These instructions apply to the Subaru Levorg Mk1 (VM) 2014-Present. For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
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The Subaru Levorg (VM, 2014–Present) — Subaru’s sports tourer sold across Japan, Europe and Australia — uses Keyless Access with push-button start. With a flat access key fob battery you hold the fob against the START/STOP button and the immobiliser still reads the chip, so the Levorg starts as normal.
Start the Levorg with a dead fob
- Unlock and get in using the emergency key first (next section), then sit in the driver’s seat and close the door.
- Press and hold the brake pedal.
- Hold the access key fob directly against the push-button START/STOP switch and keep it there — the back-up reader coil is behind the button.
- With the fob still pressed to the button, push the button. The chip is energised at close range and the engine starts, usually after a confirming chime.
If the meter shows the key is not detected, press the fob flat and square against the button and try again — the read range is only about a centimetre.
Unlock the Levorg with the emergency key
- Slide the release catch on the back of the access key fob and pull out the metal emergency key.
- At the driver’s door, insert the key into the lock cylinder on the handle and turn to unlock.
- The alarm may chirp until the engine starts and the system reads the transponder.
Immobiliser note
The fob’s CR2032 cell only powers the proximity broadcast and remote buttons. Engine authorisation comes from a passive RFID transponder energised by the start-button coil, so a dead cell never stops the Levorg starting — it only disables hands-free locking and the remote. A persistent “access key battery low” warning is the system telling you the cell is weak even if locking still works.
Replace the fob battery
The Levorg access key uses one CR2032 3V lithium coin cell in a snap-together case. Pull the emergency key out, prise the two halves apart at the key-slot seam, swap the cell + side up, and click it shut. Remote and keyless functions return immediately with no coding required.
Frequently Asked Questions
I still get “access key battery low” after fitting a new cell — why?
Either the new cell is weak or counterfeit, or it is not seated against both contacts. Use a known-good branded CR2032 and make sure it clicks firmly into place; the warning should clear once the fob is read.
Do I hold the fob to the start button or the column?
To the START/STOP button. On the Levorg the back-up reader is built into the button, so that is where the dead fob must touch.
Do I wait for a chime when starting with a dead fob?
Yes — hold the fob against the button with the brake down and wait for the confirming chime, then the engine should start.
Is it the fob or the car’s 12V battery?
If the cabin is dead when you open the door, suspect the Levorg’s 12V battery rather than the coin cell. A flat coin cell only affects the remote and hands-free locking.
How long should the Levorg fob battery last?
Around two to four years. Replace the CR2032 as soon as the low-battery warning appears to avoid being caught out.
If a warning light stayed on after the no-start, look it up on autodtcs.com to confirm it was only the fob and not an immobiliser code.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general guidance only. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions when working on your vehicle. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or any damage resulting from the use of this information.
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