Ask Subaru Australia for this information, you'll get the correct
information.
Ask Subaru????????? Are you kidding?????
I have attached below some correspondence I had with Subaru Australia.
(idenfifying details deleted for obvious reasons!!!), with the most
recent reply at the top, and my original question at the bottom......
you folks can decide.....
(I'm Mr Jones, the Subaru man is Mr Smith)
This guy is telling me what I already KNOW!!!
"Roadside service providers", like the auto clubs, RACQ etc DO NOT
have any codes!! and I KNOW how to change the code, and I KNOW it
locks out after 3 bad attempts to enter a pin number.. etc etc!!!
What I WANTED to know is .. is there ANYTHING.. like some sort of
alternate power thing I can do to maintain power to the security
system, so that I can change the battery over... maybe it could cut in
when the main vehicle battery gets low... or something....
Folks.. there is a market out there for a cheap little electronic
gizmo that would save a lot of folks, a lot of grief. I might even put
my mind to it myself!!!
Here are the emails -- other than the change of names, the emails are
as sent/received (including spelling and grammar):
________________________________
From: Sam Smith Subaru Australia on behalf of Feedback Subaru
Sent: Friday, 24 June 2005 7:29 AM
To: ME Jack Jones
Subject: RE: Subaru.com.au - Feedback - GeneralComplaint
Dear Mr Jones,
Thankyou for your follow-up email.
Please accept my apologies with my mis-understanding of your enquiry.
If your do have battery failure your vehicle will need to be attended
by a roadside service provider or arranged to be taken to a service
centre. We would recommend "Subaru Roadside Assist" service, as they
well knowledged with regard to Subaru vehicles and alarm issues and we
would suggest having you local Subaru dealer advise you further with
the details of this service.
Kind Regards
Sam Smith
Customer Relations
Subaru (Aust) Pty Limited
-----Original Message-----
From: (e-mail address removed)
Sent: Friday, 24 June 2005 8:59 AM
To: Feedback Subaru
Subject: RE: Subaru.com.au - Feedback - GeneralComplaint
Thanks for your email reply.
However, you did not answer my concerns. What do I do if I find myself
stuck with a flat battery in a place where there is no Subaru dealer.
If I remove the battery to replace it, is it true that the security
system will lock itself out and I will be stranded, unable to start
the car??? and if so, what do I do then?
regards
ME
________________________________
From: Sam Smith Subaru Australia on behalf of Feedback Subaru
Sent: Thu 23/06/2005 1:22 PM
To: ME Jack Jones
Subject: RE: Subaru.com.au - Feedback - GeneralComplaint
Dear Mr Jones,
Thankyou for your email to Subaru Australia.
We can appreciate your disappointment with this situation and
apologise for your inconvenience. We are not in a position to comment
for the reason of the alarm having "blown" and your service dealer
would be best able to explain this further for you. We also suggest
that you discuss an upgrade for your alarm with -a more user
friendly approach.
We would like to provide some information with regard to master codes.
The alarm system master code is for Subaru Australia use only. It has
less function capability then the user code, and is only required at
times when a user code is entered incorrectly 3 consecutive times or
the keypad system recognises signs of tampering. Release of the master
code to users is unnecessary, and would compromise the security of the
system.
If you have accidentally entered the user code incorrectly and are
concerned that you may immobilise the vehicle completely by further
errors, you can cycle the ignition to restart the count, thus avoiding
3 consecutive errors. If the user code is not accepted the vehicle's
systems may have been tampered with or requires maintenance, in this
case we recommend contacting your local authorised Subaru dealer.
Should you require assistance with operating instructions or a change
of user code, please feel free to contact your Subaru dealer. However,
for security reasons and in the interest of Subaru vehicle owners,
Subaru Australia is unable to discuss detailed information of the
vehicle's immobiliser systems.
We hope this information has ben of some assistance.
Kind Regards
Sam Smith
Customer Relations
Subaru (Aust) Pty Limited
-----Original Message-----
From: (e-mail address removed)
Sent: Thursday, 23 June 2005 2:28 PM
To: Feedback Subaru
Subject: Subaru.com.au - Feedback - GeneralComplaint
Email From: MRJones
Email Address: (e-mail address removed)
Postcode:
Registration Number:
Comments:
I am the owner of a 2001 plated WRX, which I purchased new from a
dealership in June 2002. This vehicle does not get any abuse, and in
fact, has travelled only 27,000 Klms, as I am often away on business.
I live in SomeCity, and was recently visiting friends 130 Klms away.
I accidentally left the map light on for the weekend, and of course,
the battery went flat.
Because the security system had locked out, I had to have the vehicle
towed to a dealership (the only one in the area). Now. at this point,
I do NOT have any issues.. I understand the need to get the car to the
dealership.
So, I had to take a day off work to get to the dealership. I expected
the dealer to simply enter an override master pin on the security
system to get me going, then the run to SomeCity would have charged
the battery.
However, the dealer told me that the security system had 'blown' as a
result of the flat battery, and that a replacement part was required.
This replacement would take between 7 and 10 days.
I had no alternative but to leave the car with the dealer and rent
another vehicle for 7 days, as I need a vehicle for work, as well as
the need to return to SomeCity and also to get back to the dealership
when my car was repaired.
I have a number of major issues with all of this...
How can a flat battery possibly result in the car being locked
out for up to 2 weeks??? Surely Subaru could engineer a secondary
circuit to power the security system in the event of a flat
battery!!!!
Considering that if the battery is removed and replaced for
any reason, the security system will be locked out.. this is really
scary
What would happen if I was in a really remote area which had
no Subaru dealerships, and the car battery failed?? This is
something which can happen easily. batteries can fail at any time. The
very thought of the consequences in this event are nothing short of
frightening!!!!
I absolutely love the WRX, and since I have had mine for 3 years, I am
now at the point where it should be replaced. I had every intention
of getting another WRX until this incident.. I appreciate the need
for security, and welcome it. The system on the car is great. the car
drives well. it's a fantastic car, I just LOVE it
But I cannot afford to be locked out for what could be weeks on end
because of a flat battery problem, and as I have said, if I were in an
area with no dealerships. what then???
I appreciate the need for security in that Subaru cannot publish
master codes, but for genuine owners, who are registered with Subaru,
and who can prove their bona fides, surely there could be SOMETHING
that can be done to get them going in a situation like this.
This seemingly stupid little thing will stop me getting another WRX,
and I DO NOT want that to happen!!!! Is there ANYTHING you can tell
me to ease my anxiety?