1998 Subaru Impreza
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

Q: Do I need to tow my car to the dealer if I have no keys?

Not for a 1998 Impreza. Towing makes sense when the job involves module programming that requires a dealer bay. This isn't that. The key for this vehicle is mechanical, so the replacement work happens at the locks themselves. I come to wherever the car is sitting in Chula Vista, decode the cylinder, and cut a key on the spot. The car doesn't move until you drive it away.

Q: How long does an all-keys-lost replacement take on a 1998 Impreza?

Usually around 20 minutes once I'm at the vehicle. Decoding the lock, cutting the blade, and testing it across the ignition and doors is a straightforward mechanical process on this generation. There's no immobilizer reset sequence, no timed wait, no software handshake. Compare that to the dealer route, which involves scheduling, drop-off, and potentially waiting days even for a simple job. I handle it same-day, on site, in Otay Ranch or wherever you are in Chula Vista.

Q: My ignition turns but the engine cranks and immediately dies on my 1998 Impreza. Is that a key problem?

If the key turns normally and the engine fires then stalls right away, that pattern points toward an anti-theft element rather than a worn or incorrect key blade. Some keys from this era do carry a security component, and if that part of the system isn't reading correctly, the engine won't stay running even with the right cut. That's something I diagnose on site.

Q: Can I just copy my worn 1998 Impreza key at a hardware store?

You can try, but a worn key copied at a hardware store gives you a worn copy. The machine traces whatever profile is left on the original, including every rounded-off peak and shallow valley from years of use. That copy might work today and fail inside a month, or it might not cycle the ignition reliably at all.

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1998 Subaru Impreza
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Subaru Impreza: Dealer Markup vs Fair Pricing

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Wait Time

✓ 20-45 min

✕ 2-5 days

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✓ Yes

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All Keys Lost

✓ No problem

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1998 Subaru Impreza Key Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

There's a boarding facility near Otay Ranch, and a guy who uses it regularly had been watching key replacement videos online before he ever needed a locksmith. He'd seen enough of the process that when his 1998 Impreza key finally gave out before a vacation trip, he already knew what to do and who to call.

He met me in the parking lot with his dog still in tow. The key had worn down over the years to the point where it was skipping in the ignition cylinder, catching sometimes and not others. Classic wear on a twenty-plus-year-old key on a car that had clearly been used hard and maintained honestly.

I decoded the ignition cylinder and cut a fresh replacement blade to match. No computer, no scan tool, no waiting for a module to time out. Just the key cut right, tested in the ignition, tested in both doors. It turned clean every time.

He was back on the road in under twenty minutes. The dealer would have told him to bring it in and wait, and for a job like this, that's just not necessary.

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1998 Subaru Impreza

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Ricky M.

Sep 2026

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“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.”

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Ray P.

Dec 2025

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“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!!”

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Ganni C.

Dec 2025

★★★★★

“Ran to Marco he made me a new key for my car super quick and efficient great service would recommend”

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Subaru Impreza Mobile Service FAQ

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I lost all my keys to my 1998 Impreza. Can you still make a new one?▼

Yes, and on a 1998 Impreza this is one of the cleaner all-keys-lost jobs out there. Because this generation uses a mechanical key with no transponder system to reset, the work is entirely about cutting a key that matches your locks. I decode the ignition cylinder or a door lock on site, cut the key blade to that specification, and test it in every lock. No towing required, no module work, no countdown timers.