# Strange experiences with Subaru remote key door openers

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-experiences-with-subaru-remote-key-door-openers/66184>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 12, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-experiences-with-subaru-remote-key-door-openers/66184 "2011-07-12T03:14:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bobg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@bobg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bobg)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-experiences-with-subaru-remote-key-door-openers/66184/1 "2011-07-12T03:14:39Z")

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The remote on my 2011 Legacy failed me one day recently when a thunderstorm was only seconds away. No matter where I stood near the car, the remote would not function. The same thing happened just before the same storm in the same city to a friend with a 2011 Tribeca. Three months before, this occurred with a friend’s 2004 Forester, just as thunderstorm approached. In all cases, once the storm began the remotes worked. The dealer said it was a mystery and maybe the codes needed changed. Subaru never heard of it. Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![bennyandthejets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@bennyandthejets](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bennyandthejets)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 5:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-experiences-with-subaru-remote-key-door-openers/66184/2 "2011-07-12T05:03:42Z")

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I would not doubt that with enough stray static electricity in the air, many frequencies were saturated, preventing a remote from working. I don’t think this is a common thing, and certainly not a safety concern as far as Subaru is concerned, as it only happens for a few seconds or minutes, and then everything is back to normal. I doubt changing the codes will have any effect. Now you understand the concept of military frequency jamming, where an aircraft can fly over a city and black out all television reception or radio broadcasting. It’s actually quite an effective form of electronic counter measure (ECM).

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**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 8:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-experiences-with-subaru-remote-key-door-openers/66184/3 "2011-07-12T08:50:00Z")

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I agree with BATJ stated. The storm cloud is very highly energized with all kinds of RF energy just looking for a place to discharge to. The moist air of the rain along with a lightening strike would help discharge that hugh RFI energy so things would go back to working normally.

That was a strange experience, no doubt.