The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hey guys, once again, I'm after your thoughts. So as some of you know, i've been donating money to my local dealer recently -- and feel somewhat a little disappointed with the way they manage my donations ...anyhow, when asked to support them further for $378 to get a spare key for my other halfs MY03 Foz; 'I just couldnt bring myself to be so charitable'.
So in the quest of saving roughly $330, yet spending probably double that in time scouring the internet for quarter facts and half truths - it's the principal of the thing - I have come up with a battle plan.

I purchased a 2nd hand Key/Fob from the wreckers [$30], along with a 'Key Blank and Shell' from eBay [$12...still awating its arrival], and soon - either a transponder chip purcahsed separately, or i'll just get another eBay 'simple blank transponder key and cut it out'. [$8].

So, having the key cut [dremel fun] and programming the fob remote to the car should be easy. It's getting the transponder encoded where the conjecture begins...

Some people swear black and blue that only a dealer can do it, whilst others [ex subee staff] say a well guarded process is able to code the key via the vehicle directly, as long as the chip has never been used [i'm not sure if you need two original keys for this process, though]. Does anyone have the full "TRUTH" on this subject? Can we 'owners' program the key by one of those elaborate *turn the key 5 times in the ignition and pray to Allah whilst stroking a black cat* methods? I would love to get this sorted for $50 clean. Thanks for any thoughts, suggestions, and/or, the blatant truth! Cheers Peter.

PS> If I can't do it myself, I know that lock smiths can duplicate/clone transponders, so worst case scenario, should be around $70-90 to complete the process; 'much better than $378.'

Im guessing the key uses RF to talk to the car? no contacts on the key? If so they probably program them over that. As far as programming it via the car, well....I donno. Wouldn't that make it pretty easy to steal cars? You probably need a little bit more hardware then just the car and key. My thoughts anyway. That cant stop you from sticking a serial connection to the key and see what its saying.

Regards

Doug

Hey Doug, thanks for your thoughts - yeah, you'd still need the key to be cut correctly before you could program the key to the car [in order to steal]. Which leads me to...many other manufactures have proven 'car enconded enabling' methods, but admittedly, most involve having [requiring] two original keys - which initiate the coding process - then you can add several more keys, as long as they are all done at the same time; it all varies between manufacturers obviously, but this is how they go about counteracting your 'theft' concerns. I have a feeling Subaru would have a similar policy, but the method I have read, doesnt include two keys [probably pie in the sky]? Thanks mate. Does anyone else have some direct experience? Cheers

Not on Subaru, but I know the Lexus system allows for blank key programming very easily. There is a finite number of keys that can be programmed (4 I think), after that the first key will no longer work, and so on. Officially the Lexus' have the infamous laser cut keys (as referred to for the MB in "Gone in 60 seconds"), but in reality regular cutting method will suffice.
The risk of car thieves is probably quite low in reality as most of the processes (a) aren't well know, and (b) the serious car thieves will just tow the whole car away. It's like a house, you don't have to be the most secure, just more secure than your neighbour...

Supposed to be able to program some keys with some diagnostic devices. My mate thinks his will do it, but has no idea, other than to charge a bit over $300 now to do so, if i ever work it out for him:D but, without the trickle down effect ......

See if you can google automotive diagnostic units sales blurbs like is it Carmann scan ??

I had a key cut for my lib and all they did was cut it and copy it from the original one.
I believe that they just copy they code from the RF chip to the new key.

The only time the key went near the car was when they made sure that it worked properly.

Yeah, I think this quest, like the holy-grail, is going to fall short. It's not all bad, though - I'll just have to get a locksmith to encode a new transponder - which is still a hell of a lot cheaper than the Stealership. I dont think it's worth buying a Transponder Duplicator, unless there were a few of us who needed an extra set of keys, and they also dont appear to be the most reliable of appliances. Simple, Stupid me thinks - Cheers All

I was told of a workshop in Mulgrave that bought an encoder (from China) to copy keys. Never asked him what it will copy, yet, as I have never needed one. (proud L series owner):)