Can anyone help me with how to program a new key fob for my 05 WRX? I don't have an owners manual quite yet, and I understand its in there.

Hello, I don't know if it's the same or not, but my mother has a 1998 Lumina with one of those microchip keys and the dealer wanted $60.00 to program a key, but then she talked to a woman at work who had the same car and she went and bought the key from the dealer, unprogrammed for about $15.00 and did this:

 

Put the original key in, started the car, turned it off.

Started the Car again, and turned it off.

Put the new key in and went to start it and it worked.

 

Now I don't know if that is coincidental and maybe the chip is just actually not needed, if it just works for the Lumina, or if you need to start and stop the car one more time after the second time (that part I forget). But I figured I'd just add this in just as a suggestion to try because I've never actually done it myself, but obviously have heard of something. Good luck.

 

Regards,

Brandon Bartolomucci

Key fobs have to be programmed using the Subaru Select Monitor that the dealers have (unfortunately - I don't know of any other way to do it). There is an 8-digit code inside the fob that has to be inputted manually. It's not just Subaru that is doing it this way. Ford used to allow programming fobs by cycling the ignition key and entering programming mode, but newer models now require using their equipment.

Well i meant the keyless entry remotes, but i found the instructions on cars101.com worked. You just have to cycle the key in the ignition quickly because you have to remember you only have 15 seconds. I even used a keyless entry remote from a legacy (the dealer just gave it to me said it would work), so now i have an actual panic button that works and a trunk release button that does nothing on one of my remotes.