How to enter a Ford 4500 RDS radio code
The 4500 RDS, 5000 RDS and other Ford radios of about 1995 to 2006 with six preset buttons, in the Fiesta, Ka, Puma, Focus Mk1, Mondeo and Transit. On these, presets 1 to 4 set the digits and preset 5 confirms.
Type it and every step uses your own digits. It stays on this page.
Switch the radio on. CODE shows with four dashes flashing.
Every step
Checked against Ford's audio handbook for the 5000 and 6006 radios. The 4500 follows the same family.
If it locks
After a wrong code the display shows how many tries you have used. If it shows WAIT 30, the radio is counting down 30 minutes: leave it switched on until CODE comes back. Ten wrong codes bring up LOCKED. What each lockout screen means
A 1500 RDS or a 2050?
Those confirm differently. The 1500 RDS confirms with the AM/FM button. On the 2050 the arrow keys set each digit and preset 1 confirms.
Display says LOCKED or LOCK 10?
Ford's handbook says the radio is locked for good at this point and has to go to a dealer. Some owners report that holding preset 6 while switching the radio on gives three more tries. Ford does not document that, and it does not work on every radio.
