Lost your 2003 Subaru Forester key fob or need to program a replacement? No need to visit a dealership and pay hefty fees. You can easily program your 2003 Subaru Forester key fob right at home with these simple steps. This guide will walk you through the process to get your keyless entry working again quickly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Program Your 2003 Subaru Forester Key Fob
Follow these instructions carefully to program your 2003 Subaru Forester key fob:
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Get Ready: Ensure all doors of your Subaru Forester are unlocked and closed. Place your foot on the brake pedal and keep it there throughout the initial steps.
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Enter Programming Mode: This step requires cycling the ignition key. Insert your key into the ignition. Quickly turn the ignition key to the ‘on’ position (where dashboard lights illuminate) and then back to the ‘off’ position, approximately 10 times in rapid succession. Be careful not to turn the key far enough to start the engine. You’re aiming to cycle between ‘on’ and ‘off’ positions rapidly. If successful, the car horn will honk once to indicate it has entered programming mode.
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Program the Key Fob: Once the horn honks, open and then close the driver’s side door. Immediately after closing the door, press any button on the key fob you wish to program. This action should program the remote to your Subaru Forester.
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Program Additional Remotes (Optional): If you have another 2003 Subaru Forester key fob to program, you can do so immediately. Quickly open and close the driver’s door again, and then press any button on the second remote. This will program the second key fob.
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Exit Programming Mode: After you have programmed all desired key fobs, remove the key from the ignition. The horn should honk three times to confirm that you have successfully exited the programming mode.
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Test Your Remotes: Test each programmed 2003 Subaru Forester key fob to ensure they lock and unlock the doors correctly.
Troubleshooting Tips
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If the horn doesn’t honk after 10 key cycles: Sometimes it may take slightly more than 10 on-off cycles to enter programming mode. If it doesn’t work initially, try again, ensuring the key cycling is quick and consistent. You can also try opening and closing the door, locking and unlocking manually, waiting for a few minutes, and then repeating the key cycling process.
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Still having trouble? Double-check that you are using a compatible key fob for your 2003 Subaru Forester. If you need a replacement key fob, visit Keylessentryremotefob.com for a wide selection of key fobs and remotes.
Programming your 2003 Subaru Forester key fob is a straightforward process that can save you time and money. By following these steps, you can quickly regain the convenience of keyless entry.