Can't Locate Your Radio S/N? Follow These Steps for Ram 5500 2020
The useful thing to know is that factory radios use a unique serial number to identify each unitindividually.
Your security system links the code directly to this serial.
Unlike vehicle-specific data like VIN or registration info, 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 manufacturer and radio installed in your Ram 5500, the access method varies.
These are the most reliable ways to locate it.
2020 Ram 5500 - Which Radio Did You Get?
The 2020 Ram 5500 - 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 5500: 5-inch screen means UAG, 8.4-inch landscape means UAQ/UCQ, and a tall 12-inch portrait screen means UAX.
Fast Serial Lookup Using Radio Controls
Try the following for your 2020 Ram 5500:
The 2020 Ram 5500 severe-duty commercial chassis features the Uconnect 4C (RA4) 8.4" touchscreen fitted in the work cab. The serial number is retrievable via Dealer Mode:
- Turn ignition to ACC or ON.
- Press the bottom-left and bottom-right corners of the physical screen bezel (plastic frame, not glass) at the same time for 5 seconds.
- Dealer Mode appears on the display.
- Navigate to: System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number.
Note Dealer Mode may be restricted on some 2020 5500 units after a software update. If the bezel press fails, physical removal is required.
Find Your Serial Number on the Radio Display
The 2020 Ram 5500 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.
Serial Number on the Unit
If the serial number cannot be accessed through menu, use the hardware method.
Most Ram 5500 OEM radios include a tag with the serial number printed on the housing.
Basic process:
- Remove key from ignition.
- Lift away surrounding panel pieces.
- Loosen screws holding the radio.
- Move slightly to inspect the label.
If Dealer Mode is not accessible on your 2020 Ram 5500, the radio needs to be removed to access the serial label:
- Turn off the vehicle.
- Remove the surrounding bezel with a plastic pry tool. The 5500's heavy-duty cab trim has friction clips – start at the bottom.
- Remove the mounting screws (Torx T20 or T25).
- Pull the unit out to read the serial label on the top of the chassis.
Cables don't need to be unplugged while you read the serial.
Locate Serial on the Ram 5500's Radio Chassis
The factory radio in the 2020 Ram 5500 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 5500 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 5500 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 5500 serial number label location
How Serial Numbers Usually Look on These 5500 Radios
The 2020 Ram 5500 Uconnect 4C (RA4) serial number formats:
T00AM– Harman Uconnect 4C (primary prefix)T00BE– Continental variantT0MYD– Updated Harman production (2020+)
Radio designation: RA4 (Uconnect 4C, 8.4"). Serial: 14 characters. The Ram 5500 chassis cab uses the same RA4 infotainment as the 3500 and 4500.
Important The serial is not the same as the part number (P05064... or 68...). Only the 14-char serial generates the code.
Common S/N Formats Used on 2020 Ram 5500 Units
The factory radios fitted to the 2020 Ram 5500 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.
Final Step - Enter the Radio Code
Once the system gives you 2020 Ram 5500 unlock code from the serial number, you're ready to reactivate the radio.
Many drivers get stuck at this stage because input process can look different across radio versions, but it's usually quick.
When the radio shows ENTER CODE, it means the unit is waiting for the correct numbers.
Step-by-Step - Correct Entering Process
Entering the unlock code on the 2020 Ram 5500's Uconnect 4C:
- The 8.4" screen shows "ENTER CODE" after a battery event.
- Tap the touchscreen keypad to enter each digit of the 4-digit code.
- The radio restores after the 4th digit – nothing else needed.
Lockout Warning: 3 wrong attempts = 60-minute lockout. Keep ignition ON. Turning off the ignition restarts the wait.
Correct Entering Process
Once the unlock code has been retrieved, the 2020 Ram 5500 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.
Unlock Your 2020 Ram 5500 Radio in Minutes - How It Works
Getting your radio code takes only 4 easy steps.
- Locate the radio's serial - this is the only information required to generate the correct unlock code.
Unlike when contacting the dealer, 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 for backup.
If we need to check it manually, you'll be informed before checkout. - Once you get it, just enter it into your radio to restore the functionality.
Fixing Common Code Entry Problems for 2020 5500
A rejected code on the Ram 5500's Uconnect 4C usually means a serial number error. The RA4 label shows the serial (T00AM, T00BE, or T0MYD, 14 chars) and the part number (P05... or 68...) — the serial alone generates the code.
Commercial-use labels can be worn or dirty. Photograph the label to verify each character. Reach out for a free re-check if needed.
The Ram 5500's Uconnect 4C enters lockout after 3 wrong entries. The screen keeps showing "ENTER CODE" but ignores all input.
To reset: Keep ignition ON for a full 60 minutes. Any power interruption resets the timer. Fleet-managed vehicles must complete the full wait without interruption.
No code prompt means the Uconnect 4C isn't locked. Force the lock: pull the radio fuse and reinsert it, then turn ignition ON. The prompt shows on startup.
The Uconnect 4C serial on the Ram 5500 is accessible via Dealer Mode (System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number) or on the barcode sticker on the unit housing after removal. Serial: 14 chars starting with T00AM, T00BE, or T0MYD.
Do not use the part number (P05... or 68...) on the same label.
The Ram 5500's Uconnect 4C uses touchscreen-only code entry — tap each digit on the virtual number pad. No physical preset buttons are involved. The radio auto-unlocks after the last digit.
Why Did the Radio Lock and Ask for a Code?
The Ram 5500's Uconnect 4C locks automatically after the battery is disconnected or replaced. Severe-duty chassis cab owners see this primarily due to:
- Battery replacement during service — primary cause. The largest chassis cabs run significant accessory loads that wear batteries faster.
- Commercial upfit electrical work — 5500 chassis cabs receive bodies, cranes, or service equipment which often requires disconnecting the battery, activating the anti-theft.
- A failed radio fuse — frequent in commercial vehicles.
- Buying pre-owned without the code.
The code is tied to the radio's serial number — not the VIN.