5 Common Problems With Car Keys & Locks From Olympia Subaru
Just a couple decades ago, unlocking every car was pretty much the same: stick the key in the keyhole and turn. But today, all sorts of remote unlock, keyless and electronically paired systems are available. When they aren’t working as intended, it can keep you from starting the engine and even from getting into the vehicle at all.
The Olympia Subaru service center has the tools, equipment and friendly technicians to get your car fixed the right way. Below, we’ll tell you about five common problems you might one day experience with the various locking mechanisms you might find on a modern Subaru. If you’d like to upgrade your old manual key Subaru to a sophisticated system with remote start and keyless entry, we can take care of that too! We can unlock all the potential in your Subaru at the Olympia Subaru service department.
5. Standard Key
While basically all brand-new cars today have more advanced technology to make locking and unlocking easier, plenty of vehicles on the road today still use a manual key to unlock the doors and turn the ignition.
On vehicles such as these, one of the locks may become stuck and the key won’t turn. This could be due to teeth that have been worn down on the key itself and no longer mesh properly with the tumblers in the lock. Or, it could be due to damage to the lock or even the door latching mechanism. Sometimes, cars with manual keys can be targeted for a relatively easy theft. A botched car theft might leave you with broken door locks if the would-be thief tried to force the lock. To fix problems with the physical locks in your car door, a technician will need to disassemble the door from the inside, using special tools to keep the interior pieces from being damaged.
4. Immobilizer Key
The base trim levels on many new cars today feature a simple remote unlocking key fob and an immobilizer key. A step up from manual locks, the key fob lets you lock and unlock your doors from several yards away. Some fobs also let you open the trunk or trigger the alarm system as well. If your key fob stops working, you’ve probably simply got a dead battery inside the fob. Head to Olympia Subaru so we can replace it. Furthermore, if you notice you have to get closer and closer to your vehicle in order to get the key fob to work, the battery in the fob is probably going bad.
Once inside the car, you turn the key in the ignition just like in a car with a standard key. A chip in your key will pair with a transponder in the steering column and allow the engine to turn over. A copy of your key without a properly programmed chip won’t work. Neither can an immobilized vehicle be easily “hot wired” and stolen without the key. If the fob is working, the key fits in the ignition, but turning the key doesn’t engage the starter, there could be a problem with your vehicle’s transponder.
3. Keyless Entry & Drive
Totally keyless entry systems take the immobilizer principle a step further. Sensors at each door can detect the presence of the key fob up to a distance of a couple yards. When you go to activate the door handle, the system checks for the key. If the key is in your pocket, the system detects the key and unlocks the door for you to climb in. You press the “Engine Start” button and off you go.
Just like with a standard key fob, a dead battery can prevent your key from being detected. To determine if your key fob has a dead battery, you can try unlocking the door with a second backup fob. If it works, you’ve most likely got a dead battery in the first fob. If you can’t access your car, most key fobs have a hidden physical key that can unlock the doors. You may have to remove a small trim piece to uncover the key hole in the door.
If you have a blown fuse, a wiring issue or the vehicle has “forgotten” your key fob and needs to be reprogrammed, head to Olympia Subaru or give us a call for assistance.
2. Remote Start
Remote engine start lets you activate the engine and climate control systems without even getting inside your vehicle. Various systems are available, including key fob-based systems and smartphone app-based systems.
The latest Subaru vehicles with STARLINK™ Safety & Security allow you to start the engine and even adjust the climate control settings all from your smartphone. Other systems, such as those installed at the dealership on an older Subaru model, use a special key fob. In either case, they can fail if the transponder in the car isn’t working or needs to be reprogrammed.
Before you head to Olympia Subaru for a fix, make sure you’re using the remote start system properly. The Subaru remote start system works from a distance of up to 75 feet, but that can be reduced depending on obstructions. Also, make sure your vehicle is locked before attempting to remotely start the vehicle. If all the doors are not locked, the vehicle cannot be remotely started. This is a safety precaution that prevents someone from driving off with your car while you’re waiting for it to warm up inside.
1. Car Steering Lock
A key that won’t turn in the ignition could be due to the steering wheel lock. An oft-overlooked feature on most modern cars, the steering wheel lock is another anti-theft measure. If you turn the wheel on a car with the key removed from the ignition, the steering wheel will eventually lock in place. This lock places tension on both the wheel and the ignition cylinder. To release the lock, you’ll need to turn the key — but the key won’t turn until you release the tension on the wheel by rotating it slightly. This feature prevents your car from being stolen without the key, but it can make it hard to start your own car if you don’t know how it works! Try turning the wheel slightly as you turn the key to release a steering wheel lock.
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