Radio Saver

[KSMITH1@mailgw.sanders.lockheed.com]

In a previous digest, Ian says:

From: "Duff, Ian" <iduff@charter.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 13:55:33 -0400
Subject: RE: Question re: Radio security codes

My Bentley shows a VAG or Snap-On (prolly worth $122.50) tool to
maintain radio codes that consists of a cigarette lighter plug like any
that you would power a 12v accessory with attached to a 9v battery (the
one with snaps on the end). Seems if you run 9v into the cigarette
lighter rather than pulling 12v from it, the radio doesn't get
lobotomized. Not sure of polarity, picture in Bentley doesn't show.

You can get your radio de-coded at the, gulp, dealer.



I would strongly suspect that the positive from the tool battery goes 
to positive in the cigarette lighter.  But, to keep the car from 
charging the tool battery, there must be a diode in series with the 
tool output.  Just a guess.  Consider, that if you cause any other 
circuit to turn on, the drain might effectively short the tool and 
cause the very effect you are trying to avoid, a duh radio.  Maybe the 
Bentley manuals add additional advise here.

***                 ...Kirby    (Kirby A. Smith)                 ***
***              ksmith1@mailgw.sanders.lockheed.com             ***
***              [=]    kirby.smith@lmco.com                     ***
***  Opinions expressed herein are entirely those of the author. ***