I replaced the battery in my 2004 Honda Element and now my radio needs a code to work again. I bought the car used and never got any code. I've looked in several places where I read the code is sometimes found...fuse cover, glove box, etc. but no luck. I have the radio serial number.

IF YOU BOUGHT NEW THERE IS A CARD WITH THE CODE ON IT WITH YOUR OWNERS MANUEL IF NOT THERE YOU'LL NEED TO TAKE IT TO YOUR DEALER. THEY WILL PULL THE RADIO AND GET SER.# CALL IN AND GET THR CODE. THEN YOU PUNCH IT IN USING THE PRESET BUTTONS.

YOU HAVE TO CALL THE DEALER AND GIVE THEM THE MVIN # TO THE CAR AND THE SERIAL NUMBER TO THE RADIO BAD THING IS THE SERIAL NUMBER FOR THE RADIO IS ON THE BACK OF IT SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE DASH SORRY

Three ways to get the code.
1.check the glove for the code, there might be a white sticker with the code on it.
2.with car on and radio off. hold down 1 and 6 on radio and turn radio on while holding down 1 and 6 down. If you're luck, the radio will show you the audio SN#. The first half of the SN# will be display first and the second half will be display next.
3.you will have to remove the radio. The SN# printed on a sticker on the radio.

call your honda dealer and give them the SN# and they will give you your audio code.
good luck

Yes this happens because the radio enters a security mode (anti theft) after you disconnect the battery terminals to it, I'm afraid you can not find that code on internet, you can either find it on your car's owner's manual or go to a Honda dealer ship and they'll provide you the security code for your car, not a big deal. Hope it helps and please rate the answer, as it helps me with my general ratings, thanks! P.S. comment if you need more advice

for a stock radio you can only get the security code from a Honda dealer.you will need to show proof of ownership and ID then they will usually give you the code with no problems.Good luck.

chassis nuumber of the radio needed to generate a code

either the radio must be replaced, because honda has problems with the radio. or you need to disconnect the battery for 10 seconds then put in the radio code again

Any time battery is disconnected the radio has to have a code reentered. This is a theft prevention issue. You should have gotten the code if you bought the car new, if not call the dealer and he can provide it.

Re key less entry have no idea but could be same issue.

This is the Radio Anti Theft feature which is activated whenever there is a complete power loss to the radio (as in when it is stolen out of the car). A Honda Tech or ASE Certified Auto Tech would have plugged in a Memory Minder into the OBDII slot to not only prevent this, but also protect the Main ECM from resetting which could create drivability issue.
If the Honda is now registered in your name, take it to your local Honda Dealer. They should be able to pull the Radio Serial number without removing it like in the older Hondas, simply a matter of pushing the right buttons. With the Radio Serial Number, Your Proof of Ownership (Registration) and a Photo ID that matches it, either the Parts Department Or Service should be able to give you a Radio Code for it.
As for the CD ERR codes, the CD player probably is broken and will need to be sent out by Honda to a outside facility to be repaired. That will probably run between $250 to $350, plus the labor cost to remove it and reinstall it.
If you just bought this Honda, or any vehicle, I always strongly recommend having a Manufacture Dealership do at least a oil change on it and check what other services may be due, you might also discover it has Recalls that have yet to be completed that they can take care of for you. Catch the little problems before they ruin that Great Deal you just got buying it.
Strongly suggest you also join Hondas “OwnersLink”, you can find it on the Honda web site under Owners Resources links. In the future you can use this to recover your Radio code after you’ve been registered for awhile. Also keeps you notified of Recalls, Service Issues and even sends out Discount coupons (Latest is a $119 trunk cargo trays for $39, that is a Fantastic Deal).
Good Luck

The radio code is on the inside of the glove compartment along the side you can see it from driver side better .