I have an '89 GTA with a stock radio.
The problem is that it has the delco-loc feature, that when the battery is disconnected, then the radio goes into delco-loc mode(for anti-theivery purposes), where the display says "LOC", and the radio is litterally locked up. I know there is some combination of buttons to push, because I did it before, but now I forgot how to unlock the delco-loc feature. On an old post I saw where someone suggested pushing the MUTE button on the steerring column, I don't even now for sure that the steerring column buttons even ever worked on my car anyhow.

 

AFAIK you have to contact a GM dealer to get the code.

 

It can be unlocked without the dealer. I read somewhere about the wheel buttons too.. but I thought it was the lower left middle button. Although mine is in loc right now and I can't get it out either... but I never drive the car so it doesnt matter right now.

Last time it did it I left it alone and eventually the radio worked again. It was odd.

The buttons light up w/ the lights... if they don't light up, then they probably don't work... heheh.


-Bud

 

I fidgited (messed with) with the buttons on the lower left hand side of the radio controls, and now it works!! Don't know exactly what I did, or if the radio comes backs out of delco-loc mode on it's own after a set period of time. It had been about a week since I disconnected and re-inserted the battery.

Thanks for the help.

 

fyi you hold the mute button on steering wheel

 

Every time the radio has no electricity (like when you disconect the battery.) & the memory gets erased the radio goes in to loc mode & you need the wheel control to unlock it. The "mute" button is the one that will do the trick.

 

Hey Guys,
My 89GTA has the radio "loc" also and I've tried pushing the MUTE button as indicated in the manual and NO LUCK! I also went to the dealer about, they messed with it for about ahour or more, couldn't get it to work and didn't charge me labor. The comment made was that my radio was not the original radio that came with the car. I think they bull****ted me? Any solutions or recommendations on fixing this would be appreciated. Thanks

 

My Steering column controls don.t work. I just wait about a week, and think it starts working on it's own, or maybe I hit the right combo of buttons on the radio.

 

The steering wheel controls are notiorous for flaking out. The ONLY way to get the radio out of LOC mode is to push the mute button. It has been known to work on it's own, but thats usually after the car is driving around. When you turn the wheel the radio may get the mute signal even though the buttons were not pushed. The contacts get gunked up and the actual button assembly as been known to go bad. Just the joys of early stereo controls. Newer ones work totally different.

 

I've had my battery disconnected 10-15 times, the steering wheel controls have never worked, and my radio always eventually works 1-2 weeks after the battery isdisconnected. I'm driving around during the 1-2 weeks

 

Aren't steering wheel contols great. And to think I went out of my way to put this factory system in my T/A

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW

 

Or you could just call the free number yourself like I did. Our bonneville loc'd up after the fuel pressure regulator developed a vacuum leak (factory problem). I called a number I found on the net after some searching and used a dealer number I also looked up. About 5 minutes later I knew the exact code to unlock the radio. I've seen forums talk about dealerships charging $100+ for this service, because they say it'll take over an hour to fix.

http://www.autoforumz.com/-Unlocking...pict58589.html

I hate when people sell free information on ebay.

 

Way to dig up old posteds to use as adds.

 

I wasn't trying to sell anything, bought a newer Delco stereo off of Ebay to put in the Camaro and thought I might need to decode the theftloc.
Found those services on Ebay, did not find the free answer and noticed the question was asked quite a bit on the boards and was trying to help.

 

If the E-Bay add it’s by you, for you, or you making a profit I apologize.

 

Thanks for the mute button tip
Fixed mine, but need to find out if the antenna is disconnected.

 

is your radio only givin you nothing but white noise static

 

I'm betting that sometime during the past 5 years, he either got it figured out, or he replaced the radio (the post you replied to was from 2017)