect 3.0 (RA1), enter the four-digit code using the 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 from the serial.
If WAIT appears, leave the radio powered for the full 30 minutes before retrying.

How the Code Retrieval Process Works for Ram 4500 2018

Skip long troubleshooting discussions or service visits - you can generate the code online using the radio S/N.
First locate your radio's serial. It is always present on the unit itself, and in some cases it can be visible on the 4500's display.
Type it into the field above, and our system will generate the correct 2018 4500 unlock code.
After receiving your code, type it in using 4500's radio controls to release the blockade successfully.
The entire process takes just a short moment and requires minimal effort.

4500 2018 Common Radio Problems

HD Ram trucks have a mix of radios (RA1/RA2/RA3/RA4 depending on trim and year). Each unit's label contains both the serial (14 chars: T00AM, T00BE, TM9, or T0MYD prefix) and the part number (P05... or 68...). Only the serial generates the unlock code.

W/T radios often have hard-to-read labels. Wipe it down before reading, or take a picture and zoom in to verify each character.

The Uconnect enters lockout after 3 wrong entries. The display keeps showing "ENTER CODE" or "CODE" but won't register all input.

To reset: Ignition ON, 60 full minutes without cutting power. Commercial heavy-duty trucks that get turned off frequently must complete the full wait without power interruption. Cycling the ignition restarts the 60-minute timer.

HD Ram code entry varies by radio trim: 8.4" Uconnect (RA3/RA4) uses touchscreen-only entry — tap each digit on the on-screen keypad. Base Uconnect (RA1/RA2) uses preset buttons 1–4 to cycle 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. Don't confuse this with the part number (P05... or 68...).

No code prompt means the anti-theft hasn't triggered yet. To trigger it: pull the radio fuse and reinsert it, then restore power and turn ignition ON. The "ENTER CODE" screen shows on startup.