finding the programming button on a 98 OBW remote entry

[idosubaru]

trying to program this 98 OBW and i can't find the "programming" button. yes i read the directions on cars101.com and i've looked for inordinate amount of time and cut some electrical tape, pulled some stuff down....need some help here.

 

anyone have a clue what/where i'm looking for?

[davebugs]

Gary,

 

I've had a few where the button is beside the hood release lever. Still a little black button.

[johnceggleston]

i found mine as a "fat spot" in the wiring harness.

 

does a new unit come with a piece of wiring harness?

[idosubaru]

i found mine as a "fat spot" in the wiring harness.

 

does a new unit come with a piece of wiring harness?

 

what do you mean by "fat spot"?

 

not sure about new, this is a 98 OBW that had it when i got it. i still have no idea what the button looks like or how big it is.

[johnceggleston]

what do you mean by "fat spot"?

 

not sure about new, this is a 98 OBW that had it when i got it. i still have no idea what the button looks like or how big it is.

 

i think, if you follow the wiring harness back from the larger plug on the unit you may find a fat spot or bundle in the wiring wrapped in tape. that's how i found mine. in any event, the push button is connected to a wire that comes from the unit, so just trace them all. but mine was so hidden the wires and tape i almost over looked it. it is a very slender push button and if it has never been ''mounted'' it and an excess of wire may be taped up.

 

i just went out and looked at my 97obw, the wires to the button are brown, both of them and it feels like they come from the connector furthest from the large one but i wouldn't bet money on it. id have to snip the wire ties that hold it in place to be sure. this outback has the alarm part of the system as well. my 97 GT does not and i think it does not have wires at this connector, if i remember correctly.

 

 

slightly off topic,

i was going to sell my unit because i don't use it (i already carry too many keys adding a remote is just one more thing i don't want, but my wife loves hers). but when i removed it my power locks didn't work correctly from the drivers door. this leads me to believe that at some point during the install you have to cut or disconnect or re-route a wire.

[idosubaru]

okay nice, so this is a very small button only kind of contraption i'm looking for? i did follow all the wires from the box and it got me no where. found some going to a sensor with a LED - i guess for the alarm, some connecting to plugs going up towards the ignition maybe...and then others all bundled and hard to trace...guess the button is up in there somewhere.

 

so the button is close to the control box...like inches away?

[johnceggleston]

okay nice, so this is a very small button only kind of contraption i'm looking for? i did follow all the wires from the box and it got me no where. found some going to a sensor with a LED - i guess for the alarm, some connecting to plugs going up towards the ignition maybe...and then others all bundled and hard to trace...guess the button is up in there somewhere.

 

so the button is close to the control box...like inches away?

 

i think so.

 

when i was removing mine, i cut the wire ties and then the unit had several inches of slack so it would hang down on to your foot if you were driving. on one of these wire runs the button was bundled and taped up with another several inches of wire so you had enough slack to mount the button near the hood release.