Toyota and Lexus units unlocked online — free from the 16-character ERC number the screen shows, instantly if you would rather not wait.
The quick way — the ERC number. Japanese-built navigation and audio units show it themselves, so nothing has to come out of the dash: press and hold the main button on the unit, switch the parking lights on and off three or four times, then press the one button that lights up on screen.
The screen then shows a 16-character number made of digits and the letters A–F, for example 10184525289BA354. Type it in exactly — that is all we need.
Older units. If your radio never shows an ERC number, the serial is on the label on the casing and the unit has to come forward out of the dash — most are held by four screws behind the trim panels. That format we cannot work out yet, and we would rather say so than guess; send it over anyway and we will tell you the moment it is covered.
Not sure which number is the serial? Email us a photo of the label and we will pick it out for you.
16 characters, digits and A–F. Nothing to remove from the dash:
10184525289BA354
Older units: the serial is on the casing label — copy it exactly as printed.