Is your Subaru Crosstrek key fob acting up? Before you panic, it’s highly likely that a simple battery replacement is all you need. A dead key fob battery is a common issue, but thankfully, changing it is a straightforward process you can easily handle yourself. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about your Subaru Crosstrek Key Fob Battery Type and how to replace it, ensuring you’re back on the road with a fully functional key fob in no time.
Identifying Your Subaru Crosstrek Key Fob and Battery Type
Subaru has utilized a few different key fob designs over the years, and knowing which one you have is the first step in determining the correct Subaru Crosstrek key fob battery type. While your owner’s manual is the ultimate resource for identifying your specific key fob, here’s a breakdown of the common types you might encounter with your Crosstrek:
1. Bulging Rectangle Shape Key Fob
This is a common design for newer Subaru Crosstrek models. It’s characterized by its rectangular shape with a noticeable bulge and typically includes a metal emergency key that slides into the fob.
Subaru Crosstrek Key Fob Battery Type for Bulging Rectangle Fob: CR2032 Battery
This type of fob uses a widely available CR2032 battery. It’s a 3V lithium coin cell battery known for its reliability and longevity in key fobs.
2. Teardrop Shape Key Fob
An older design, the teardrop-shaped fob is, as the name suggests, shaped like a teardrop. It’s sleeker and doesn’t have a removable emergency key in the same way as the rectangular fob.
Subaru Crosstrek Key Fob Battery Type for Teardrop Shape Fob: CR2025 Battery
This fob typically requires a CR2025 battery. While similar in size to the CR2032, the CR2025 is slightly thinner. It’s crucial to use the correct battery type to ensure proper fit and function.
3. Exposed Metal Key with Buttons Key Fob
This is the oldest style of electronic key fob from Subaru, where the metal key is always visible and integrated into the fob casing along with the buttons.
Subaru Crosstrek Key Fob Battery Type for Exposed Metal Key Fob: CR1620 Battery
This less common fob uses a CR1620 battery. This battery is smaller and thinner than both the CR2032 and CR2025, reflecting the more compact design of this older key fob.
It’s always best to double-check your owner’s manual to confirm the exact Subaru Crosstrek key fob battery type for your specific model year. However, understanding these common types will guide you in the right direction.
Step-by-Step Guide to Subaru Crosstrek Key Fob Battery Replacement
Once you’ve identified your key fob type and the corresponding Subaru Crosstrek key fob battery type, you’re ready to replace the battery. Here are detailed instructions for each type:
Replacing the Battery in a Bulging Rectangle Shape Subaru Crosstrek Key Fob (CR2032 Battery)
This process is straightforward and requires minimal tools.
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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 the metal emergency key. Slide the key out and set it aside.
Alt text: Close-up of the silver release tab on a bulging rectangular Subaru key fob, highlighting the point of interaction for emergency key removal.
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Pry Open the Key Fob: With the emergency key removed, you’ll see a seam running around the fob. Carefully insert a flathead screwdriver or a thin pry tool into this seam. Gently twist or pry to separate the two halves of the fob. Take your time to avoid damaging the plastic casing.
Alt text: Image showing a flathead screwdriver carefully positioned within the seam of a rectangular Subaru key fob, demonstrating the initial step in opening the fob casing.
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Locate the Battery: Once open, you’ll see the circuit board and the round, flat key fob battery. Note its orientation (positive side up or down) before removal.
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Replace the Battery: Gently release the old battery. It might be held in place by small clips. Pop in the new CR2032 battery, ensuring the correct side is facing upwards (usually the positive side, marked with a “+”, faces up). Minimize touching the flat surfaces of the new battery with your fingers; handle it by the edges if possible to avoid transferring oils.
Alt text: Detailed view of a CR2032 battery being placed into the battery compartment of a Subaru key fob, emphasizing the proper polarity and alignment.
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Reassemble the Key Fob: Carefully snap the two halves of the fob back together until they click securely. Re-insert the metal emergency key until it locks into place.
Replacing the Battery in a Teardrop Shape Subaru Crosstrek Key Fob (CR2025 Battery)
The process for the teardrop fob is very similar to the rectangular fob, but it omits the emergency key removal step.
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Pry Open the Key Fob: Locate the seam on the teardrop-shaped fob. Insert a flathead screwdriver or pry tool into the seam and gently pry the two halves apart.
Alt text: Image illustrating the process of using a flathead screwdriver to open the seam of a teardrop-shaped Subaru key fob for battery replacement.
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Locate and Replace the Battery: Open the fob to access the battery. Remove the old CR2025 battery and replace it with a new one, ensuring correct polarity.
Alt text: Visual representation of replacing a CR2025 battery within a teardrop Subaru key fob, highlighting the battery and its placement inside the fob.
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Reassemble the Key Fob: Snap the two halves of the fob back together firmly.
Replacing the Battery in an Exposed Metal Key Subaru Crosstrek Key Fob (CR1620 Battery)
This older style fob requires an extra step due to its nested casing design.
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Pry Open the Outer Casing: Open the main, outer casing of the fob just as you would the bulging rectangle or teardrop fobs, by inserting a flathead screwdriver into the seam and gently prying it apart.
Alt text: Image depicting the initial step of opening the outer casing of a Subaru key fob with an exposed metal key, using a pry tool along the seam.
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Open the Inner Casing: Inside the outer casing, you’ll find a second, smaller inner casing. This inner casing will have small tabs or clips holding it together. Carefully press these tabs to release and open the inner casing.
Alt text: Close-up view of pressing the release tabs on the inner casing of a Subaru key fob with an exposed metal key to access the battery compartment.
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Replace the Battery: Once the inner casing is open, you can access the CR1620 battery. Remove the old battery and replace it with a new CR1620, ensuring the correct orientation.
Alt text: Image showing the replacement of a CR1620 battery within the opened inner casing of a Subaru key fob with an exposed metal key.
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Reassemble Both Casings: Close the inner casing first, ensuring it clicks shut. Then, place the inner casing back into the outer casing and snap the outer casing closed.
What If Replacing the Subaru Crosstrek Key Fob Battery Doesn’t Work?
In the vast majority of cases, replacing the Subaru Crosstrek key fob battery type will solve the problem. However, if you’ve replaced the battery and your key fob still isn’t working, there might be another issue. Here are a few possibilities:
- Key Fob Programming: Sometimes, after a battery replacement, or if there’s been an issue with your car’s system, the key fob might need to be reprogrammed to your vehicle. While some older Subaru models allow for DIY key fob programming, newer models often require dealership programming due to security complexities.
- Key Fob Damage: If your key fob has been dropped, gotten wet, or otherwise damaged, internal components might be faulty, requiring a complete key fob replacement.
- Vehicle Issues: In rare cases, the problem might not be with the key fob itself but with your Subaru Crosstrek’s receiver system.
If you’re still experiencing issues after replacing the battery, it’s best to contact your local Subaru dealership. They can diagnose the problem, reprogram your existing key fob if necessary, or provide you with a replacement key fob and program it for you.
Conclusion
Replacing your Subaru Crosstrek key fob battery type is usually a quick and simple fix for a non-responsive key fob. By identifying your key fob type and following the appropriate steps, you can often resolve the issue yourself and avoid a trip to the dealership. However, remember to use the correct battery type for your specific fob – CR2032, CR2025, or CR1620 – and if problems persist, don’t hesitate to seek professional help from your Subaru service center. They have the expertise and tools to address more complex key fob or vehicle-related issues, ensuring you maintain convenient and reliable access to your Subaru Crosstrek.
