Lost your key fob or need to program a new one for your 2008 Subaru Impreza? You’re in the right place. Programming your key fob yourself can save you time and money compared to dealership services. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to easily program your 2008 Subaru Impreza key fob, allowing you to regain full control over your vehicle’s keyless entry system.
Programming Your 2008 Subaru Impreza Key Fob – Step-by-Step
The keyless entry system in your 2008 Subaru Impreza has a handy feature that lets you program new key fobs or remove old ones. The system can store up to four different key fob codes. To get started, make sure you have your new key fob and are ready to follow these instructions carefully. It’s crucial to perform these steps in sequence and within the specified time limits for successful programming.
Before You Begin
- Get Comfortable: Sit in the driver’s seat of your 2008 Subaru Impreza and ensure all doors are completely closed. This includes the rear gate or trunk lid.
- Prepare to Act Quickly: The following steps require you to act within seconds, so read through the entire procedure first to familiarize yourself with the process.
Programming Steps
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Door Cycling: Open and close the driver’s door once. Then, within 45 seconds, open and close the driver’s door one more time.
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Ignition Sequence: Immediately turn the ignition key from the “LOCK” position to the “ON” position rapidly 10 times within 15 seconds. You’ll hear an electronic tone sound once, and a buzzer will start to sound continuously. The interior lights will also begin to flash, indicating the system is ready for programming.
If you don’t hear the tone and see the flashing lights, you likely exceeded the 45-second timeframe. If this happens, you’ll need to start the process again from step 1.
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Initiate Transmitter Registration: Within 45 seconds of the tone and flashing lights, open and close the driver’s door once again within 15 seconds. An electronic tone should sound for 30 seconds, confirming you’re in programming mode.
If you miss this 15-second window, you won’t hear the tone, and you’ll need to restart from step 3.
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Enter the Transmitter Code – First Digit: Locate the eight-digit transmitter code. This code is typically found on a label that came with your key fob, or inside the key fob itself on the circuit board.
Inside a Subaru key fob remote showing the location of the transmitter code.
Now, before the 30-second electronic tone stops, use the power door lock button to press the “LOCK” side the same number of times as the first (leftmost) digit of your transmitter code. For example, if the first digit is ‘8’, press the “LOCK” button 8 times.
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Enter Remaining Digits: After entering the first digit, immediately push the power door lock button to the “UNLOCK” side within five seconds. Then, repeat the process for each of the remaining seven digits of your code, one by one. For each digit, press the “LOCK” button the corresponding number of times, and then immediately press “UNLOCK” within five seconds.
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Code Confirmation – First Pass: Once you’ve entered all eight digits, within five seconds, press the “LOCK” button to “UNLOCK” one time.
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Re-enter the Code – Second Pass: Repeat the entire process of entering the eight-digit code again, starting with the first digit. Use the power door lock button (“LOCK” side) to enter each digit and then press “UNLOCK” within five seconds after each digit. After entering the eighth digit for the second time, an electronic tone will sound for 30 seconds, indicating successful programming.
If you encounter errors during this process (no tone, error sounds), refer to the troubleshooting section below.
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Program Additional Key Fobs (Optional): If you need to program additional key fobs, repeat the procedure starting from step 4 within the 30-second tone window. You can program up to four key fobs in total.
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Final Step: Remove the key from the ignition switch.
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Test Your Key Fob: Test all the buttons on your newly programmed key fob to ensure they are working correctly with your 2008 Subaru Impreza.
Deleting Old Key Fob Codes
It’s important to delete old key fob codes, especially if you’ve lost a key fob or purchased a used vehicle. This prevents unauthorized access to your Subaru. The system memory can hold up to four key fob codes.
Why Delete Old Codes?
Deleting old codes is a security measure. If a key fob is lost or stolen, deleting its code ensures that the missing fob can no longer unlock or control your vehicle.
Deletion Procedure
The process to delete old codes is straightforward: simply program new codes into all four memory slots. To delete all previous codes, program four new key fobs. If you have fewer than four new key fobs, you can reprogram your existing key fobs into the remaining slots until all four slots are filled. This overwrites any previously stored codes, effectively deleting the old ones. For example:
- If you have one new key fob, program it four times.
- If you have two new key fobs, program each one twice.
- If you have three new key fobs, program two of them once and the third one twice.
This ensures that only the key fobs you currently possess are programmed to your 2008 Subaru Impreza.
Troubleshooting & Tips
- Timing is Key: The most common issue during programming is timing. Ensure you are performing each step within the specified timeframes (45 seconds, 15 seconds, 5 seconds). If you encounter errors, carefully reread the instructions and try again, paying close attention to the timing.
- Code Accuracy: Double-check that you are entering the correct eight-digit transmitter code. Errors can occur if the code is entered incorrectly, especially during the second pass for confirmation.
- Error Sounds: Pay attention to any error sounds or lack of expected tones. These are indicators that you may have missed a step or exceeded a time limit. If errors persist, start the programming procedure again from the beginning.
- Battery Check: Ensure the battery in your new key fob is new and functioning correctly. A low battery can sometimes cause programming issues.
- Professional Assistance: If you are having significant trouble programming your key fob, or prefer professional assistance, consider contacting a certified locksmith or your local Subaru dealer.
By following these detailed steps, you should be able to successfully program your 2008 Subaru Impreza key fob and enjoy the convenience of keyless entry once again.
