Question 1

How do I spot a fake locksmith before I get ripped off?

Accepted Answer

Three things to check before you let anyone near your Forester.

First, look up the business name on Google and Yelp and read recent reviews. Scam operations rotate through dozens of different business names that all route to the same call center. If the name on the phone doesn't match the name on the truck, that's a problem.

Second, ask for a firm price specific to your vehicle before anyone shows up. A real locksmith will ask your year, model, whether it's a smart key or a turn-key, and how many working keys you have before giving you a number. If the answer is a flat "we do all cars for the same price," hang up.

Third, ask for their California BSIS license number. Every locksmith operating in this state is required to carry one and give it to you on request. If they hesitate or change the subject, that tells you everything.

Question 2

What exactly is a smart key and how is it different from a regular key?

Accepted Answer

The 2018 Forester smart key is a fob that the vehicle recognizes electronically. It pairs with the vehicle's security system through a programming process that ties that specific fob to that specific car. The fob also contains an emergency metal key blade inside it for situations where the battery is fully dead.

The 4-button fob handles lock, unlock, and the other functions remotely. But none of that matters if the fob hasn't been properly enrolled with the vehicle. A blank fob with no programming does nothing, even if it's the correct physical unit for your Forester.

That enrollment is what separates this from older key systems. You can't do it with an ignition sequence or a button trick. It requires diagnostic equipment and, depending on the situation, access to Subaru's security system through the OBD port.

Question 3

What tools do you actually use to program a 2018 Forester smart key?

Accepted Answer

Professional immobilizer programmers that support Subaru's security architecture. The 2018 Forester is not an older Subaru where you can shortcut the process, so the equipment has to be up to date and properly supported for this generation.

For an all-keys-lost situation on this vehicle, the process involves communicating with the vehicle's body control and immobilizer modules through the diagnostic port. That's where tool capability really matters. If a locksmith can't tell you specifically what tool they're using on your Subaru or whether it supports this generation, ask someone else.

For getting into a locked vehicle, I use non-destructive entry tools. No drilling, no damage.

Question 4

My 2018 Forester shows a key-not-detected warning but the fob battery is fine. What's going on?

Accepted Answer

This is one of the more common complaints I hear on this generation of Forester, and it shows up on owner forums pretty regularly. A few things cause it.

The fob's internal board can develop a weak solder point or contact issue that makes it transmit inconsistently, even with a good battery. The vehicle's antenna, which is what picks up the fob signal, can have a wiring issue or a connector that's worked loose over time. And in some cases, the vehicle's security system has logged the fob but is having trouble confirming it, which can look like a dead fob but is actually a module communication issue.

Start with the battery and a contact cleaning inside the fob. If the warning comes and goes depending on where you hold the fob relative to the car, the antenna is worth looking at. If the fob works sometimes and not others with no clear pattern, bring it in and let me read what the vehicle is actually seeing.

Question 5

I bought a replacement fob online for my 2018 Forester. Can you just program it, or is there a catch?

Accepted Answer

I can program it, but verify the factory FCC ID on the fob you bought matches the one originally on your vehicle before we meet. There are a few fob variants that look nearly identical but aren't compatible with every Forester configuration. If it matches, bring it along and we'll get it enrolled. If it doesn't, you'll need the correct unit.

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