Russ's Little Subie Page
Keyless/Alarm Project
Isn't this car beautiful? Just makes you want to protect it. Someone at Subaru was one step ahead of the game-- the LSi has a factory-installed alarm system. Trouble is, when I bought Huggy he was used and had no user's manual. So I didn't know what this quiet little alarm system was capable of... I didn't think it had a starter interrupt. I wanted one. And that sent me on a quest...
Shortcuts for the Keyless/Alarm project:
Module DIP switches (this page)
The Wiring Harness Problem (this
page)
Installation Manuals (another
page)
BUT FIRST...
I AM MAKING NO REPRESENTATIONS AS TO WHETHER YOU WILL SUCCEED IN USING THIS INFORMATION THE WAY I DID. THIS WORKED ON MY CAR AND IF YOU SCREW YOURS UP I WILL BEAR NO CONSEQUENCES WHATSOEVER!!!!
Now that that's out of the way...
The Keyless Entry Module that Could
Did you know that the keyless entry module is also an alarm control module? I found this out while I was installing my own. The "Security System Upgrade" is a siren, a shock sensor, a starter interrupt wiring harness, an LED, and a plug-in harness change. At a later date I'll provide some details on the module connectors and harness, including how to get this upgrade working on an LSi (the harness has to be rejiggled to get it done). But in the meantime, did you ever wonder what those seven DIP switches inside do?
If your Keyless Entry module has FCC ID number GOH-052-RMTPL on its back label, you have the same one I do. It was manufactured by Code Alarm (search for the FCC ID here; the GOH is the Grantee Code and the rest (including hyphens) is the Product Code).
I had to look high and low to get help (not from Code Alarm-- they have a policy of refusing to talk to anyone other than their dealers, even if you own a system they made-- and that includes retail versions). You won't have to go through all that, I did it for you! Here are the DIP switch settings, along with their defaults in the 95-98 Legacy:
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DIP switch settings, Keyless Entry
Module, 1995-1998 Legacy and 2000 Impreza
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Switch
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Description
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On/Off settings
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Factory Default
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My Prefs
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1
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"Long Lock Pulse" |
On - .75-second voltage pulse to door lock actuators Off - 3-second voltage pulse |
On
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On
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2
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"Ignition Unlock" |
Note: This switch has no effect unless #4 is in the "On" position. On - Doors do not unlock automatically. Off - Doors unlock automatically when key is turned out of the "On" position on the ignition switch. |
On
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Off
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3
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"Auto Arm" (Passive Starter Interrupt) |
Note: the definition of "automatic arming" as used below is determined by the setting of Switch #7. On - Enables automatic arming of the system 60 seconds after the key is turned out of the "On" position in the ignition switch. Off - Disables automatic arming. |
Off
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Off
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4
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"Ignition Lock & Unlock" |
Note: This switch affects the behavior of switch #2. Also, the auto-lock won't work if either (a) the doors are open or (b) the module thinks the doors are open because accessory harness pin #4 is grounded. For details on this issue see the Wiring Harness section. On - Locks doors when key is turned to the "On" position on the ignition switch.. Enables functionality of switch #2. Off - Disables all automatic locking/unlocking features. |
Off
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On
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5
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"Chirp Disable" |
On - Siren Chirps when armed/disarmed Off - Silent arming/disarming |
On
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On
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6
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"2-Car Mode" |
On - Remote buttons (2-button remote) function as "Lock" (left) and "Unlock" (right) for car Off - Each remote button is treated as a unique remote control (that must be programmed). If the module recognizes the remote button, it will act as a lock/unlock (arm/disarm) toggle for the car. |
On
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On
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7
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"Selectable auto-arming" |
Note: This switch controls the behavior of switch #3. By itself it has no effect. On - "Automatic arming," if enabled at switch #3, will disable the starter circuit but won't auto-arm any other alarm functions. Off - "Automatic arming," if enabled at switch #3, will arm the complete system (but it won't automatically lock the doors!) |
On
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On
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The Wiring Harness Problem
Apparently when Subaru introduced the restyled Legacy in its 1995 model year (in the US at least), whoever set things up had no plans for an alarm system outside of the factory-installed option on the LSi, which has its own agenda, wires, and module(s). So The Keyless Entry Module that Could was turned into The Keyless Entry Module that Couldn't. This was done by tricking the keyless entry module into thinking that a door was open all the time. This disabled two key features of the module:
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