Stelcom66 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I just picked up an '02 Forester S - my 7th Subaru. What a great car - I love having a manual transmission again! The key FOB doesn't work - replaced the battery from the same type of FOB from my Outback, still n/g. Seems like the LED is erratic - sometimes it will stay on, blink or is dim. Assuming the FOB may be defective I thought I'd try the Outback FOB - tried the instructions to program the FOB by turning the ignition from Lock to On 10 times within 15 seconds...etc, no luck. After the 10th turn the horn should beep to indicate it's in the programming mode - mine does not. I wonder if some other way could the system be disabled - I read how it can be if an alarm system is installed and placed in the 'passive' mode but I don't think that's the case. I wonder if a certain fuse is in line with the system - the overhead clock doesn't work either. Probably not related - but will refer to the manual for any other possibilities. Any other reason it may not be going into programming mode? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I think there's a button of some kind you have to push buried in the wiring under the dash somewhere. I don't recall exactly. the overhead clock doesn't work either. Probably not related - Nope. That's a common problem. Broken solder joint on the PCB. http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/oh-no-my-clock-doesnt-work-3350/ If you're not comfortable with a soldering iron, there's an ad in the classified section where one of our members has some already repaired clocks for sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelcom66 Posted April 25, 2011 Author Share Posted April 25, 2011 Ok thanks - I'll see if the local Subaru dealership (not where I bought it) will tell me anything. I was going to see if I could remove the clock to see if there's voltage - maybe I can re-solder the connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 yeah the clocks come out really easy, takes a minute, that's it, nothing to it. mdjc is the one selling refurbished clocks in the for sale section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelcom66 Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 That's good to hear - where exactly is the classified section? I'll try quick links. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtdash Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 HI, Sounds like you're doing it correctly, but this LINK from the cars101.com may have some hints about programming. GL, Td Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelcom66 Posted April 27, 2011 Author Share Posted April 27, 2011 Thanks - I don't recall the owner's manual saying to step on the brake. Will try that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelcom66 Posted May 7, 2011 Author Share Posted May 7, 2011 Haven't fooled with the keyless entry but bought a new battery for the remote. Took the clock apart - checked continuity ok in a few random places. Thanks for the link to the repair - I'll need to check the connection to that component carefully. I verified constant 12v and 12v ignition on at the connector. If I have no luck - how does one get to this classified section in this forum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 how does one get to this classified section in this forum? http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelcom66 Posted May 8, 2011 Author Share Posted May 8, 2011 Thanks everyone! I started looking at the clock more carefully - component 510 in particular (a resistor?). I touched the solder joint with a screwdriver and the whole resistor fell off. I soldered it back on, now the clock works! I was kind of surprised because the tip on my soldering iron isn't very fine and I probably worked on surface mount components only once before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 That is a resistor. I think it is a 1 watt, 51 ohm, if I remember correctly. The biggest thing about resoldering them is making sure the contacts of the PC board and resistor are clean and using a minimum of heat when resolding it. As far as I know no one has had any further problem with that resistor connection after if was worked on. It sounds like there may be a problem with the keyless entry module since you say the LED is acting a little strange. I suggest you verify it is getting a good connection to power before doing anything else with it. The LED should pulse when the system is in the armed mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelcom66 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 Sorry for the delayed reply - I've had a lot of trouble getting on this board lately - keep getting 'Database error'. I installed a new battery in the keyless remote - as suspected the remote itself seems bad since the LED will sometimes stay half lit after pressing the orange button. I'll try programming the remote from my Outback again. In the mean time it's nice having a clock again - I like where it's mounted. Reminds me a bit of the compass in a Plymouth Grand Voyager I had many years ago. I do really enjoy driving the Forester with the 5-speed. Although the same engine as the Outback I traded in - it is a distinctly different vehicle. I'm impressed that I can comfortably stay in 5th gear most of the time in hilly terrain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelcom66 Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 Finally tried again to program my old keyless entry remote - this time it was successful. Not sure what I did differently - maybe didn't turn the key on/off quick enough before. Luckily I forgot to turn it the 2nd remote for my Outback when I traded it in - but just as well since the one I received with the Forester was defective. I now have intermittent trouble with the clock - I got it working a while ago but occasionally it'll reset to 1:00. Resoldered the suggested resistor, still happened. Don't think it's an interruption of constant 12v - the radio doesn't lose it's presets but maybe it has an internal backup battery, and once it happened while I was driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 I would guess there still is a bad solder connection on the clock board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelcom66 Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 Yes - I heard it's a good idea to re-solder all connections possible which I'll try. Happened again while driving today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stelcom66 Posted July 25, 2011 Author Share Posted July 25, 2011 Looks like you were correct - another bad solder connection on the circuit board. Got a new soldering iron with a better tip and resoldered several connections. For about 2 weeks it's been ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now