Lost your key fob for your 2006 Subaru Tribeca or purchased a new one online? Don’t worry, programming a new key fob for your Subaru Tribeca can be a straightforward process you can accomplish yourself, potentially saving you a trip to the dealership and unnecessary expenses. This guide, inspired by community knowledge and hands-on experience, will walk you through the programming steps, ensuring you can regain remote access to your vehicle quickly and efficiently.
Before you begin, it’s essential to locate the programming code for your key fob. This 8-digit code is typically found inside the key fob itself, on the circuit board. You’ll need to open the fob to access this number. Once you have this code, you’re ready to start the programming sequence inside your vehicle.
Here’s how to program your 2006 Subaru Tribeca key fob:
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Get Inside and Close the Door: Begin by entering your Subaru Tribeca and ensuring all doors are closed. This is crucial for the programming sequence to initiate correctly.
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Ignition Cycle: Insert your key into the ignition. Turn the ignition key to the “ON” position and repeat this process 10 times within a 15-second timeframe. Listen carefully for a beep sound after this step. This beep indicates that your Tribeca has entered programming mode. Note: If your vehicle’s alarm system is in valet mode, you might not hear this beep. Ensure valet mode is deactivated before proceeding.
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Door Activation and Alarm Sequence: Open and then close the driver’s side door. This action will trigger the vehicle’s alarm system. Don’t be alarmed! This is a normal part of the programming sequence. However, it’s important to understand that the “alarm” in this context is not your car’s loud security alarm. Instead, it’s a series of quieter, high-pitched beeps originating from the dashboard area. This distinction is important, as many owners hesitate to attempt this process fearing a loud car alarm disturbance. This alarm sound will last for approximately 30 seconds.
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Enter the First Digit: While the alarm is sounding (you have about 30 seconds), you need to input the first digit of your 8-digit key fob code. To do this, use the manual door lock switch located on the driver’s side door panel (not the buttons on the key fob itself). Press the “lock” button on the door panel the same number of times as the first digit of your key fob code. For example, if the first digit is ‘6’, press the lock button six times.
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Proceed to the Next Digit: After pressing the lock button the required number of times, press the “unlock” button on the driver’s side door panel once. This action signals to the system that you are ready to enter the next digit of the code.
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Repeat for Digits 2-8: Continue repeating steps 4 and 5 for each of the remaining digits of your 8-digit key fob code. For each digit, press the “lock” button the corresponding number of times, followed by a single press of the “unlock” button to move to the next digit.
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Second Code Entry: After you have entered all eight digits of your key fob code once, the alarm will sound again for another 30-second period. You must now re-enter the entire 8-digit code a second time, repeating steps 4 through 6.
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Confirmation and Testing: If the second code entry matches the first one, the system will confirm successful programming by automatically locking and then unlocking the doors. This indicates that your key fob has been successfully programmed to your 2006 Subaru Tribeca.
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Programming Additional Key Fobs (Optional): If you have additional key fobs to program, repeat steps 4 through 8 immediately after the doors lock and unlock in step 8. This allows you to program multiple key fobs in one programming session.
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Final Step and Testing: Once you have programmed all desired key fobs, remove the key from the ignition. Now, test each key fob to ensure they are working correctly by pressing the lock and unlock buttons to control your Subaru Tribeca’s doors.
Programming your 2006 Subaru Tribeca key fob might seem like a lengthy process at first glance. However, by following these detailed steps carefully, you can successfully program your key fob and regain the convenience of remote access to your vehicle without needing to visit a dealership. Remember to double-check each step and ensure you have correctly inputted your key fob’s 8-digit code for successful programming. Enjoy the convenience of your newly programmed key fob!
