2013 Ram 5500 Radio Units by Manufacturer
Not sure which radio you have? Match the screen and buttons against the 2013 Ram 5500 radios below. Each page lists the serial format and identification tips.
How to Get Your 2013 Ram 5500 Radio Code
Getting your radio code takes only a few simple steps.
- Find 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. - When you've found the S/N, type it into the form above.
Our system checks it against a database of supported radios and automatically catches the matching anti-theft code. - In most cases, the code appears 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 the code, just enter it into your radio to restore the functionality.
Inputting the Security Code
When you obtain the correct unlock code based on the S/N, you can restore default functionality by entering it into the unit.
The code entry process depends on the control layout, but most 2013 5500 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 ENTER CODE displayed on screen.
Correct Entering Process
To type in the unlock code on the 2013 Ram 5500:
- Turn ignition to ON. The radio display displays "ENTER CODE" or "CODE".
- Touchscreen models (8.4" Uconnect): Use 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 stay ON. Heavy-duty trucks that frequently have battery service 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 5500 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.
Can't Find Your Radio Serial Number? Follow These Steps for Ram 5500 2013
The important fact to know is that factory radios use a specific serial number to identify each unit.
Your anti-theft system matches 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 retrieve it even if you have a radio that you installed afterwards.
Depending on the maker and radio installed in your Ram 5500, the access method is different.
Here are the best ways to find it.
Factory Radios on the 2013 Ram 5500
The 2013 Ram 5500 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.
Find the Serial via the Radio Display
Try the following for your 2013 Ram 5500:
The 2013 Ram 5500 heavy-duty truck uses the same Uconnect infotainment system as the Ram 1500. Depending 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): Hold the Climate Up, Climate Down, and Front Defrost buttons at the same time for 5 seconds to access Dealer Mode. Then go to: System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number.
For base Uconnect: Dealer Mode is not supported. Physical removal is required to read the serial label.
Read the S/N Directly From the Touchscreen
If your 2013 Ram 5500 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 5500. If the hidden menu does not bring up a serial entry on those radios, the chassis-label method described below is the dependable fallback.
5500's Hardware Label Method
If the serial number cannot be accessed on-screen, use the hardware method.
Most Ram 5500 OEM radios include a tag with the serial number printed on the chassis.
Process details:
- Ensure the ignition is off.
- Gently detach surrounding dashboard trim.
- Loosen screws holding the radio.
- Slide outward to inspect the label.
To remove the radio from the 2013 Ram 5500:
- Turn off the vehicle and disconnect the negative battery cable as a precaution.
- Detach the center stack trim bezel using a plastic pry tool. Ram heavy-duty trucks tend to have thicker trim pieces compared to lighter models.
- Unscrew the four Torx T20 screws securing the radio to the dash bracket.
- Pull the radio forward and find the serial label on the unit housing.
HD Truck Note: Work truck trims of the 2013 5500 may have a simpler center stack that makes radio removal quicker than premium configurations.
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 5500.
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 5500 serial number label location
These are the Common Serial Formats
The 2013 Ram 5500 uses the same radio components 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 5500 may have: RA2 (4.3" base), RA1 (5.0"), RA3 (8.4" Classic), or RA4 (8.4" 4C, 2019+). Serial is 14 characters.
Reminder The serial number starts with a letter prefix (T00AM, T00BE, etc.) – do not confuse it with the radio part number (starts with P05064 or 68).
Common Serial Number Patterns on This Truck
The 2013 Ram 5500 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.
Understanding Unlock Issues with Your 5500
The Uconnect locks after 3 wrong entries. The display still shows "ENTER CODE" or "CODE" but won't register all input.
To reset: Ignition ON, 60 full minutes without cutting power. Fleet-managed heavy-duty trucks used in rotation must finish the full wait in one sitting. Turning off the ignition restarts the 60-minute timer.
No code prompt means power hasn't been interrupted. To force the code screen: briefly disconnect the battery, then restore power and turn ignition ON. The "ENTER CODE" screen shows on startup.
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 physical label on the radio chassis.
Serial: 14 chars starting with T00AM, T00BE, TM9, or T0MYD. Don't confuse this with the part number (P05... or 68...).
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...). Only the serial generates the unlock code.
Work truck radios often have hard-to-read labels. Clean the label before reading, or photograph it and zoom in to check every digit.
HD Ram code entry depends on radio trim: 8.4" Uconnect (RA3/RA4) uses touchscreen-only entry — tap each digit on the virtual number pad. Base Uconnect (RA1/RA2) uses preset buttons 1–4 to cycle each digit, then Enter/OK to confirm.
What Caused the Radio to Lock?
Uconnect locks automatically after any power interruption. HD Ram trucks see this more than most because battery work is routine in construction and commercial fleets.
Common causes:
- Battery replacement — the most frequent trigger
- Blown fuse — common after accessory installation
- Buying the truck pre-owned without any unlock documentation
- Battery fully drained from seasonal downtime
The code is derived from the radio's serial number — not the truck's VIN.