Subaru Forester 2009 Key Fob repair for intermittent remote function.

[@elgarzon]

Right on the money, thanks!! I don't have a solder, but was able to make mine work with a bit of masking tape

[@akhector]

Absolute mint video had the exact problem with the exact same car, i first just watched your video to see how to get to the battery, the clip seemed ok so changed the battery and it was good for about a month then wouldn't work pulled it apart and this time the clip had become detached from the PCB so soldered it up and good as gold! I see one guy on here said Subaru quoted $300 for a new key so you saved me from that without your video i would of been to afraid to pull it apart for fear wrecking it, thanks so much, everything was explained perfectly.

I do not have a soldier iron. I bent the legs a little and pushed into the motherboard. Like spring loading.Feels pretty solid now, Will try it tomorrow morning. Thanks for sharing. It was getting embarrassing standing next to the car and pushing the button 55 times. People thought I was stealing the car. Follow up: Tested the key this morning and it works great. Thank you for the informative video.

[@chrisz8532]

Cheers mate, thank you for taking the time to post this. I bought new batteries, checked the fuse, then found your video. Bloody champion. Looks like the clip gets broken when the battery is changed without care.

[@Mechautoinsight]

Thanks Chris. In my case, both keys were damaged. Perhaps also a fault in manufacture leads to failure.

[@roblandgraf5166]

Thank you so much, had the exact same problem with my 2010 forester, a fiddly solder job fixed it, again thank you from Bargara Queensland.

[@Mechautoinsight]

@@roblandgraf5166 happy to help

[@humbleandhappy5667]

Thank you for this video! You’ve just saved me hundreds of $$. Bit of solder and my key works like a dream now. You’re a legend!

[@Mechautoinsight]

Thank you. You're welcome. Glad I could help.

[@dontdiecurious]

Thanks for this video. I couldn’t figure out how to get the last one apart to reach the circuit board. I soldered the battery connector and now have 2 working keys!

[@Mechautoinsight]

You're welcome. Happy to help.

[@HoneyFarmer-y2z]

OMG this video is the best! I'm so excited to have 2 working key fobs again after using the key to unlock the car old school for over 12 months and having a friend with the spare for the times when I forgot and locked the key in the car twice! Thanks Elm's Garage your a legend mate!

[@Mechautoinsight]

Great news. Thanks for letting me know.

[@Mechautoinsight]

@@HoneyFarmer-y2z great news. Happy to help.

[@Glendram]

Thank you for posting your repair, i had exactly the same problem. I had one key repaired by the Subaru dealer and thanks to you i was able to solder the second myself. Cheers

[@phamminhs]

Cant thank you enough for posting this. I've spent so much time searching on the web with forums giving tons of diagnostic and speculations on the simple problem lol. They should have put a solder joint on this spot from factory, its so flimsy just a thin piece of metal, I guess it breaks easily when we drop the keys several time. After 2 year of intermittent remote function now Im enjoying my Subaru again

[@Mechautoinsight]

You're welcome. Glad to help. Totally agree the joint should have been more robust and probably should have been a recall with so many failing.

[@beachboy1954]

Bloody Awesome Lin....no bullshit, just the perfect practical fix. too many fix it vids waffle on about nothing just to get to the point.. your is great !! thank you mate

[@Mechautoinsight]

I'm a bit late, but thanks for the kind words beachboy.

[@deningman]

Excellent. Both keys fixed. I had trouble cracking the internal case open...I eventually succeeded by using a pipe cutter to start the opening. Thanks for posting the video.

[@Mechautoinsight]

Thanks. Yes denman, the internal case is a bit tricky. Well done .

[@hugojdc]

Thank you so much for your video! Can't tell how grateful I am. I realized the problem, but was very afraid of disassembling the remote and ending with a ruined one. In my country Subaru cars are quite rare and that seemed to be a very hard to replace part, case I needed to buy one. A thousand thumbs up for your video!!!

[@Mechautoinsight]

Thanks Hugo. Your comments make the effort worthwhile.

[@codebazaarwithmr.r.5422]

Just found this video... Thank you. My 2011 Forester had the same issue with both key fobs. Subaru quoted $300.00 per key to replace them and additional cost for re-coding (refused to pay this). Unaware of the actual fault, I tried a little foil to firm up the contact and new battery, which didn't help. After viewing your fix, I fired up my trusty soldering iron and ... BINGO; both fobs working beautifully. I love my Subaru but there is definitely a design fault/solder issue for this particular fob.

[@CuteKittyGirl]

I would like to say a big THANK YOU. Both the keys supplied for my Australian MY09 XS had failed. The problem was exactly as you described and now I have two working keys again. Once again.....THANKS!!!!

[@Mechautoinsight]

You're welcome. Happy to help.

[@rogerjenkins99]

Perfect, problem solved. Both of my keys had same problem so i assumed the issue was in the car. Suspect the previous owner had simply switched to the spare key when the first one failed. Many thanks for this video.

[@Mechautoinsight]

Happy to help Roger. Good feeling having two operational keys eh.

[@MegaNathan101]

Thank you I had the same problem with both keys fixed it in 5 minutes after watching your video

[@Mechautoinsight]

Great news Nathan. Happy to help.

[@mihavodnik1146]

Thanks a lot👍👍👍 I just repared both of my keys of my 2012 legacy✌️

[@rjlerm]

Thank you Sir. Had the same issue with my keys. Found same tab loose. Resoldered it and now works perfect again!

[@georgbalzereit8952]

You saved me 300€!!! Great stuff!!! Thanks a lot

[@Mechautoinsight]

You're welcome. Glad I could help.

[@Davidrb48]

Thankyou so much for your clear repair instruction, thanks to you and your efforts my key problem is solved. Cheers, Dave

[@Mechautoinsight]

You're welcome Dave. Glad I could help.

[@andrewclarke5310]

Thank you. You explained clearly this simple repair for one of my Subaru remote car keys with the same problem.

[@richardmoulson7493]

thanks Lin - fixed both key fobs for my Legacy and wouldn't have had a clue what to do otherwise.

[@Mechautoinsight]

Happy to help.

[@andrewgroves8523]

What size battery is it I can’t find information anywhere and I don’t want to take it apart without a new one ready

[@Mechautoinsight]

@@andrewgroves8523 CR1620 seen at 1:15. Go for it.

[@rira8952]

Thank you I soldered 2 keys and works perfect 👍

[@Mechautoinsight]

You're welcome. Happy I could help.

[@yeahnah8268]

Great video mate. Just repaired mine following this exactly. Cheers!

[@gabrielwedzonka8211]

Good video :D straight to the point and extactly what i have been looking for.

[@Mechautoinsight]

Thanks Gabriel for your kind comment.

[@MrGFurls]

Perfect! Believe it or not I had two 12 year old remotes that both failed in this way within 2 months of each other. Both easily fixed.

[@Mechautoinsight]

G'day George. Happy you had success. Great to have two working remotes.

[@chrisdubrow]

you are a legend - followed your steps and it is fixed - thankyou in fact my loose metal tab just fell out with the battery - luckily it could be fixed with one fat fingered lump of solder - even i could manage it - hoorah

[@Mechautoinsight]

Great news Chris. Thanks for sharing your success.

[@jaztoecutta]

most helpfull... thank you from one skippy to another

[@unclesuave]

Fark me dead. What a life saver! Cheers for that!

[@naski9351]

Thanks buddy my keys are working now, you just saved me over $900 dollars for two replacement keys

[@Mechautoinsight]

Wow that's a good saving. I'm glad it helped. Pay it forward. ;-)

[@JoeyJoJo85]

OMG YOU LEGEND!!! My car went from remote not working at all to remote now can open the door and open the boot... but the lock button doesn't work :( EDIT: The lock button started working lol

[@Mechautoinsight]

Great news Joey. Thanks for letting me know of your success.

[@JoeyJoJo85]

@@Mechautoinsight actually the lock door does lock. The boot wasn't closed properly

[@hansbratman1425]

Fantastic. Thanks, made my day!!!

[@hansbratman1425]

Turned out that both my keys had the same fault. Now both are working for the first time in many years!!

[@Mechautoinsight]

Made my week when I found the problem. Glad to help.

[@Mechautoinsight]

@@hansbratman1425 Great. Thanks for the feedback.

[@bassjohansen]

Perfect! 👍🏻 Just fixed both my keys as you described. Thanks!

[@Mechautoinsight]

Great news. Happy to help.

[@LazyL1zard]

Thank you sir, fixed mine following your guide 👍

[@Mechautoinsight]

You're welcome Mr Ball. Happy motoring.

[@robinsongguitars]

I have a 2012 Subaru Impreza. One of the 2 remotes does not allow the car to start. The other is good. Could this be the issue before I tear it apart? thx

[@Mechautoinsight]

Probably not as the starting issue could be related to programming via the chip inside the remote.

[@Bluesfree]

Thank you very much from Brazil.

[@flynnblack1301]

thank you sooo much this was so helpful!

[@Mechautoinsight]

Thank you. Glad to help.

[@毅同聊科技]

I have the exact same Car model and same problem. Thanks for experience sharing.

[@grahamstewartwalker]

what type of screwdriver do I need to get into the internal battery compartment via the 3 screws? cheers

[@Mechautoinsight]

G'day Graham. Small Phillips screwdriver.

[@grahamstewartwalker]

@@Mechautoinsight thanks Lin, managed to work it out. Swapped the battery but still not working.. Might need to try get it fixed at my next service as perhaps an issue with the car rather than the key!

[@Booki89]

Legend! Thanks for sharing and making this video!

[@cu2nytt]

Thanks you very much you helped me solve it.

[@Mechautoinsight]

you're welcome. Glad I could help.

[@p38arover22]

Thanks for that. I just repaired one of our keys.

[@PCMakerRancagua]

Hi. Is necesary reprograming control o work key?

[@Mechautoinsight]

Reprogramming not required. The memory is held in the chip.

[@aaronrice-williams9174]

Wish this started with “you’ll need to solder…” so I didn’t get all the way through breaking things apart to realise I didn’t have the right tool on hand lol

[@tremorflow3614]

Legend, thanks mate.

[@Mechautoinsight]

Thanks. Happy to help.

[@jhonjacali]

Me salvaste el día! Muchas gracias.

[@Mechautoinsight]

Happy to have 'saved the day'.

[@MartinAguileraValenzuela]

Muchas gracias, saludos desde Chile!

[@Mechautoinsight]

Gracias Martin. Good to know this has helped someone in Chile.

[@toolstormindustriesptyltd5248]

Very good video! thanks a lot! problem solved

[@sleepythumb]

Onya mate great vid cheers 👍

[@Mechautoinsight]

Sam, thanks mate.

[@blak8999]

Anyone else also had problems unlocking the rest of the car with the drivers side unlock button? Not only don't both my keys work (will try the soldering trick once i buy a solderer), I cant unlock the rest of the car from the button located on the door on the drivers side.

[@waterspiritsleepandmeditat414]

Good vid. Thanks for sharing

[@fabiot7943]

Thank, that helped me alot

[@Mechautoinsight]

You're welcome Fabio. Happy to be of assistance.

[@Filmertography]

Thanks for the info .... the problem of the positive contact breaking from its board is due to poor soldering in the factory (had 2 keys the same) - the problem is exacerbated by installing the CR1632 battery in place of the CR1620 ... the CR1632 is 1.2mm thicker and puts stress on this contact when the cover is screwed down.

[@Mechautoinsight]

Thank you for your feedback. Happy to help.

[@peterburdon7183]

Thank you.

[@MrJethro1287]

you saved me $300

[@Mechautoinsight]

@@MrJethro1287 better in your pocket 😁

[@davida7370]

thanks sir

[@jecheverry]

Perfect, same fail here, we just fix it.

[@Mechautoinsight]

Well done. Glad to be of assistance.

[@TheDavidGordon]

Many Thanks,,,,Do not have to buy a new car now,,,,,Wife Happy ,,2010 Subaru Outback Diesel

[@Mechautoinsight]

Car & Wife happy. Can't do better. Well done.

[@slideryt]

Didn’t really show repair, just showed how to open it.

[@Mechautoinsight]

You got me. I didn't actually show the soldering. Just the place where the soldering is needed.

[@toffimarquezs9813]

Wow thanks