Lost your key fob or need to program a new remote for your 2008 Subaru Impreza? Programming your key fob yourself can save you time and money compared to dealership services. This comprehensive guide provides easy-to-follow instructions to program your 2008 Subaru Impreza key fob, allowing you to regain control of your vehicle’s keyless entry system quickly.
Programming Your 2008 Subaru Impreza Key Fob – A DIY Guide
Before you begin, ensure you have all necessary materials and understand the process. This guide breaks down the programming into manageable steps, directly referencing your vehicle’s system capabilities.
What You’ll Need
- Your 2008 Subaru Impreza vehicle
- Your new or existing 2008 Subaru Impreza key fob remote
- Your key fob’s 8-digit transmitter code (usually found on a tag that came with the fob, or inside the remote itself)
Step-by-Step Programming Instructions
Follow these steps carefully and swiftly. Timing is crucial for successful key fob programming. Read through all steps before starting to familiarize yourself with the process.
-
Get in the Driver’s Seat: Enter your 2008 Subaru Impreza and ensure all doors and the rear gate/trunk are completely closed.
-
Driver’s Door Cycle – Part 1: Open and then close the driver’s side door once.
-
Driver’s Door Cycle – Part 2 (Within 45 Seconds): Open and then close the driver’s door again.
-
Ignition Cycle (Within 15 Seconds): Insert your key into the ignition and quickly cycle it from the LOCK position to the ON position 10 times within 15 seconds. Do not start the engine. Leave the key in the LOCK position after the 10th cycle.
- Confirmation Tone: Upon successful completion of step 4, you should hear an electronic tone. A buzzer will sound continuously, and the interior lights will flash. This indicates the system is in programming mode. If you do not hear the tone and see the lights flash, restart from step 1, ensuring you complete each step within the specified time.
-
Driver’s Door Cycle – Part 3 (Within 45 Seconds of Confirmation Tone): Open and close the driver’s door one more time within 15 seconds.
- Second Electronic Tone: Another electronic tone will sound for 30 seconds, confirming you are ready to input the transmitter code. If you miss this tone, you’ll need to repeat the process from step 3.
-
Enter the Transmitter Code – Digit by Digit: This is where you’ll use the 8-digit code associated with your key fob. For each digit of the code, you will use the power door LOCK button.
- Leftmost Digit First: Begin with the leftmost digit of your 8-digit code. Press the power door LOCK button the same number of times as this first digit. For example, if the first digit is ‘8’, press the LOCK button 8 times. If it’s ‘3’, press it 3 times.
- Unlock Confirmation (Within 5 Seconds): After pressing the LOCK button the correct number of times for the digit, immediately press the power door UNLOCK button once within five seconds.
- Repeat for Remaining Digits: Repeat the process for the remaining 7 digits of your code, in order from left to right. For each digit, press the LOCK button that many times, and then press the UNLOCK button once within 5 seconds.
-
Code Confirmation Entry: After entering all 8 digits once, you must re-enter the entire 8-digit code a second time, following the exact same procedure using the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons as described in step 6.
- Final Confirmation Tone: After correctly entering the 8th digit for the second time, an electronic tone will sound for 30 seconds. This confirms successful programming of your 2008 Subaru Impreza key fob.
-
Exit Programming Mode: Remove the key from the ignition.
-
Test Your Key Fob: Test all buttons on your newly programmed key fob to ensure they are working correctly with your 2008 Subaru Impreza’s door locks and other keyless entry functions.
Deleting Old Key Fob Codes
It’s recommended to delete old key fob codes, especially if a key fob has been lost or stolen. The 2008 Subaru Impreza keyless entry system can store up to four transmitter codes. To delete old codes, you must program four new codes. If you don’t have four new key fobs, you can reprogram your existing key fobs multiple times to fill all four memory slots, effectively overwriting any old codes.
- Reprogram Four Codes: Follow the programming steps above, programming each of your current key fobs until you have programmed a total of four codes. For example, if you have two key fobs, program each one twice. If you only have one, program it four times. This will ensure that only your current key fobs are recognized by the system.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Timing Errors: The most common issue during programming is timing. Ensure you are completing each step within the specified timeframes (45 seconds, 15 seconds, 5 seconds). If you fail to hear the confirmation tones or see the lights flash at any point, start the process again from step 1.
- Code Entry Errors: Double-check that you are entering the correct 8-digit transmitter code and that you are pressing the LOCK button the correct number of times for each digit. Entering the code incorrectly twice will also cause the programming to fail. If you suspect a code entry error, restart from step 3.
- Multiple Attempts: If you encounter errors multiple times, carefully reread each step and try again. If you continue to have trouble, consider seeking assistance from a professional locksmith or Subaru dealership.
Conclusion
Programming your 2008 Subaru Impreza key fob is a straightforward process that can be accomplished at home with these instructions. By following these steps carefully and paying attention to timing, you can quickly program your key fob and ensure the security of your vehicle’s keyless entry system. Should you prefer professional assistance, you can search online for local key fob programming services in your area.
