1989 ford ltd coded radio

there is no easy way to tell the code... they are coded accordingly...
if its an AWA with a joystick on it for tuning speakers then a modification can be done internally so it never asks for a code again... $20 modification if you are in Adelaide... if not then most good techs can bypass the code...

If it is the joystick model described above it is a very simple job with a soldering iron to remove the code for good.

There is an area of about 5 pairs of solder pads on the circuit board which are bridged in a certain way. If you remove all of the solder bridges you will remove the code.

The description above of the amount of solder pads is probably not 100% accurate. It has been a few years since I have looked at one but you get the idea.

While you are in there re solder all the dry solder joints. That model will have plenty of them.

From memory you only have to remove the bottom cover to access the circuit board.

no iot's not the joystick model i hav'nt had it out of the car so i have no idea of the make bit i can tell you it has numbered buttons 1 to 6 down the right hand side

Seagull, that sounds like its the Phillips model and the service manager at Metro Ford in Brissy used to just use the vehicle VIN and engine numbers to look up his data base. I believe ford radios are assigned a code from manufacture and it stays with it. Unlike Toyota ones that the dealer can use a generic code to reset the unit and they cannot give this out to the owner. You must bring it into the dealer and pay the $80 to have it reset.

I would try another Ford dealer (with all you details, rego and vin numbres) and see if you get the same lazy response, but I dont expect you would. There shouldnt be any reason they cant help you.

Goodluck
Matt.

Mazda used the last 4 digits of the VIN, maybe the ford one is the same

Cheers
Kev