Re: Engine Immobilizer and Key Battery

On 6/3/20 5:56 PM, Darryl Johnson wrote:
> On 2020-06-03 5:07 p.m., Wade Garrett wrote:
>> Got a 2017 Forester with remote keyless entry but NOT push button start.
>>
>> If the battery in the key cap drains so low that the key push buttons 
>> won't lock/unlock the door, can the engine still recognize the 
>> immobilizer chip in the key and still start/run?
> 
> When the battery in my Audi's key got too low, the car started, but 
> wouldn't keep running. Plus I couldn't use the remote to lock/unlock the 
> doors.
> 
> Fortunately, it was a simple job to replace the button battery in the fob.
> 
> Obviously, an Audi is not a Subaru, and things may well be completely 
> different, but I wouldn't take the Subie too far away from alternate 
> transport until you get that battery replaced if I were you.

Mine isn't a fob. It's a metal key you insert into the ignition switch 
on the steering column and twist to start the car.

It looks like an ordinary key but with a big plastic head that has lock, 
unlock and emergency horn-blow buttons and a button battery inside.

I guess my question really is does the immobilizer system require the 
key battery to still have a charge...