2009 Subaru Impreza Key Replacement

2009 Impreza key specs

Every 2008-2011 Impreza has an immobilizer, and Subaru paired it with a high-security key: a laser-cut DAT17 blade with the transponder in a plastic head and no buttons. Keyless entry stayed on a separate four-button fob. The Outback Sport hatchback follows the same pattern. If your key has a wavy groove down its face instead of notches along the edge, it is this high-security type, which needs a different cutting machine than older Subaru keys. WRX and STI versions of this body ran through 2014 and are covered on their own pages.

What's specific to the 2009 Impreza

The 2009 Subaru Impreza is the second of 4 model years in the Impreza GE/GH (third generation) (2008–2011), so it shares its key system with the rest of that run, which makes replacement parts easy to source. A 2009 Subaru Impreza is about 17 years old. Original keys are often worn smooth, and some factory remotes for cars this age are discontinued, so we may suggest a quality aftermarket remote or a separate fob. Because older immobilizers are simpler, all-keys-lost jobs on cars this age are usually more straightforward than on late models.

If a newly cut key turns the 2009 Impreza's ignition but the engine cranks and dies, the transponder isn't recognized yet; that's a programming step, not a cutting problem, and it's handled at the car.

Key options for the 2009 Subaru Impreza

• Transponder (chip) key. There are two ways to give a new transponder key the right identity. Cloning reads the chip in a working key and writes that same ID onto a special cloneable chip, so the car can't tell the two apart. Programming adds a brand-new key ID to the immobilizer's memory through the OBD-II port, sometimes after entering a security PIN tied to the VIN. Cloning is handy when you have a working key and the chip family supports it. Programming is the better choice when keys are lost, because it also lets us remove keys you no longer control from the car's memory. For your Subaru Impreza, we'll explain which method fits and why.
• Key with separate remote fob. Some Subaru Impreza owners carry two pieces: a transponder key for the ignition and a separate remote fob on the same ring. Because they work independently, you only have to replace what's actually missing or broken. A lost remote still leaves you with a key that opens the doors and starts the engine, so it's an inconvenience rather than an emergency. A lost key is the more urgent half, since it has to be cut and its chip programmed before the car will run. We stock and program both sides, and if the whole ring is gone, we handle the key first and then pair a new remote.

How the Subaru immobilizer works on the Impreza

• This was the first Impreza generation with an immobilizer on every trim, not just the turbocharged models.
• Subaru's key bulletin lists the 2008-2011 Impreza key as a high-security key with immobilizer but no keyless entry buttons.
• The four-button separate remote, FCC ID CWTWB1U819, operates at 315 MHz and is listed for Imprezas and Foresters of 2010-2014.

Programming a 2009 Impreza key

We cut the DAT17 blade on a high-security machine, either from the key code or by decoding the door lock, then program the transponder over OBD-II. With Subaru's immobilizer data for your VIN, we can add a spare to your existing keys or start from scratch if all are lost. The four-button keyless fob is registered separately. Suppliers disagree on whether these keys carry a 4D62 or a 4D60-labeled chip, so we identify the chip with a programmer before choosing a blank.

Lost every key to your Impreza?

With every key gone, the model year decides the job. A 2000-2004 Subaru, a Baja, or a base model built before its line got an immobilizer just needs a key cut by code or by decoding the door lock. On 4D62 cars from 2005 through 2011 and on remote-head cars of the G-chip years, we cut the blade, erase the missing keys and program new ones in one visit. Keyless Access cars of the G-chip years and every H-chip car are harder: some tools need a working key, so we use dedicated Subaru software or an emulator, and a few cars have to go to the dealer. Brand-new platforms, including the 2026 Outback and Subaru's electric models, are usually dealer jobs for now. We tell you plainly which route your car needs and check ID and proof of ownership before any work.

1. Gather your documents and the VIN. Find your registration or title and a government photo ID in the same name. Note the VIN, which is printed on the driver's side of the dashboard and usually on your insurance card. If the paperwork is locked in the car, tell us; we'll open the vehicle first and check it there.
2. Get into the vehicle without damage. Entry comes before key-making because we need access to the ignition, the OBD-II port and sometimes the documents in the glove box. We take care with weather stripping, door frames and paint, and we confirm the dash VIN matches your registration before going any further.
3. Originate a new key from the car. With no key to copy, the cuts come from the vehicle itself. We retrieve the key code through manufacturer channels where possible, or decode a door lock with a pick-decoder tool. Then we cut the blade on our code machine and confirm it turns the lock smoothly.
4. Program the key to the immobilizer. Next, the new key is introduced to the car's security system. Many vehicles allow this through the OBD-II port with a PIN or security procedure. Some all-keys-lost cases require reading a module on the bench, and a few platforms only allow dealer programming, which we'll tell you up front.
5. Erase missing keys and add a spare. A lost key's metal blade can still open your doors even after its chip is erased. If the keys disappeared along with something showing where you live or park, consider rekeying the car's door lock cylinders too. We'll also recommend leaving with two working keys, not one.

Why a spare key pays for itself

• When you sell or trade in the vehicle, buyers and dealers expect two keys. A missing key can come up during an appraisal or a private-sale negotiation, so having both on hand keeps the conversation about the car, not about what it will cost the next owner to replace one.
• Two drivers sharing one key is a daily negotiation. A second key lets a partner, teenager or coworker use the vehicle without handing keys back and forth in parking lots, and it means one person losing their key ring doesn't leave the whole household stuck.
• Some vehicles make it hard to add a key once you're down to one. Certain immobilizer systems let an owner program an extra key on-board only when two working keys are present, so a second key preserves the easy options for later and avoids a full reset.

Dealer or mobile locksmith?

Dealers have one clear advantage: direct access to the manufacturer's own systems. Some newer vehicles tie key programming to online authorization that only a dealer can use, and certain all-keys-lost situations on specific platforms still require it. A good locksmith knows where those lines are. Where we can do the job, we use professional programming equipment that talks to the same immobilizer and keyless systems through the OBD-II port, and in many cases the result is identical: a properly registered key that starts the car. Where we can't, we can often still help by opening the vehicle, cutting a mechanical blade from code, or helping you gather what the dealer will ask for so that visit goes smoothly. For your Subaru Impreza, ask us directly and you'll get a plain answer.

Impreza key battery

Battery details for the 2009 Impreza: CR2025 (separate fob). Swap cells one at a time and match each one exactly; if a key still fails with a fresh battery, the board, buttons or programming may be the problem, which we can test on site.

How the job works

1. Identify the exact key your Impreza uses. Every job starts with the VIN, the trim and a look at any key you still have. From those we confirm the keyway, the transponder or smart-key chip, the remote frequency, the FCC ID and the button layout. Two Subaru Impreza keys that look identical can carry different electronics, so this step keeps the wrong part from ever reaching the car.
2. Verify ownership before any work. California holds licensed locksmiths responsible for knowing whose car they're making keys for. We record your name, the VIN and the plate on a work order. If you aren't the registered owner, you'll need the owner's written authorization along with your own photo ID before we begin.
3. Get the key code or decode the lock. If you still have a working key, we can read its cuts directly and check them against the factory depths for the Subaru keyway. A worn key gets corrected back to spec during this step, so the new key turns crisply instead of reproducing years of wear in a fresh piece of metal.
4. Cut the blade on-site. Cutting happens right beside your car. For a smart key, that means the emergency blade hidden inside the fob; for a transponder or remote-head key, it's the main blade you'll use every day. We deburr the cuts and check the fit in each lock so nothing binds or sticks later on.
5. Program the chip, remote or smart key. Programming tells the car's computers that the new key belongs to the vehicle. Transponder chips are added to the immobilizer, remote buttons to the body control module, and proximity fobs to the keyless system. If a step requires dealer-only access on your Impreza, you'll have heard that before we arrived, not halfway through the job.
6. Test everything and clear out old keys. The last step is a short walkthrough. We show you how many keys the car now recognizes, point out the dead-fob start method for your vehicle, and hand you an itemized receipt. If a spare makes sense, it's simplest to add it during this same visit while the equipment is already connected.

What affects the price of an Impreza key

• The type of key. Price follows complexity. The more the key does, the more it costs to replace: brass blade, then chip, then remote buttons, then full keyless entry and push-button start. If your Impreza came with different key styles by trim, the one your car actually uses is the one that sets the quote.
• Factory or aftermarket parts. Factory keys and fobs carry the manufacturer's part number and usually the highest parts cost. Quality aftermarket keys use compatible electronics at a lower price and work well on many vehicles. We tell you which options we trust for your car, and where an aftermarket version has known range or fit issues, we steer you to OEM.
• All keys lost or adding a key. Adding a key while a working one is in hand is the simpler job. With every key gone, we may have to open the car, decode a lock to originate the cuts, and run a longer programming routine, so all-keys-lost work takes more time and costs more.
• Travel, timing and extra repairs. Sometimes a key problem is really a lock problem: an ignition that won't turn even with the right key, or a door cylinder that has been jammed for years. Fixing those is separate work. We point them out, explain the options, and quote the whole job up front so the bill holds no surprises.

Call (951) 903-3193 with your VIN and the keys you still have, and we'll quote the job before any work starts.

Common Subaru key problems

• If a Keyless Access fob battery dies, the car can usually still be started with the backup method in the owner's manual, which uses the fob and the start button. The emergency blade hidden in the fob opens the driver's door.
• Used Subaru fobs sold online can arrive already programmed to another car. Ask whether a fob is new or reset to a blank state before you buy, and bring the part number and FCC ID from your old key so we can confirm the fit before programming.
• Remote-head keys sold under FCC ID CWTB1G077 look alike but differ inside. The 2018-2019 Legacy and Outback versions carry the older G chip, while the 2017-2020 Impreza, Crosstrek, Forester and Ascent versions carry the H chip. Match the part number and pod color, not just the FCC ID.
• Remote-head key shells tend to crack at the blade root after years on a heavy keyring. The remote board and transponder can usually be moved into a new shell with a freshly cut blade, which often costs less than a complete new key.

Tips from a mobile locksmith

• Make the spare before you need it. Adding a key while one still works is quicker and less expensive than starting from nothing, and it keeps the simpler programming options available. Good moments are right after buying the car, or as soon as one of your two keys goes missing.
• Never hide a spare key or fob on the outside of the car. Magnetic boxes in wheel wells and under bumpers are the first places a thief checks, and with a proximity fob, a hidden key can let anyone open the doors and drive away. Keep the spare at home or with someone you trust.
• On any vehicle with a turn-key ignition, keep the key ring light. A heavy cluster of keys, tools and charms swings with every bump and slowly wears the ignition wafers and the key itself. When the key starts to stick or needs a wiggle to turn, deal with it early, before it stops turning entirely.

Proof of ownership

Before we cut or program a key for any vehicle, we verify that you have the right to it. Please have two things ready: the current registration or the title, and a government-issued photo ID with a matching name. We also check that the VIN on those documents matches the VIN plate on the dashboard. If the registration is locked inside the car, that's fine; we open the vehicle first, check the paperwork in the glove box, and only then make the key. If something doesn't line up, we stop and sort it out before any key is made.

Need a 2009 Subaru Impreza key?

Locked out, keyless, or just tired of a fob that only works half the time? Julian's Locksmith can help with your Impreza in Southern California. Have your registration and photo ID ready, call (951) 903-3193, and we'll give you an honest answer about what we can do on-site and what it will cost before we head your way.