Experiencing issues with your 2016 Subaru Outback key fob? A common culprit is a dead battery. It can be frustrating when your key fob stops working, leaving you struggling to access or start your vehicle. Fortunately, replacing the key fob battery in your 2016 Subaru Outback is a straightforward process you can easily handle yourself. This guide will walk you through each step, ensuring you can quickly get your key fob back in working order.
Subaru has utilized a few different key fob designs over the years. For your 2016 Subaru Outback, you’ll likely have one of two main types: the bulging rectangle shape or the teardrop shape. While they look slightly different, the battery replacement process is quite similar for both. The key difference lies in the type of battery each fob requires. To determine which battery you need and how to replace it, let’s identify your key fob type.
If you’re unsure which key fob you have, a quick check of your owner’s manual will clarify. Once you’ve identified your fob and the corresponding battery type, you can confidently follow the instructions below to replace your 2016 Subaru Outback Key Fob Battery.
Let’s get started with replacing that dead battery and restoring full functionality to your Subaru Outback key fob.
Replacing the Battery in Your 2016 Subaru Outback Bulging Rectangle Key Fob
This type of key fob, often used in the 2016 Subaru Outback, requires a CR2032 battery. Here’s how to replace it:
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Remove the Emergency Key: Locate the small silver tab on the back of your key fob. Press and hold this tab to release and remove the metal emergency key. This key is a backup to manually unlock your car door if needed.
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Open the Key Fob Casing: With the emergency key removed, you’ll see a seam running around the edge of the key fob. Carefully pry open the fob casing. A flathead screwdriver or a thin coin can be helpful to gently insert into the seam and twist to separate the two halves. Be gentle to avoid damaging the plastic casing.
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Locate the Battery: Once the fob is open, you’ll see the internal components. The flat, round CR2032 battery will be visible. It might be positioned above or below the transmitter circuit board depending on how you opened the fob.
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Replace the Battery: Gently release the old battery from its housing. Note the orientation of the battery – usually, the positive (+) side faces upwards. Pop the new CR2032 battery into place, ensuring the correct side is facing up. Try to minimize touching the flat surfaces of the new battery with your fingers; handling it by the edges is best to avoid transferring oils.
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Reassemble the Key Fob: Carefully snap the two halves of the key fob casing back together. They should click or snap firmly into place. Re-insert the metal emergency key until it clicks and is securely held.
Alt text: Steps to replace a 2016 Subaru Outback bulging rectangle key fob battery, showing opening the fob and battery placement.
Replacing the Battery in Your 2016 Subaru Outback Teardrop Key Fob
If your 2016 Subaru Outback uses the teardrop-shaped key fob, the process is very similar. This fob typically uses a 2025 battery.
The steps are almost identical to the bulging rectangle fob, with one minor difference:
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Skip Emergency Key Removal (If Applicable): Some teardrop fobs do not have a removable emergency key. If yours doesn’t, simply proceed to step 2. If it does have a removable key, remove it as described in step 1 above.
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Open the Key Fob Casing: Just like the rectangular fob, carefully pry open the teardrop fob casing using a small flathead screwdriver or coin, working along the seam.
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Locate and Replace the Battery: Identify the battery inside. For the teardrop fob, you’ll need a 2025 battery. Remove the old battery and insert the new 2025 battery, ensuring correct polarity (positive side up).
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Reassemble: Snap the two halves of the teardrop key fob back together securely. If you removed an emergency key, re-insert it.
Alt text: Disassembled teardrop Subaru key fob showing the location of the 2025 battery for replacement.
What If Replacing the Battery Doesn’t Solve the Issue?
In the vast majority of cases, replacing the key fob battery will restore its function. However, if you’ve replaced the battery and your 2016 Subaru Outback key fob still isn’t working, there might be another issue.
Here are a few possibilities:
- Incorrect Battery Type: Double-check that you used the correct battery type (CR2032 or 2025) for your specific key fob.
- Battery Polarity: Ensure the battery is installed with the correct polarity (+ side up).
- Key Fob Damage: If your key fob has been damaged by water or impact, internal components might be faulty.
- Key Fob Programming: In rare cases, or if you’ve replaced the fob itself, it might need to be reprogrammed to your vehicle.
For 2016 Subaru Outback models with the bulging rectangular fob (common for this year), key fob programming is typically handled at a dealership. If a new battery doesn’t fix the problem, contacting your local Subaru dealer, like Subaru North Orlando (if you’re in that region), is the best next step. They can diagnose the issue, program a new fob if necessary, and ensure your key fob system is working correctly.
While older Subaru models might have DIY key fob programming procedures, it’s generally recommended to seek professional assistance for newer vehicles, especially if battery replacement doesn’t resolve the issue.
Conclusion
Replacing the 2016 Subaru Outback key fob battery is generally a quick and simple fix that you can do at home. By following these steps and using the correct battery, you can likely restore your key fob’s functionality and avoid the inconvenience of a dead fob. If you encounter persistent issues, don’t hesitate to contact your Subaru dealership for expert assistance and to explore options like key fob reprogramming or replacement. They have the expertise to get you back on the road with a fully functional key fob.
