cuervo

Has anyone with an '09 had problems with their fob not working all the time?

There will be times when the car does not react to either locking or unlocking the doors when pushing the buttons on the fob. I can usually get it to go after a few tries. Today while trying to lock the doors, I had to "unlock" them first and then could lock them.

It seems to be an issue after driving it someplace, but I couldn't say for sure since we don't lock it in the garage. I also couldn't say for sure how much my location has to do with it, since I've had this issue standing at the hatch back and by the driver's door.

TC2000

No problems here

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Whoop-dee-Doo for my Subaru!!

Geezer

I used to have this issue with my previous (2000) Forester. However my 2009 SF seems just fine. However, it seems to me that when my old car refused to respond to button pushes it was when it was parked closely beside a truck or other massive vehicle. I would have to walk around the car and wave my FOB around the left rear quarter window (where the controller antenna was) and it would eventually respond.

I am not sure where the FOB antenna is on the '09 SF. Does anyone here know?

Geezer

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Griff (The Geezer)
Drives a 2009 Forester XS Ltd.

Majestic42

Yes, as a matter of fact, I have ... but as someone else said, I noticed it in the parking lot at the mall, when I was wedged in between some big arse hunks of steel gas guzzlers ... had to be really close, and towards the back for it to work. Got home, walked 5 or 6 houses down the sidewalk, and had not trouble getting it to respond from way off.

So far has only done that to me once that I can recall, but I'll pay more attention to it now and will update this thread if I have continued issues ...

good to know I am not alone!

bbottomley

Any chance you're near a TV tower? A strong nearby transmission will mask the signal from the fob.

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2003 XS Premium MT - 2005 Impreza 2.5 RS MT

cuervo

It seems to be based on how many cars are parked around me as best as I can tell.

I parked in a parking lot with a car in front and on the left, and was able to lock the car with no problem. When I came out of the store, a car had parked on my right, and I was not able to open the doors until I was close to the front grill. At another store on the same trip, I could not get the car to lock and then unlock even by walking around it pushing the buttons. I ended up having to use the key lock and making a dash for the ignition to shut off the alarm.

I've since shut off the alarm and will only use the fob to lock/unlock the doors until I take it in for a checkup.

A day later edit: I still had a few problems even when there wasn't a car on either side of me.

Aug. 14 Edit: I took it in to the dealer for a checkup and of course the locks worked okay. Looking back, the days it had problems have been hot since we bought it in July. Day at the dealer was cloudy and cool, so outside temperature may be a factor and/or running the A/C may be a factor.

Later Edit: It seems to be consistently in a few parking lots around town. As others have said, it is probably RFI in these particular lots.

urbanmountainr

09 forester: i have had this problem with the FOB since the beginning. doesn't seem to matter where i'm parked, standing next to car or far away, if other cars are near, if i'm in front on the side or rear of car. Took it to dealer; it worked. So far the dealer, Bob Baker response can be summed up as "we can't fix it until complete failure, then we'll know what to fix". Rejected my suggestion that they give me a loaner, keep the car and work on the problem until they can fix it. Salesman has been more help than the shop, he at least found out the Reciever is located by power outlet in rear of car. Doesn't seem right that something as small as a FOB can become such a big pain. Not likely to recommend bob baker to anybody. Will keep checking this post for information.

cfsubie

I've had my car since March and have it happen to me twice. Both times it was in a parking lot with other cars around. I was about 15-20 feet directly in front of the car. I just assumed the signal was unable to be received due to the other cars around me. Once I got closer (5 feet or so) to the car the FOB worked fine. Hope you get yours straightened out.

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cfsubie
<o><
9 Subie's and counting
2009 LL Bean - red

dumbass

I've had it happen to me a lot. It happens everywhere, with cars nearby and also with no other cars around.

Stymer

I have it happen consistently, in one parking lot. It works fine everywhere else, but when parked in this one lot, it won't lock or unlock unless I am standing right beside the car. I'm putting it down to some kind of radio interference.

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Ron

'09 Forester - 2.5X Premium