It can be incredibly frustrating when your key fob stops working. Suddenly, accessing your 2015 Subaru Legacy becomes a hassle. Before you panic or rush to the dealership, know that a dead key fob battery is a common issue with a simple solution. Replacing the battery in your Subaru Legacy key fob is a straightforward process you can easily do yourself at home. This guide will walk you through each step, ensuring you get back to effortlessly accessing your vehicle in no time.
Step-by-Step Subaru Key Fob Battery Replacement for Your 2015 Legacy
Subaru has used a few different key fob designs over the years. For your 2015 Subaru Legacy, you’ll likely have one of two main types of key fobs. Let’s identify them and then get into how to replace their batteries.
Identifying Your 2015 Subaru Legacy Key Fob
While there can be slight variations, for a 2015 Subaru Legacy, you’ll generally encounter one of these key fob styles:
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Bulging Rectangle Shape: This is a more modern design and is characterized by its rectangular shape with a noticeable bulge. It often has a metallic emergency key that slides out.
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Teardrop Shape: This is an older, more rounded design, resembling a teardrop. It’s typically more compact and doesn’t have a separate, removable emergency key in the same way as the rectangular fob.
If you are unsure, take a look at your key fob and compare it to the descriptions above. Knowing which type you have is important because it dictates the battery type you’ll need.
What Battery Does My 2015 Subaru Legacy Key Fob Need?
- Bulging Rectangle Fob: Uses a CR2032 battery. This is a common 3V lithium coin cell battery.
- Teardrop Shape Fob: Uses a CR2025 battery. Also a 3V lithium coin cell battery, but slightly thinner than the CR2032.
It’s crucial to use the correct battery type for reliable performance. You can find these batteries at most drug stores, supermarkets, auto parts stores, and online retailers.
Tools You’ll Need:
- A new CR2032 or CR2025 battery (depending on your fob type).
- A small flathead screwdriver (or a similar thin, flat tool – even a butter knife can work carefully).
- A soft cloth or paper towel (to keep the fob clean).
Let’s Get Started: Replacing the Battery
The process is very similar for both fob types, with a minor difference at the beginning for the rectangular fob.
Subaru Key Fob Battery Replacement – Bulging Rectangle Shape (CR2032 Battery)
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Remove the Emergency Key: Locate the small silver tab or button on the back side of your rectangular key fob. Press and hold this tab while gently pulling out the metal emergency key. This key is a physical backup to unlock your door if the electronic functions fail completely. Set the key aside.
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Pry Open the Fob Casing: Now that the emergency key is removed, you’ll see a seam where the two halves of the fob casing join together. This is where you need to gently pry it open. Insert the tip of your flathead screwdriver (wrapped in a soft cloth to prevent scratches) into this seam. Apply gentle twisting pressure. Work your way around the seam slowly, carefully separating the two halves of the fob. Avoid using excessive force, as you don’t want to damage the plastic casing.
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Locate the Battery: Once the fob is open, you’ll see the internal components. The round, flat key fob battery will be visible, either sitting on top of or underneath the transmitter circuit board, depending on how the fob halves separated.
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Remove and Replace the Old Battery: The battery is usually held in place by small metal clips. Gently use your fingertip or the tip of the screwdriver to nudge the old battery loose. Take note of which side of the battery is facing up (usually the side with the “+” symbol). Dispose of the old battery responsibly. Take your new CR2032 battery and slide it into place, ensuring the correct side (usually the “+” side) is facing upwards, matching the orientation of the old battery. Try to avoid touching the flat surfaces of the new battery with your bare fingers, as oils from your skin can reduce battery life.
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Reassemble the Fob: Carefully snap the two halves of the key fob casing back together. Press firmly until you hear or feel them click securely into place. Finally, slide the metal emergency key back into its slot until it clicks and locks.
Subaru Key Fob Battery Replacement – Teardrop Shape (CR2025 Battery)
The process for the teardrop-shaped fob is almost identical to the rectangular one. The main difference is that you skip step 1 (emergency key removal) as this fob design doesn’t have a removable emergency key in the same way.
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Pry Open the Fob Casing: Just like with the rectangular fob, locate the seam on the teardrop fob. Use your flathead screwdriver (or thin tool) to gently pry open the casing, working around the seam to separate the two halves.
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Locate and Replace the Battery: Once open, you’ll see the battery. Remove the old CR2025 battery, noting the orientation. Install the new CR2025 battery in the same orientation.
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Reassemble the Fob: Press the two halves of the teardrop key fob firmly back together until they snap closed securely.
Subaru Key Fob Battery Replacement – Exposed Metal Key with Buttons (CR 1620 Battery)
This older style fob requires a slightly different approach, as it has an inner casing.
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Open the Exterior Casing: This step is similar to opening the rectangular fob. You may need to pry it open gently using a flathead screwdriver along the seam.
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Open the Interior Casing: Once the exterior casing is open, you’ll see a second, smaller interior casing. This interior casing usually has small tabs holding it together. Carefully press these tabs to release and open the interior casing.
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Replace the Battery: Inside the inner casing, you’ll find the CR 1620 battery. Remove the old battery and replace it with a new CR 1620, ensuring correct polarity.
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Reassemble Both Casings: Close the interior casing first, making sure it clicks shut. Then, place the interior casing back into the exterior casing and snap the exterior casing closed.
Testing Your 2015 Subaru Legacy Key Fob
After reassembling your key fob, test it out! Press the lock and unlock buttons to ensure they are working correctly. If your Subaru Legacy responds as expected, you’ve successfully replaced your key fob battery!
What If a New Battery Doesn’t Solve the Problem?
In most cases, replacing the battery will revive your key fob. However, if you’ve installed a fresh battery and your 2015 Subaru Legacy key fob still isn’t working, there could be other issues.
- Key Fob Damage: The internal circuitry of the key fob might be damaged.
- Programming Issues: In rare cases, the key fob might need to be reprogrammed to your vehicle, although this is less common after just a battery change.
If a new battery doesn’t fix the issue, it’s best to consult with a professional. Your local Subaru dealership or a qualified automotive locksmith can diagnose the problem and offer solutions, which might include key fob replacement or reprogramming. While the original article mentions DIY programming, for newer models and for guaranteed results, professional service is often recommended.
Conclusion
Replacing the battery in your 2015 Subaru Legacy key fob is usually a quick and simple DIY task. By identifying your key fob type and following these step-by-step instructions, you can save time and money compared to dealership service. However, if you encounter any difficulties or if a new battery doesn’t solve the problem, don’t hesitate to seek professional help from Subaru experts to ensure your key fob and vehicle security system are functioning correctly.
