Subaru spare key...Highway robbery! Any discounts??

[pat fan]

We just purchased an 2011 Forester and it came with only 1 key. They said to contact Subaru for another one, and it's almost $200!!!! No way am I spending that on a key! Anyone know how to get a discount? Are there any?

 

[TLuvsD]

Check your local Ace Hardware. Ours can make spare keys with the electronics...it's pricey, but less than the dealer.

 

[Wishes Count]

Is it an electronic key? If so probably not. My car has an electronic key but inside is an actual key should the battery die. You could probably get a copy made of the physical key at any hardware store.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[pat fan]

It's a "laser" cut key and has the anti-theft microchip in it. Called 2 dealerships, one was $119 for the key and $50-$60 for the encoding once they get it ($180 total). The other dealership was $140 for the key, $40 for encoding then labor, so he said just under $200.

My Fiesta had the same type of key but was 1/2 that to get replaced. I WISH I could just go and get one cut, ahhhh the good old days. Still refusing to pay that much, there HAS to be a cheaper key out there!

 

[Swimalie]

We have a 2011 Forester and were told it would be $300 to get a new one if needed. Under $200 would be nice then. Good luck.

 

[DawnM]

Well……there probably IS a way.

We have a Toyota Sequoia and it came with 2 keys. You have to have the FOB and the computer chip key for each set. They are almost $450 to replace.

I lost one set. It has never been found……DH was NOT happy.

So, off to research he went.

He found out that you can purchase a non-programmed FOB from many places, including dealers on ebay for about $50. You can purchase the key for about $10-$15.

Now, you do have to find someone willing to cut it for you. I had to sign a waiver saying if they cut it wrong they weren't liable. Fine, I signed.

Then I had to take it home and DH YouTubed how to program it himself.

They were the wackiest instructions:

Hold down the middle button on the FOB,
turn your car on and off 3 times
open and shut your door twice
do cartwheels behind the driver's front latch twice
spin around blindfolded and hop on one foot 3 times

(ok, the last 2 I made up, but the rest of the instructions were equally as wacky IMO)

BUT…….

It WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, instead of paying $450, I paid roughly $65-$70.

 

[DawnM]

Oh, and BTW: With the computer chip/transponder keys, you can only program so many and then your car wont' take any new ones…..for my car it is a total of 5. You will have to check your car.

 

[Gigi22]

Oh, and BTW: With the computer chip/transponder keys, you can only program so many and then your car wont' take any new ones…..for my car it is a total of 5. You will have to check your car.

In that case, the OP should likely go to the dealership to find out what the limit on their new car is, and how many have already been made. The limit might have been reached by the previous owner.

 

[tvguy]

Check your local Ace Hardware. Ours can make spare keys with the electronics...it's pricey, but less than the dealer.

Go to ACE, should be about $50.

I also had a non-chip copy made for DD's car when she was away at college. It was in case she locked her chipped key in the car, at least she would have a way to unlock the door to get the chipped key. That only cost $2.

 

[pat fan]

Go to ACE, should be about $50.

I also had a non-chip copy made for DD's car when she was away at college. It was in case she locked her chipped key in the car, at least she would have a way to unlock the door to get the chipped key. That only cost $2.

They can laser cut a key for the doors? Really, that's all I need. I have a huge fear of locking my keys in the car (I've done it a time or two ) and with only one set of keys, I'm a wreck!

 

[sharon_wv]

We just bought a used 2004 dodge neon. We knew there was only one key buy didn't notice they the ONE key fob was broken already. My husband had a duplicate key made at Home Depot or something. It opens the door fine. But the car will not start with it. It turns over but poops out. At first he thought something was wrong with the car, but then tried the factory key. No problem starting the car.

Because the only key fob is broken we don't have the option of programming a new one.

He called the dealer. The make a new fob and key it would be about 250 or something. 150 for just the key. Ridiculous.

Sucks doesn't it? So sorry you have to go through being ripped off too!

 

[kymom99]

OP, just to clarify, does your car have the push button starter? As in, you don't need an actual key, just the fob to start it? If it is like mine, it is impossible to lock the keys in the car. My car has a button on the door handle to electronically lock and unlock the door. The fob has to be in a certain range for it to work. If the fob is in the car, it makes a beeping sound and the doors will not lock. Likewise if the key is in the trunk. I figured this out when I tried to lock my purse in the trunk when my husband had his key. It wouldn't lock. I don't have a Subaru, but it would seem that the technology would be the same.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Husband got a used BMW a couple of years ago. And only one key. Went to dealer for another and it cost us about $200. It's an electronic key and all computerized. We tried to get one cheaper, but couldn't.

 

[shoes99]

I bought a used Nissan Altima and it only came with one chip key. The top of the key broke off, so I got a chip key replacement from Home Depot. It cost approx. $70. Nissan wanted $150+.
Now Sunday in a big snowstorm, DH dropped the keys in the snow and can't find them. Oh well. I'm using the key with the broken loop until the snow melts. Try Home Depot.

 

[pat fan]

No, it doesn't have a push button start. Looked at one of those (a Journey) and didn't like it. Calling Ace today to ask them if they can do this!

 

[Swimalie]

OP, just to clarify, does your car have the push button starter? As in, you don't need an actual key, just the fob to start it? If it is like mine, it is impossible to lock the keys in the car. My car has a button on the door handle to electronically lock and unlock the door. The fob has to be in a certain range for it to work. If the fob is in the car, it makes a beeping sound and the doors will not lock. Likewise if the key is in the trunk. I figured this out when I tried to lock my purse in the trunk when my husband had his key. It wouldn't lock. I don't have a Subaru, but it would seem that the technology would be the same.

Actually, with Subaru, you can lock your keys in accidentally. You can push the lock button while doors are open. The car will beep 5 times to let you know you've done this. Then it beeps once, indicating the car is locked once the doors are all shut. And many times I have just had the fob in my hand and accidentally hit one of the buttons.

 

[tvguy]

I do wonder if some of the latest unlocking systems, keys and remotes have gone too far.
My neighbor had a remote starter on her Tahoe and twice set her purse down and triggered the starter, and her truck sat idling all night in the driveway, thank God it wasn't in the garage.

 

[kymom99]

With mine (Altima) even if the door locked, it would unlock again when I pushed the button on the outside door handle. Also, i have a remore starter but it only runs 10 minutes thne shuts back off again. I have a detached garage so it is really handy. I cannot start it from the regular fob. It is after market so starts with a separate gadget.

 

[mrodgers]

Those push button keyless starts are a good idea until something goes wrong. Something like I started my wife's Rav4 up while she was finishing up getting ready for work. I started it, left the key on the kitchen table. She grabs her purse and heads out the door. I ran out after her as she was backing out of the driveway to give her the key.

I didn't know what would happen, so I asked on the Rav4 forum. Yup, she would have driven the 30 miles to work just fine, shut the car down, locked the car, and then at 11 pm, she would have been calling me to come get her because that is when she would realize she didn't have the key.

 

[jgreco]

I bought the fob off Ebay like the other poster and was able to get it cut. We were able re-program it ourselves via internet instructions (also with really weird instructions), but it worked!