Here is how to program a transponder key for a Subaru. This car is a 2012 Legacy. It’s got a transponder key. Got two of them off ebay.
This code here is for the key fob.
I put the key in the ignition and I got a vehicle light with a key in it that’s saying it won’t start. It is unprogrammed.
Let me put in a good key. No vehicle key light came up and this one works okay.
I bought the vxdiag vcx se Subaru for 259 bucks off vxdiagshop.com. It came with 3 software you can choose some of them. I chose Subaru, Ford and GM.
Subaru has a technical service bulletin that explains how the immobilizer and the keys work.
There are a couple codes you’ll need to use when you use this software. It’s going to ask us for a teaching code and then the immobilizer code.
I had to go to the dealership to give them proof of ownership of the car and then they gave me this immobilizer code.
All right so let’s start. Plug vcx se interface in. Then open the software SSM3.
You have to select the subaru select monitor 3 as the device. Then select All mother modules and then hit Immobilizer.
The smart system is for those keyless cars with the push button starts so i select no because mine doesn’t have that.
Turn on the ignition switch with the working key.
and select yes.
SSM3 asks to enter the teaching operation code. Now you can find that on the internet. This is a 2012 Legacy so i’ll use 3781. So it worked.
Now we to register the keys. This might take a minute too.
The security id is what you’ll have to get from the dealership.
I got my key and my key code that’s to cut the key.
We want to register the key, press yes.
Let’s do the second key. I have three keys I have to do if you do one.
It’s only going to register the new key. It’s going to delete all the other keys so you have to program all the keys at one time even if you only even have two work and you want to program the third.
You got to do all three of them.
So i’m going to do the second key. It tells me to turn the switch off and change the key.
That key is now working. Press Yes I want to do a third key.
Turn the ignition off
Insert next key
i’m putting the key in now
Ignition is on
key registration and successfully
If you don’t need to register more keys. Select Cancel.
Do you want to register the remote engine start?
so this is my parents’ old car, they had a remote starter. This is the receiver but they lost the switch of the remote.
so i’m gonna try to order a remote and then use this to program that.
So that’s a good capability of the vxdiag subaru diagnostic tool.
I’m gonna hit quit so that’s it that’s all done.
So now all these keys work.
I programmed the key fob the buttons here. With the manual way you go and put the ignition and you turn it on and off 10 times and then you press these unlock buttons with the code that you have that code and that’s how i program those so this. This can probably program the key fobs also but this is my first time using it and i just want to buy it to program the transponder key. They wanted a hundred dollars just to program the key. So i imagine if i bought the key and has it cut it would have been more than that. So the tool is pretty much paid for itself.