Question 1

Are you licensed and insured to work on Subaru vehicles?

Accepted Answer

Yes. EZ Car Keyz holds a California BSIS locksmith company license (LCO#6792) and is fully insured. Subaru smart key work on vehicles like the 2016 Forester requires professional programming equipment to interface with the vehicle's immobilizer and register fobs correctly. Not every locksmith you find in a search has invested in the tools and software subscriptions that Subaru systems actually require. We operate under a real business name, carry verifiable reviews, and have over eight years doing this work. You can confirm the license through the California BSIS lookup before we even arrive.

Question 2

How do I know you're not a scam locksmith?

Accepted Answer

Scam locksmiths specifically target Subaru calls because the programming work sounds expensive and owners are often stuck somewhere inconvenient. The pattern is always the same: a low number on the phone, then a dramatically higher number once they're standing at your car, with the immobilizer or the Subaru system blamed for the jump.

EZ Car Keyz gives you a firm price on the phone and that price does not change when I arrive. I show up in a marked van. You can watch us do this exact type of work on YouTube and TikTok, where we've built over 100,000 followers by showing the real process on real cars. If a quote sounds too low to be real, it probably is. Call us, get a straight number, and compare.

Question 3

Will the replacement smart key work exactly like the original?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For the 2016 Forester, that means the fob is fully registered to the vehicle's immobilizer, all four buttons are confirmed working, touch unlock functions on both door handles are tested, and a complete push-button start cycle is run before I hand anything over. I don't call a job done until every function checks out on site. There's a version of this work done by shortcuts where the key starts the car and that's considered good enough. That's not how I work. If something is off in the registration or a handle sensor isn't responding correctly to the new fob, I find it before I leave, not after you've driven home.

Question 4

I found a replacement fob online that matches the factory FCC ID. Can I just buy that and have someone program it?

Accepted Answer

Yes, that can work, but there are a few things to sort out before you buy. Aftermarket and OEM-style fobs sold online vary a lot in quality, and some look correct on the listing but don't pair cleanly with Subaru's immobilizer. The factory FCC ID match matters, but so does the internal hardware.

If you go that route, bring the fob to me before you assume it works. I'll test it before charging for any programming time. If it pairs, great, you saved money on the part. If it doesn't, you'll need a sourced unit from a reliable supplier. Either way, the programming itself requires a diagnostic connection to the vehicle. There's no self-programming sequence or button trick on the 2016 Forester smart key system. That type of onboard relearn only exists on older vehicles with a basic key in an ignition cylinder.

Question 5

My 2016 Forester push-button start just clicks or does nothing, but the fob seems fine. Is that a key issue?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. If the fob is being recognized, a no-start or single-click condition on these is almost always the 12-volt battery under the hood, not the fob. Subaru's system needs solid voltage to complete the start sequence. A weak battery can fool you because the dash lights up and the radio works, but there isn't enough reserve to turn the starter.

Check the 12V first. If the fob truly isn't being detected, try holding it directly against the start button face, which bypasses the antenna range issue entirely. If the car starts that way but not from your pocket, you're looking at a fob battery or antenna problem, not a programming failure. If it won't start either way, call me and we'll sort out which side of the system the fault is actually on.

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