You must give the dealership a number that is on the radio itself and your car's vin #.

 

What year model is the car? On the 1998 - 2000 models, only the EX'shave security codes on the radios. I have disconnected my battery numerous times on my 2000 LX and I know for a fact that the stock radio does not have a security code. Check your manual. I know the Haynes manual I bought says only the EX models have or needsecurity codes.
If your buddy's car was an LX it probably wont come up in the system because it never had a security code to begin with
Easy way totest this: Pull the aftermarket radio out of your car. Hook up your old radio and see if it asks for a code. Hook up your buddy's radio and see if it asks for a code.

 

Alright thanks for your help. And earlier when i called the dealership, i didn't have to give them the vin number.....

 

It depends on the radio, not the model of the car. The cheapie radio like the one in my LX which is AM/FM/Cass with an add on CD below the radio doesn't need a code. The AM/FM/Cass/CD unit does as do the ones with the 6 CD changer. If the original radio was ever upgraded, it will most likely have a code.

 

I have a 2004 Accord that just recently I replaced the battery. The radio is asking for the 5-digit radio code to be entered. I have the the radio code from my manuel and other papers yet when I enter it it seems to have no effect...the radio still doesn't work. Do I need to enter some other information other than the code itself to get the radio working?