Does anyone have any ideas on how to open my car - I tried both fobs and all three keys in all doors (driver/passenger and hatchback) - nothing works. I've no idea how to get my car open! I assume it is electrical or battery, but can't open the hood to check the battery as the release lever is in the car!

 

What year is your car?

2002

Are you sure its your car?

 

Is it in your driveway/ garage, or in the parking lot at the mall?

 

I tried for about 5 minutes once to get into a Toyota Camry because it was the exact same body style/ color/ trim as my mothers. Finally looked at the plates and it wasn't hers. Hers was another 3-4 rows over in the parking lot.

It is in my garage where I parked it the night before. Definitely my car, my keys.

It could be that an electrical gremlin is instantly re-locking all doors as soon as you unlock.

Try unlocking a door with the key, and hold the key in the unlocked position while you try to open the door.

The problem is that I can't even turn the key in any of the locks - it's like the locks are frozen!

This is a shot in the dark, but:

- try taking the batteries out of both remotes, or take them both well out of range;

- then try a key in one of the doors.

if the key will not turn,

try spraying some silicone lube in the lock.

make sure you are using the right key?

 

call a locksmith,

he can probably get in quicker with no key.

 

'' lockmedic'' could probably help.

Unless I've missed something, Lockmedic is over at subaruoutback.org.

when you do get in, if the alarm is sounding, you must cycle the ignition quickly 3 times from OFF to ON (not start/not ACC) and the alarm 'should stop.

 

maybe not if the security system is malfunctioning so, either wait and hope it turns itself off - or be prepared to pull a fuse or remove the battery Neg. terminal.

Have you tried the key in the rear hatch??

She already tried the hatch ("I tried both fobs and all three keys in all doors (driver/passenger and hatchback").

This is a problem with remote entry. We all do it, even I do it. We dont use the locks so they seize over time. You need to spray the cylinders with a penetrating oil then GENTLY shock the cylinders with the key in the door. Have a duplicate set of quality keys handy just in case. Try each cylinder eventually one will loosen up. I went through this with my 97 when the battery died. You can possibly reach up and pull the hood release cable. It may take multiple attempts, and use a good product, then after that use lockease to lubricate all the rocks at every oil change.

Edited October 1, 201411 yr by nipper

Thanks - will try this last one when I get home tonight. Nothing else has worked so far!

it sometimes takes several soakings to get them to break free, but they will eventually.

 

the old saying "use it, or lose it" does apply here - if you dont use them periodically, they will seize up. The other half found this out recently with his 2006 Outback.

We did get them freed up eventually, and now he uses the key periodically to prevent this very problem.

We should all add this to our oil change routine. A can of lock ease in all locks on all the cars.

We should all add this to our oil change routine. A can of lock ease in all locks on all the cars.

As soon as it quits raining or snowing here and the sun comes out I'm going to lube up the key locks and make sure that all works as it should. 

 

On my 96 pickup I hardly ever unlocked the passenger side door with the key and did notice that it got stiffer and harder to unlock whenever I tried to do it.  That one is also going to get some attention. 

a bit late, but i got a response from lockmedic,

see below.

 

 

 

If that call came into my shop, I'd make the assumption that the battery
on the car was dead, otherwise the fobs would be functional (assuming
the fob batteries were good). If that's the case, I'd have to question
why none of the keys work in the doors. If they're all craptastic
copies, it's possible they could work in the ignition but not the doors
as the ignition lock typically has the most wear and is therefore the
least sensitive to poorly cut or worn keys. All the more reason to test
duplicates in EVERY lock in the car after buying them. . .

As for a solution, probably the least costly would be to get a new key
cut by VIN from the dealer. If that still doesn't work, probably time to
call out a professional. I can say it's not incredibly difficult for a
locksmith to get into a 2nd gen outback but not sure I could offer much
advice that I wouldn't consider risky to the average Joe or Joline.

Once you get the car open I'd say the next order of business is to find
out what's up with the locks. Corrosion is possible if it's in a
salt-belt state. . . or nefarious things like superglue being injected
into the locks (which is a truly evil thing to do, BTW).

 

 

 

hth

Edited October 2, 201411 yr by johnceggleston

I wonder what happened.

you have any enemies or practical jokers in you life? did someone put "super glue" into your lock mechanisms?

No one remember a coat hangar?

 

Easy, use a windshield scraper up on the top rear corner of the window to lever the window of the frame.

Take a coat hangar bent into a hook to open the door from the inside.  5 minutes and your in.

I PM'ed gordsan on 10/5 because I'm curious to learn the outcome of the problem. Hopefully we can attain closure.

 

I re-read the post and even though she stated it was "Definitely my car, my keys.", i can't help but wonder if there is another Subaru in the family and the keys are for it. I can't tell you how many times I've grab the keys for one of the cars and had to return to the kitchen to grab the proper set. It's even more confusing when my daughter is home since I reprogrammed one of our MY01's remotes for her MY99 to replace her dead one. Try going out to the driveway and unlocking the car, getting in and wondering why the heck you can get the key in the ignition.

It was two separate issues - alternator and stiff lock. Alternator fixed and mechanic really had to jiggle the keys to make them work (in any lock). The fob didn't work because the battery was completely dead and even with a jump, did not hold charge. Now the steering seems to be gone. Time for a new car me thinks! I have loved this car and it has been great - but it is just at that point where I'm conitnually pumping money in!

alt and steering issues????

is the belt still there?