2003 Subaru Forester
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

Q: How long does the programming actually take once you're at my car?

On a 2003 Forester where you still have a working key, adding a second remote is a relatively quick process once we are connected and set up - usually well under 30 minutes of on-car time. All-keys-lost takes longer because the immobilizer needs a reset period before new keys can be enrolled, but we account for that in the scheduling. Either way, the whole visit from arrival to handing you a tested, working fob is typically under 90 minutes.

Q: Can you get this done faster than the dealer?

By a wide margin. Dealers on early-2000s Subarus often have to order the fob, schedule time on the lift, and in all-keys-lost situations some shops have historically sent security components off-site for reprogramming - adding days or weeks to the job. I carry blanks for this generation and handle everything in a single visit. You don't arrange a tow, you don't sit in a waiting room, and you don't rearrange your week.

Q: My 2003 Forester fob stopped working but the ignition key is fine. Where do I start?

Start with the battery. The fob on this vehicle takes a CR2025, and it is a common mistake to drop in a CR2032 because it looks the same. The CR2032 is thicker and can sit slightly proud in the tray, making poor contact, which causes exactly the kind of intermittent or dead behavior owners blame on a bad fob.

Q: I bought a replacement fob online. Can I program it myself or do I need a locksmith?

You'll need someone with the right equipment to pair it. The 2003 Forester does not have a button-sequence or ignition-cycle self-programming routine for the remote the way some older vehicles do. The fob has to be enrolled through the vehicle's security system using a programmer connected to the car. So if you already bought the fob, the blank itself isn't wasted - just call us and we'll come to you in Encinitas and finish the job on site.

Locked Out? | Help is On the Way

Available

Remote

Lost all your keys? Don't panic, and don't call a tow truck. Our mobile locksmith comes to your vehicle and creates a brand new key from scratch, even with zero working keys.

CA BSIS LICENSE LCO#6792

No Spare Needed We Come to You Key Made On-Site

Fast Response15-25

min arrival

200+reviews

Call (619) 876-1271 Text Us

2003 Subaru Forester car key service at your door in Encinitas CA

Zero Keys Needed

We program directly to your vehicle's computer

On-Site Key Cutting

New key cut from vehicle codes, not from a copy

Fast Recovery

Back on the road in 30-45 minutes from arrival

619 Special

10% OFFCODE:EZ-619-2026

🔥 All keys lost? Here's a discount 🔥

REDEEM (619) 876-1271

2003 Subaru Forester
Key Options

Dealer-grade key for a fair, honest price

Remote

Stranded? Dealer vs Mobile Locksmith

Emergency key replacement: mobile locksmith vs dealer

EZ Car Keyz

Dealership

Average Cost

✓ $$

✕ $$$$

Location

✓ We come to you

✕ You drive there

Wait Time

✓ 20-45 min

✕ 2-5 days

Same-Day

✓ Yes

✕ Rarely

All Keys Lost

✓ No problem

✕ Tow required

OEM Quality

✓ Yes

EZ Car Keyz wins 5 out of 6

Lost all your keys? No tow truck needed

Book Service (619) 876-1271

2003 Subaru Forester Remote Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

I got a call from a woman in the Moonlight Beach neighborhood of Encinitas on a Thursday afternoon.

She had a 2003 Forester and her fob had taken a swim - fell out of her pocket into a bucket of sudsy water she was using to wash down the patio. The fob stopped responding entirely. She still had her metal key so she could get in and drive, but she wanted the remote working before a road trip she had planned that weekend.

She mentioned the dealer told her they'd need to order the part and couldn't get her in until the following week. That was a no-go.

I pulled up to her place off the street near Moonlight Beach and she walked out with the waterlogged fob already disassembled and drying on a paper towel. Smart move, but the circuit board had visible corrosion on it. Not a battery issue, not a contact issue. The board itself had taken damage. We needed a replacement fob with the factory FCC ID, not a repair on that one.

I had a compatible blank in the van. Got it programmed to her vehicle using my equipment, tested every button, and confirmed the range was solid from across the parking area. The whole visit was maybe 35 minutes.

She made her road trip. The dealer was still waiting on their parts order.

Save vs the Dealer on Your Subaru Forester Key

Get your key for hundreds less than the dealer. Same quality, same result, better price.

Get Pricing (619) 876-1271 Text Us

BSIS Licensed

LCO#6792

CA Bureau of Security & Investigative Services

NASTF Certified

National Automotive Service Task Force

Fully Insured

Liability & vehicle damage coverage

Google Guaranteed

Verified & backed by Google

Also serving: Cardiff-by-the-Sea · Downtown Encinitas · Leucadia · Moonlight Beach

Subaru Forester Rapid Response, Done Right

Rapid response in the field

2003 Subaru Forester

Remote | Rescue Key

Priority ETA

Rapid Arrival

Available Today

Encinitas

Help Is Close

619 Area

Same-Day Keys (619) 876-1271

Subaru Keys: From Panic to Five Stars

Emergency rescues that earned five stars

R

Ricky M.

Sep 2026

★★★★★

“Had an issue with Subaru ignition called ez car keyz for assistance they were able to make a new key for the car and now the car starts perfect thanks Marco.”

Google Review

R

Ray P.

Dec 2025

★★★★★

“Marco is the man for car keys, lost my key for a Subaru wrx he showed up same day and programmed it on the spot! Nice guy and great service!!”

Google Review

C

Chase

Sep 2026

★★★★★

“I lost the key for a Honda civic and called ez car keyz Marco was able to come out and make a new smart key for my car price was reasonable and the I’m very grateful for the service”

Google Review

On-site 2003 Subaru Forester key service review - EZ Car Keyz Encinitas CA

★ 5.0 out of 5 - Based on Over 200 five-star Google reviews

Best Price (619) 876-1271

Subaru Forester Mobile Service FAQ

Real costs, no dealer surprises

What if I need a Subaru key after hours or on the weekend?▼

Call us. Subaru dealer service departments typically run Monday through Friday with limited or no weekend availability, and if they don't have your exact fob in stock, add more days onto that wait. Subaru's roadside assistance program covers towing and lockout help, but it is not set up to program replacement remotes on site. We work nights and weekends, which is exactly when people find out their only fob is dead or missing.