2021 Subaru Forester Owners Manual - Keyless access with push-button start system (if equipped)

Keyless access with push-button start system (if equipped)

The following access key fobs are pro- vided with the vehicle.

Access key fobs

Key number plate

The “keyless access with push-button start system” allows the following functions to be performed when the access key fob is being carried.

Locking and unlocking of doors, rear gate and fuel filler lid (For details, refer to “Locking and unlocking by holding the access key fob”  P118.)

Starting and stopping the engine (For details, refer to “Starting and stopping

engine (models with push-button start system)”  P310.)

Arming and disarming the alarm sys- tem (For details, refer to “Alarm system”

 P138.)

Locking/unlocking using the remote keyless entry system can also be con- trolled with the buttons on the access key fob. For details, refer to “Remote keyless entry system”  P131.

Carefully store the key number plate supplied with the access key fob. It is necessary for vehicle repair and addi- tional registration of access key fobs. For details, refer to “Key replacement”

 P129.

An emergency key is attached to each access key fob.

Release button

Emergency key

Press the release button of the access key fob to take out the emergency key.

The emergency key is used for the follow- ing operations.

Locking and unlocking the driver’s door

Locking and unlocking the glove box

& Safety precautions

Antennas

The operational/non-operational setting for the keyless access function can be changed. For the setting proce- dure, refer to “Disabling keyless ac- cess function”  P124.

For detailed information about the operation method for the push-button ignition switch while the keyless ac- cess function is switched to the non- operational mode, refer to “Access key fob – if access key fob does not operate properly”  P441.

The keyless access with push-but- ton start system uses weak radio waves. The status of the access key fob and environmental conditions may interfere with the communication be- tween the access key fob and the vehicle under the following conditions, and it may not be possible to lock or unlock the doors or start the engine.

– When operating near a facility where strong radio waves are trans- mitted, such as a broadcast station and power transmission lines.

When products that transmit radio waves are used, such as an access key fob or a remote trans- mitter key of another vehicle.

When carrying the access key fob of your vehicle together with the access key fob or the remote trans- mitter of another vehicle.

When the access key fob is placed near wireless communica- tion equipment such as a cell phone.

When the access key fob is placed near a metallic object.

When metallic accessories are attached to the access key fob.

When carrying the access key fob with an electronic appliance such as a laptop computer.

When the battery of the access key fob is discharged.

The access key fob is always com- municating with the vehicle and is continuously using the battery. Although the life of the battery varies depending on the operating conditions, it is approximately 1 to 2 years. If the battery becomes fully discharged, re- place it with a new one.

If an access key fob is lost, it is recommended that all of the remaining access key fobs be reregistered. For

reregistration of an access key fob, contact a SUBARU dealer.

For a spare access key fob, contact a SUBARU dealer.

Up to 7 access key fobs can be registered for one vehicle.

Do not leave the access key fob in the storage spaces inside the vehicle, such as the door pocket, dashboard or inside the corner of the cargo area. Vibrations may damage the key fob or turn on the switch, possibly resulting in a lockout.

After the vehicle battery is dis- charged or replaced, initialization of the steering lock system may be re- quired to start the engine. In this case, perform the following procedure to initialize the steering lock.

Turn the push-button ignition switch to the “OFF” position. For details, refer to “Switching power status”  P163.

Open and close the driver’s door.

Wait for approximately 10 sec- onds.

When the steering is locked, the initi- alization is completed.

Do not leave the access key fob in the following places.

On the instrument panel

On the floor

Inside the glove box

Inside the door trim pocket

On the rear seat

In the cargo area

If you do, the following situations may occur.

The access key fob is mistakenly locked inside the vehicle.

A false warning issues although no malfunction actually occurs.

No warning issues even when a malfunction occurs.

& Locking and unlocking by holding the access key fob

When the access key fob is carried within the operating range, the doors, rear gate and fuel filler lid can be locked/unlocked just by touching the door handle.

! Operating ranges

Antennas

Operating range (approximately 16 to 32 in (40 to 80 cm))

1) LED indicator

When the access key fob is within either of the operating ranges of the front doors, the LED indicator on the access key fob flashes. When the keyless access func- tions are disabled, the LED indicator does not flash unless a button on the access key fob is pressed.

If the access key fob is placed too close to the vehicle body, the keyless access functions may not operate properly. If it does not operate properly, repeat the operation from farther away.

If the access key fob is placed near the ground or in an elevated location from the ground, even if it is in the indicated operating range, the keyless

access function may not operate prop- erly.

When the access key fob is within the operating range, it is possible for anyone, even someone who is not carrying the access key fob, to operate the keyless access function. Note that the keyless access function can be operated only by the door handle, door lock sensor, rear gate opener button or rear lock button in the operating range in which the access key fob is detected.

It is not possible to lock the doors, rear gate and fuel filler lid using the keyless access function when the ac- cess key fob is inside the vehicle. However, depending on the status of the access key fob and the environ- mental conditions, the access key fob may be locked inside the vehicle. Before locking the vehicle, make sure that you have the access key fob.

When the battery of the access key fob is discharged, or when operating it in a location with strong radio waves or noise (e.g., near a radio tower, power plant, broadcast station or an area where wireless equipment is used), or while talking on a cell phone, the operating ranges may be reduced, or the keyless access function may not operate.

In such a case, perform the procedure

described in “Locking and unlocking”

 P442.

The doors may lock or unlock when the car is being washed or exposed to a significant amount of water that con- tacts the door handle while the key fob is still in the operating range.

! How to lock and unlock

It is possible to perform the following operations when you are carrying the access key fob.

Lock and unlock the doors.

Lock and unlock the rear gate.

Lock and unlock the fuel filler lid.

It is not possible to lock the doors, rear gate and fuel filler lid using the keyless access function when the push-button ignition switch is in the “ACC” or “ON” position. Refer to “Switching power status”  P163.

If the door handle is gripped with a gloved hand, the door lock may not be released.

If the door lock sensor is touched three times or more repeatedly, the system will ignore the sensor opera- tion.

When performing the locking proce- dure too quickly, locking may not

complete. After performing the locking procedure, it is recommended to pull the REAR door handle to confirm that the doors have been locked.

If any of the doors (or the rear gate) are not fully closed, the following will occur to alert you that the doors (or the rear gate) are not properly closed.

An electronic chirp sounds five times.

The hazard warning flashers flash five times.

It is possible to lock the doors even when one of the doors is open. After performing the locking procedure, close the opened door or rear gate to lock it.

Within 3 seconds after locking the doors and the rear gate using the keyless access function, it is not pos- sible to unlock doors and/or the rear gate using the keyless access function.

When locking, be sure to carry the access key fob to prevent locking the access key fob in the vehicle.

The setting of the hazard warning flasher operation and the volume of the audible signal can be changed by your SUBARU dealer. Contact your SUBARU dealer for details. Also, for models with the combination meter display (color LCD), the setting of the hazard warning

flasher operation can be changed by operating the combination meter dis- play (color LCD). For details, refer to “Keyless Entry System”  P201.

! Locking with the door lock sensor

Door lock sensor

Carry the access key fob, close all doors including the rear gate, and touch the door lock sensor on the door handle. All doors including the rear gate and fuel filler lid will be locked. Also, an electronic chirp will sound once and the hazard warning flashers will flash once.

Rear lock button

Carry the access key fob, close all doors including the rear gate, and press the rear lock button. The rear gate, fuel filler lid and all doors will be locked. Also, an electronic chirp will sound once and the hazard warning flashers will flash once.

Power rear gate lock button

Carry the access key fob, and press the power rear gate lock button. It will close automatically, and the rear gate, all doors and the fuel filler lid will be locked. Also, the hazard warning flashers will flash once, and an electronic chirp will sound once.

! Unlocking

Carry the access key fob, and touch the sensor behind the door handle.

The driver’s door handle:

Either the driver’s door and fuel filler lid will unlock, or all doors and the fuel filler lid will unlock.

The front passenger’s door handle: The fuel filler lid, rear gate and all doors will be unlocked.

Also, an electronic chirp will sound twice and the hazard warning flashers will flash twice.

Rear gate opener button

Carry the access key fob, and press the rear gate opener button. Either only the rear gate will unlock, or all doors and the fuel filler lid will unlock. Also, an electronic chirp will sound twice and the hazard warning flashers will flash twice.

When the door is unlocked using the keyless access function, only the doors that were set can be unlocked.

The settings can be changed with the following methods.

The setting can be changed by operat- ing the combination meter display (color LCD). Refer to “Keyless Entry System”

 P201.

The setting can be changed by a SUBARU dealer.

Unlock using PIN Code Ac- cess

When all doors including the rear gate are locked, you can unlock the doors (includ- ing rear gate) without a key by pressing the rear lock button.

Rear lock button

! Registration for a PIN code

NOTE

Press the “” button within 30 seconds of step 6 to end the preparation mode and move on to the registration stage. Unless the “ ” button is pressed within 30 seconds after step 6, the PIN code registration will be canceled.

NOTE

Press the rear lock button ten times to enter “0”.

Change the PIN code frequently to protect your vehicle from theft.

If you have lent your vehicle to another person, confirm that the PIN code has not been changed or deleted. If the PIN code has been changed or deleted, reregister a new PIN code.

If you make an error during the registration procedure, press the “ ” or “ ” button on the access key fob. Then, start over from the procedure described in “Preparation for register- ing a PIN code”.

To protect your vehicle from theft, you cannot register a string of the same five numbers together, such as “00000”, nor “12345” as a PIN code.

Do not register your vehicle license plate number or simple numbers such as “11122” or “12121” as a PIN code. Doing so will increase the risk of vehicle theft.

When you try to register “22222”, the registered PIN code will be deleted. You cannot unlock the doors by PIN Code Access until a new code is registered.

After registering a new PIN code, make sure that you can unlock the doors using the PIN code.

The PIN code cannot be deleted while the keyless access function is disabled by operating the access key fob.

Reregister the PIN code in the fol- lowing cases.

When you forget the PIN code.

When you want to change the PIN code.

! Unlocking

Perform step 5 described in “Registration for a PIN code”.

You cannot unlock by PIN Code Access in the following cases.

When the access key fob is within the operating ranges.

When the ignition switch is in the “ACC” or “ON” position.

If you make an operation error dur- ing the unlocking procedure, start over with the unlocking procedure after waiting for 5 seconds or longer.

To protect your vehicle from theft, a buzzer will sound if incorrect PIN codes are entered five times continuously. If this occurs, you cannot unlock the doors by PIN Code Access for 5 minutes.

Power saving function

The keyless access function will be dis- abled in the following cases to protect the access key fob battery and the vehicle battery.

Case 1: When the keyless access function and the remote keyless entry system have not been used for 2 weeks or longer while all doors are locked.

Operate one of the following items to recover the keyless access function:

Unlock the doors by any procedure other than gripping the front passen- ger’s door handle.

Lock the doors.

Open a door and then close it.

Case 2: When the access key fob has been left in the operating range for 10 minutes or longer while all doors are locked.

Operate one of the following items to recover the keyless access function:

Unlock the doors by gripping the door handle.

Unlock the doors by pressing the rear gate opener button.

Lock the doors by touching the door lock sensor.

Lock or unlock the doors using the

remote keyless entry system.

Lock or unlock the doors using the power door locking switch.

Open either of the front doors.

This function stops the access key fob from receiving signals and helps minimize the battery consumption of the access key fob.

Press the “ ” button twice while hold- ing the “ ” button.

LED indicator

Confirm that the LED indicator blinks 4 times to notify that the setting is complete. When the access key fob is in the power save mode, the keyless access function

and push-button start system will not be available.

To cancel the power save mode, press one of the buttons on the access key fob.

Disabling keyless access function

When the vehicle is not going to be used for a long time or when you choose not to use the keyless access function, the key- less access function can be disabled.

The locking and unlocking function by the remote keyless entry system is not disabled.

To start the engine while the func- tions are disabled, perform the proce- dure described in “Starting engine”

 P442.

! Disabling functions

! By operating the access key fob

If you have registered a PIN code for PIN Code Access, you can disable the keyless access function by operating the access key fob. For details about registering a PIN code, refer to “Unlock using PIN Code Access”  P121.

Open the driver’s door.

Rotate the lock lever toward the lock position.

Press and hold the “ ” button and “ ” button on the access key fob simulta-

neously for more than 5 seconds.

A chirp will sound, and the function will be disabled.

A chirp will sound, and the functions will be disabled.

! Enabling functions

When the procedure to disable the func- tions is performed again, a chirp will sound, and the functions are enabled.

The keyless access function will be enabled only if you perform the proce- dure in the same manner used to disable the function (for example, when disabling by operating the driver’s door, the function will not be enabled even if you operate the access key fob).

Press the push-button ignition switch if you do not know the proce- dure in which the keyless access func- tion was disabled.

When disabling by operating the driver’s door: A chirp will not sound.

When disabling by operating the access key fob: A chirp will sound.

Selecting audible signal op- eration

Using an electronic chirp, the system will give you an audible signal when the doors lock and unlock. If desired, you may turn the audible signal off. For more details, contact a SUBARU dealer.

Warning chimes and warning indicator

The keyless access with push-button start system sounds a warning chime and flashes the access key warning indicator on the combination meter in order to minimize improper operations and help protect your vehicle from theft.

For details, refer to “Warning chimes and warning indicator of the keyless access with push-button start system”  P183.

When access key fob does not operate properly

Refer to “Access key fob – if access key fob does not operate properly”  P441.

Replacing battery of access key fob

Refer to “Replacing battery of access key fob”  P497.

Replacing access key fob

Access key fobs can be replaced by a SUBARU dealer. For more details, contact a SUBARU dealer.

Certification for keyless ac- cess with push-button start system

U.S.-spec. models

FCC ID: HYQ14AHK FCC ID: Y8PSSPIMB02 FCC ID: Y8PFJ16-1

Canada-spec. models

Mexico-spec. models

IFT

RLVDE1415-1661 14AHK

DENSO