Spare Key Advice

Spare Key Advice

Author
Discussion

nickofh

Original Poster:

603 posts

117 months

Monday 1st December 2014
quotequote all
Hello there.

Just thought I would share an idea on how to get a spare key made for your Subaru for as little as possible.

I bought my Impreza hatch about 7 months ago and it only came with one key , so I wanted a spare.

I bought a used Sigma Fob for ebay for £14.00 and programmed it to relate to my car using the cars sigma keypad. So this now works the alarm and unlocks the doors nicely. Careful to by the correct one , there are two different types depending on which Alarm unit you have.

Then I had a transponder ( no remote functions ) key made at Timpsons for £40.00 I used a less 10% voucher found online so actually £36.00

And there we go, a spare key set for a Subaru for £50.00 without having to post your only key somewhere strange! Hope it might help someone else get one .....

NailedOn

3,114 posts

234 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
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This is helpful thanks. I've misplaced on of my Outback keys. 2008 MY.
Was yours a single button or keyless?

nickofh

Original Poster:

603 posts

117 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
Thanks , I'll be really pleased if it helps you get another sorted for a low price.

Mine was the single button original shown below. My car has the factory fitted Sigma S34 alarm system with a keypad near the drivers right knee.



Below is the picture of my transponder spare key from Timpsons and the Sigma AC111 fob I bought from ebay.

It was fairly simple to set up the fob using the keypad in the car and I think I could help talk you through it if you need. The programming instructions were emailed to me by a very helpful car alarm installation man which I think I still have.



NailedOn

3,114 posts

234 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the information, it's really helpful. It is good to know that I can get a replacement for £50.

I have lost one of my keys in a bizarre manner _ it needed a new battery so I took it off my key ring, opened it up and took the battery out. I thought I left the two halves of the key on the kitchen worktop with the tiny screw and screwdriver.
Popped to the shop and bought a new battery. Got home to find only the screw and screwdriver there!
Retraced my steps to no avail..
Very annoying and only myself to blame.
If I need help, I'll shout. Cheers.

nickofh

Original Poster:

603 posts

117 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
quotequote all
That's a pain! It will probably turn up in your shed or similar when you have sorted a replacement. Let me know if I can help.

Have a good one!

Stoatman

592 posts

166 months

Monday 8th December 2014
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Nice, thats the exact key I am trying to make a spare for. Couple of questions if I may, how do you know which sigma alarm you have ?, also out of interest what does the new key look like. COuld you do us a pic of that too if its no bother. cheers

nickofh

Original Poster:

603 posts

117 months

Monday 8th December 2014
quotequote all
The new key is the one on the second picture that says JMA and that is shown with the sigma fob. It looks pretty crap really but works perfectly so its ok as a cheap spare.

As far as I know they change the alarm system depending on what year the car was made. Mine is an 08 hatch. I was lucky to have the original Sigma manual with my owners handbook and service history which told me what model alarm it was.

To make doubly sure I did locate the alarm control unit ( near the radio ) so I would probably say that you could find out the model fairly easily by a quick bit of research or where it is located. I think they used the S34 and M30.

Do you have the keypad near the drivers knee ? If so you have a sigma alarm.

Looks like this

http://scorpionauto.com/home/products/SIGMK2


Stoatman

592 posts

166 months

Monday 8th December 2014
quotequote all
Doh, I see the key now is the actual key, what a tool. Thanks. I've just bought a 04 forester xt with the exact key you have. It had the key pad by the knee too. When you programmed the fob did you program the original key at the same time .I think I've got the instructions somewhere actually . Good to know that timpsons are pretty cheap may pay them a visit. Thanks

nickofh

Original Poster:

603 posts

117 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
Love the forester too!

Yes you sort of put the alarm system in programming mode through the keypad and tell it how many fobs or keys you want to set it up with and then press the buttons on the key or the fob when it tells you to by chirping.

Before you start messing with it would be worth checking that you know the code for the alarm( by arming it with the code). I didn't know mine ,but since there was one working key you can change it. So I would set the code first before you change the key and mess with the alarm.

I think I can provide help to change the code and program the key on the S34 if needed. I also found some instructions for the earlier system that I might still have if needed.

Good Luck ! :-)

Stoatman

592 posts

166 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
Cheers , miraculously the car came with the handbook with the little silver sticker with the code for the alarm . After 10 years I'd call that a result. Although it had one owner who took it to the same subaru dealer for 10 years every 7000 miles. will defiantely see if it works first though .

nickofh

Original Poster:

603 posts

117 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
That's the kind of car you want to buy!

Good Luck :-)

AWG

854 posts

155 months

Monday 15th December 2014
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This sounds a very affordable option. I have two keys both Subaru for my '03 STi however the spare is buggered. May just need reprogramming but I am not sure. Wonder if this would work?

nickofh

Original Poster:

603 posts

117 months

Monday 15th December 2014
quotequote all
I have seen some key repair services on ebay who might sort your original spare key out for a lower price.

I cant see any reason why it wouldn't work ( I found instructions easily enough for the earlier sigma system online) but I can't say for sure as I have only been able to test it on my S34 system.

Please make sure your know the code for your alarm before messing with the keys though :-)

AWG

854 posts

155 months

Monday 15th December 2014
quotequote all
Not sure I do wobble

Is there a way of finding out if the previous owner did not supply?

nickofh

Original Poster:

603 posts

117 months

Monday 15th December 2014
quotequote all
Not a way of finding out , but if you have at least one working key ( that opens the car and sets the alarm ) you can set it yourself.

I didn't know the code either and only had one key and I have managed to change the code to a personal one.

-If I remember correctly you first set the system with your working radio key as you would if locking the car normally.

-Straight away you then unset the system as you would if opening the car. Within 30 seconds enter this into your alarm keypad *17856*92*XXXX*XXXX# ( X = your new code )

-Then set your system with the key.

That should be it. You can try to either disarm or arm the system with the code now. All you do to unset it is enter the code. To set it enter the code and it should start beeping , so then get out and lock your car with the key and it should set!

Good luck , let me know if you need any more help. I am not a specialist though just someone who has had a mess around with their own alarm. - So don't blame me if you break it! :-)

ETA- the keypad code might be *17856*992*XXXX*XXXX#

Edited by nickofh on Monday 15th December 20:21

NailedOn

3,114 posts

234 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
quotequote all
Hi. I have bought a Sigma remote and tried to mate it to my car by following the instructions supplied. (They are identical to the instructions that came with the handbook except line two reads *991 whereas in the handbook it says *91.

I have followed these instructions several times, and am unable to add the Sigma remote to the car.
The sequence does re-add my existing key so looks OK.
Everything proceeds as per the sequence except for a beep when I push the Sigma button. The Sigma does have power as the light comes on when pressed.

My key and Sigma remote look just like the ones in your picture but maybe I need a different remote? I have an Outback MY2008. I think this model first came out in 2004 and the M series remotes for sale on eBay say they are for MY2002.

I can use the car with a spare blade I had cloned and using the PIN code on the keypad but of course the alarm goes off every time I use this method.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Edited by NailedOn on Tuesday 16th December 15:20

nickofh

Original Poster:

603 posts

117 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
quotequote all
My first thought is that it might be the wrong sigma fob. There are two kinds that look nearly identical. For mine the fob is a Sigma AC111 ( it says on the back the model number ). This one works with the S Series.

They also do a Sigma AC110 which works with Sigma M Series alarms. The two are not compatible. Do you know which alarm you have ?


nickofh

Original Poster:

603 posts

117 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
quotequote all
I just remembered that you might have to do something different to code two different keys or fobs to the system. You sort of have to tell it that you are adding two different fobs I think.

Maybe try this , the two in the sequence is you telling the machine that there are two fobs.

-*17856*91*2#

-then press one remote the siren will beep , press the other remote the siren should beep.

Have you tried just coding the fob to the system , as if you have managed to set your key up it might be worth trying it with just the fob to see if it works.

Let me know how you get on :-) Good Luck!

NailedOn

3,114 posts

234 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
quotequote all
nickofh said:
My first thought is that it might be the wrong sigma fob. There are two kinds that look nearly identical. For mine the fob is a Sigma AC111 ( it says on the back the model number ). This one works with the S Series.

They also do a Sigma AC110 which works with Sigma M Series alarms. The two are not compatible. Do you know which alarm you have ?
Thanks for your help here.
I bought the AC111 aka S series. I contacted the seller who thought I may need the M series. Google reckons that is for 2002 models and my car is a 2008, originally launched in the UK in 2003. On eBay the M series are going for £40-60. I'll try a local locksmith soon as they may be able to interrogate the car's ECU.

I did manage to get the new blade to work with the PIN code. Of course that route means the alarm goes off when you manually unlock the car. So just the 'blipper' to crack!

Watch this space- cheers.

NailedOn

3,114 posts

234 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
quotequote all
nickofh said:
I just remembered that you might have to do something different to code two different keys or fobs to the system. You sort of have to tell it that you are adding two different fobs I think.

Maybe try this , the two in the sequence is you telling the machine that there are two fobs.

-*17856*91*2#

-then press one remote the siren will beep , press the other remote the siren should beep.

Have you tried just coding the fob to the system , as if you have managed to set your key up it might be worth trying it with just the fob to see if it works.

Let me know how you get on :-) Good Luck!
This is in line with the instructions that came with the car and also the Sigma blipper.
I am there except that my Sigma does not make the car beep.