How to unlock a GM radio 

I have a 2005 Chevy Colorado and I just pulled a radio out of a gmc envoy today and after seeing your video I took the cover off of it and took that chip out. It worked so thank you for that.

Worked for me! Old radio died and got replacement off Ebay. Hooked it up and said (LOCKED) . Watched this video and removed chip as discribed quiick easy fix. Thanks for the video.

Thanks for the info. I removed the chip and as others have stated it wouldn't hold the memory settings. So I took it one step further and removed the chip from the original radio and soldered it into the new one, and now everything works as it should. (Even had all my preset from the original radio)

If you want it to function without errors you need eprom programmer and erase eprom. When the blank eprom is learned with key on it will be reprogrammed by the can bus for that vin. If you change radios in different car you will have to erase eprom and when key is on it learns new vin. Only blank or erased eprom can be learned this way.

I could not read the numbers on the chip, but pulled the one that looked like your image... worked exactly as your video. Thanks Brutha!

What a simple fix. I pulled a radio out of a 2004 Suburban and put it in my 2004 GMC Sierra. Take the chrome side plate off the radio. Turn it over and use a screwdriver to pop off the edges of the cover. The correct side is the one without the CD player. You don't have to take the CD player out because the resistor is on the other side of the radio. The small black resistor is next to two orange resistors. I gently pulled of the black resistor, installed the radio then and I held down on the power button for a few seconds until the radio came on.

Dude, I love RU-vid so much. All you how to guys are so awesome. Yes this works. 07 pontiac grand prix. Locked. Popped this chip out and bam good to go... thank you so much

This is an Eprom chip. Electronic erasable programmable chip. By removing this, you can't store your stations, best bet is to resolver it, order a new one p/n AT24c08A in SOIC package (style) digikey. Can be remove by using an exact knife under each leg, apply slight up pressure and touch with a fine tip soldering iron, 25 watt as solder melts loose. Each leg will pop up. Remove chip, install new blank chip by placing squarely above the boards soldering tabs, in the correct orientation! Then touch each leg with the tip of the soldering iron. If done right, each leg will resolder back on with no need to add solder. Now you plug in your radio and your car's computer will see it blank and program your vehicles vin number and it will work correctly. This chip costs less than $4. Or buy a fancy eeprom reader writer.

Thanks for the GREAT 'hack' info, nice to know ! I have a 2003 Impala that has an issue with the CD player portion so I may have to replace the whole unit from a scrapyard so this info will surely come in handy ! I have a soldering iron, I am a PC and electronics tech and have replaced numerous DC jacks as well ! lol ! Thanks again brother !

carefully removed pin 8 using a jewelers screw driver , just pried it off without disturbing the pin next it , worked as advertised

This actually really works no lie i did this while driving!! I mean i already had the radio out but yea

I removed the chip. And my radio works! Thanks so much. Just wish I’d seen this three days ago lol. Wasted $62.50 twice trying to have it unlocked. But now I want to have someone remove my original eeprom chip from my radio from my truck. And install to this one. And see if the presets work. But this is a important. My tape player works too.

This summabitch just WORKED! Took a few minutes guessing which one but it looked the same, just different location on a 03 tahoe. Your the man!

Pulled the chip out of mine, same radio and chip location as in video. Now radio completely dead no lights no power. Oh well it was worth a try lol

It’s located upper right corner on the 6 cd changer models to anybody that can’t find it. Still reads same numbers on the chip. Also thank you, that’s what I was looking for. A physical way to get rid of it. If it’s that easy it’s not really stopping a thief is it? Lol

Thanks for the assistance in the destruction of my radio. Removal of the chip

Thanks bro, that "sum bih" works very well👍.

If you have a cd/radio that you want to unlock, this is the way to do it. It works for this style radio. If you are worried about your station pre-sets, maybe going to the stealership is your thing. If you don't mind the factory eq settings, and have to roll a knob once in a while to get a station, this is a 5 minute free pass. Thank you HackNpack shop

Aint no rust on this man of steel

Just done my 08 Colorodo and worked perfect and memory still works!!!!

Voila! Worked like a charm ,the best part about it is you givin us a part# ,can't go wrong,thanx brother,all the way from Chi-town ridin on the LSD.............

Thanks a million, I bought my stereo from a guy in OKC a few days back enroute to California from NJ after mine took a dump. I followed your works and it paid off. Muchos Gracias!!!

thank you sooooo much this work for my 2003 chevy surburban now i have my new radio on didnt have to pay 100 for the dealer to fix it great job

WOW! "Som'bitch" worked on my 2006 chevy silverado. mechanic wanted $150 to fix this. so glad you posted this video. thanks!

This process worked. The board looked different on my radio but it still worked. I removed the chip with the numbers "9355093" on it. Cons: radio does not hold the programmed stations. When vehicle is turned back on, radio defaults to preset fm station. So far it's not an issue but have to select which CD to play after each vehicle start-up.

Tryed it in the Netherlands on a 2002 Trans Sport/Versatrax Radio.Chip is located under the Antenna Plug Sure works.Voor de Nederlanders:Stekker los halen, contact uit zetten, Radio uit bouwen onderkant los halen chip zit onder de antenne plug in plastic geseald.Voorzichtig afbreken let op de andere chip er naast. Boel weer netjes in elkaar zetten en terug bouwen, contact aan radio werkt perfect :)

Thanks, I have a $60 paperweight now!

I don't know what half of y'all did wrong but we jest took a stereo out of an 2003 GMC Sierra and put it in an 2004 Chevy impala and it plays excellent, remains the pre sets and all the audio settings stayed the same as where we set them even after turning the vehicle on and off. in my opinion this way works jest fine unless you do what most of the people who left negative comments and ripped more than the one relay out and/or cracked the mother board. strongly recommend as long as it's the same model and mother board

Thanks a lot i have an 07 Trailblazer with a 08 bose radio. I pull the chip out and now everything works like a charm. Save me a goo $100.00 at the dealer.

Sumbitch u got it working. U got my follow. Love it!!😂😂

Thanks alot it works you saved me money on a loose truck I'm loosing money on already thanks alan

damn its easy to do!!! damn now my radio doesn't wanna turn on anymore!!! thanks bro

How do I know what chip to remove? My circuit board looks slightly different

Hot Damn, it worked. I had a different circuit board, out of a 05 Buick Lesabre. I looked for the chip marked 9355093 and removed it. Thanks! Merry Christmas!

This worked great only problem is after I let the vehicle sit for more than 5 minutes my presets and EQ settings get reset. any ideas on how to fix this?

Thank you I watched like 20 of utubes you has the simplest and best understanding one out of all of then

This actually worked! Thanks man!

I was very skeptical, but it works. I did not have to remove the cd player. The chip was on the bottom. but it is great. Thankssssssss....

Yes it’ll work. You have to reprogram your radio every time you switch off the key though.

Well I'll be...sumbatchit actually worked on my radio..didn't need to call around for codes..thanks man..

Thanks so much for your info, it really was easy and I am a woman and could do it. thank you for sharing. Plattenville, La.

i just watched your video that shit worked like a champ thanks for the good info man it literally took 10 mins and now ive got tunes

Work great!!! it works better on the older models...2001-2004

Just did it on a 03 Tahoe Bose radio. Worked great radio is on thanks

Can't thank you enough for this, worked like a charm!!!

My 2009 Silverado radio failed, truck would not start unless radio was disconnected,gages all wacko. I purchased same radio from wreckers, removed chip from old radio placed in new radio. Sum Bitch all is well. Thanks

pretty cool. I watched your video and it made me decide to go with buying a factory radio to replace mine. I'll let you know if it works. I'm hoping that your video gave me the tips I'll need to get the new radio working. Thanks!

You can scan and reprogram vin with a 20$ usb tool from eBay and some free software. There is a RU-vid video for a gm Camaro radio swap to equinox that will lay it all out for you. With this method you lose memory from the radio. With the other you retain all

Thanks! I had a 2006 GM Radio with a different layout but I looked for the chip 9355093 as you illustrated, popped it off, works like a champ. Thanks!

I took my chip off and now my freak radio doesn't work anymore

It works. Took me all of 20 mins

Just got done doing this i was scared at first but, it worked !

it works , but you loose preset memory after about 5 min with the ignition off. Skip to 2:30 to avoid the chit chat. thanks for the info tho. just going to use my yard sale radio for parts & fix my factory one.

I just wanted to say thank you sir. This video was just what I was looking for. Thanks for taking the time to make it.

I just did this and it Worked!!!!! thanks 4 the video!!!

I wanted to see you take the chip out of the impala radio because that’s the one I have in my truck

Excellent! Worked as advertised.

I cracked the top half off the chip and tried it, the radio works and the memory seems to work also.

Worked for me, no problems. 2011 Chevy Colorado

Same chip number on a 2004 cavalier stock radio, has it removed but it still isn't working (now displays Err and stills not turn on or either setting the clock). Previously had tried lv2 scanner and it shows eeprom error, tried to reset it and reconfigure, but everytime had the same error. Maybe the radio was already damaged and the final destination to be an useless thing was to remove eeprom chip. Anyway thanks for your video!

didn't work for me, just says "ERROR" on my Impala.

they used to do that to the robot on lost in space,,,

Just did it in my 2012 Chevy Colorado words great just no present

Thanks..worked for me, had to look around for chip, was in different place on board..the only thing with this is it does not save preset channels. .but hey got a working radio.

Never just pull a chip out of a circuit board like that. Chances are you will rip the circuit tracks right off the circuit board. Always unsolder it first. Know what you are do or risk totally destroying the radio.

New saying for ta proposed book entitled "The Art of War Against Broke Stuff" ..... "The RIGHT tool for the job is the one you can find and make do with"

is this Peter Griffin in real life?

Glad to see that you are posting vids again.

It really worked for me. I just can't set the time. Just gonna have to wait till 12 o'clock to plug it in to fix the time

Ay that shit worked! I gave my co worker the stock radio from my 04 Tahoe, the chip wasn't in the same spot as in the video but I found it

Waiting for him to say "in my van down by the river" 😂😂😂

Thank you brother 4 saving us some money and 4 the tip.

you are freekin awesome man. and i love the way you talk in the whole video, LOL

Thanks Dude! We owe you a beer!

I understand that in most cases this procedure will work. However, you will lose your presets and clock drops back to 12:00 once ignition is off for a period of time. Can you swap the chip from your old factory stereo to a different factory stereo to prevent this constant resetting?

That’s called a eprom chip. You can use a heat gun to remove it. Advise just swapping them over, that way everything is proper. Radio will not read a vin if removed

Thanks!! That old son of a sea biscuit trick worked!

Thanks a lot If the eeprom has problems it may make the radio no output sound from it !?

Thanks boss first video to actually help!

That's awesome. I have a similar stereo out of a 2007 Grand Prix. I replaced with one from an auto wrecker. Can I use the same trick? Is there a different chip I need to remove? Mine shows LOCKED

How to tell ... look at the video and then go for it. If you pull the wrong one you are screwed and if you get the right one it works...that's how you tell ...life is so tough

I need to unlock a 2007 chevy truck radio, will this work on this year model?

thanks for posting this unlock modification it worked for me!

A side effect is that it will lose the memory settings every time you turn the truck off. The clock resets too. It does work though.

thanks sum bitchh it worked great you rock brother, half the lights on face of radio blacked out besides that perfect

It works I have a 2003 s10 👍 The chip is positioned different position on my radio.

Sumbitch"...lmao love it

This was very helpful video... thank you sooo much

Thank you for this!! Watched this Vido Did as you sugested. But, My chip Busted in Half With the bottom half rememing soldered in Place. Everything works Pre set taype Ec. The only thing is the CD player. I believe My 2003 2500 Sliverado is not wired for it. My RDS replacement Radio (from A 2004 2500 chev) Has 2 Female plugins. The pickup only has A large White one with 7 wires total. I looked & looked for the other thinking in could have been tied back in there somewhere but could not fined it. Is it possible to wire in A new plug so the CD player will work?

Will it work on a 2006 Chevy impala factory radio cause it looks way different

Good to see a vid it has been a bit

Do they sell that "sum bitch" tool at Harbor Freight Tools? =)

Worst video of 2019 ... but in 2013 this shit was dope lol

This trick may work on some radios. Did not work on my 2005 Chevy. Radio says err now. Removed the same chip as video.

yes,but thats for the pre 2003 radios..they are different..in 2003 and up the radios worked with the pcm

sweet thanks it worked now if only there was an easy fix for the cd player not taking in cds

I bought a radio off of Ebay to put in my Chevy Colorado. I ended up having to take it to the dealership to have it programed . They said it recognizes the VIN number.

nice truck and radio am liking it

Dealer cost is $150 to program, it is auto locked whenever you remove it

thats pretty cool! i know some stereos get locked with a CD inside...