Bachman Subaru Blog

If you’ve owned your Subaru for a long time, you’re probably already familiar with your vehicle. However, it’s worth noting that some Subaru models have certain hidden features that their owners may not be aware of. Known as Subaru Easter eggs, these features perform a variety of functions that can have an impact on your driving experience, from getting rid of distractions to improving your audio experience. Let’s take a look at some of the hidden tricks and features that can help Subaru owners get the most out of their vehicles.

Chime Mute

Image by Tino Rossini | Licensed with CC BY 2.0

If you find the chimes in your Subaru annoying or just prefer to have a quieter driving experience, you may be able to turn those sounds off with a simple trick. All you need to do is press and hold both the lock and unlock buttons of your key fob for two seconds or more. You can use the same method to restore the chime if you happen to miss it. Bear in mind that this trick is only applicable to GD-chassis Subarus from the 2002 to 2007 model years.

It’s also possible to deactivate the lock and unlock chime of a Subaru with the VA chassis, but the procedure is slightly different. You can only do this when you’re sitting in the driver’s seat. Close all the doors and press and hold the unlock button of the key fob. While you’re still holding the button, insert the key into the ignition five times within 10 seconds.

After that, get out of the car to check if the new setting has been activated. If you see the turn signals blink three times and don’t hear the chime when you unlock the doors, it means that you’ve successfully disabled the sound.

If you own a GD-chassis Subaru from 2002 to 2007, a GR-chassis model from 2008 to 2014, or a VA-chassis model from 2015 on, you can also mute the seat belt chime. Before doing so, you have to turn the engine on. Take the seat belt’s metal latch, press down the red button on the buckle, and graze the latch onto the metal part of the buckle’s clicker 20 times. You have to complete this sequence of actions within 30 seconds after starting your car.

You can also temporarily turn off the seat belt chime by performing the same action only three times instead of 20 times. Unless you deactivate it again, the chime will come back after the next ignition.

Radio Customization

For GR-chassis Subaru vehicles from 2008 to 2014, you can set the radio to different modes to suit your vehicle and personal preferences. These modes include:

• Sedan: In the sedan model, your Subaru’s radio produces normal volume levels. To activate this mode, press and hold buttons “1” and “2” on the radio, and then press the audio knob two times.
• Wagon: If you prefer a higher volume, you can opt for the wagon mode. The process is the same as enabling the sedan mode, but you have to press and hold buttons “1” and “3” instead.
• Loud: Switching your car’s radio to the loud mode results in a considerably louder sound and richer bass. Again, you can follow the instructions above, but you need to press and hold buttons “1” and “6” to set it to loud mode.
• Through: The through mode is a combination of the other three modes. It’s activated by pressing the audio knob twice while holding down buttons “1” and “4.”

Wink Mode

The wink mode is a cool feature that you can use to impress your friends. It makes either of your headlights flash in a blinking manner and is a great way to greet someone from behind the wheel. To make your car wink, simply set the headlight control knob on the left lever to halfway between low and high beams. However, this trick only works on GD-chassis Subarus from 2002 to 2007.

Welcome Lights

When you unlock your vehicle in a poorly lit environment, you may wish that the headlights will shine a little longer. If this is the case, you’ll appreciate Subaru’s hidden welcome lights. Whether they’re recent models or used vehicles that go back to 2015, all VA-chassis Subarus are secretly equipped with welcome lights that stay on for 30 seconds after the doors are unlocked. You can activate this function by putting your headlights in auto mode and then immediately pressing the lock and unlock buttons on the key fob.

If you want to prolong the duration of the welcome lights, you can do so by having your headlights reconfigured at a Subaru dealership. Welcome lights can be useful when you’re going for a night ride because they can help you see more clearly when you approach your vehicle. It also makes loading things into it a lot easier.

Front-Wheel-Drive Mode

Switching to front-wheel-drive mode is a trick that you can perform on all Subaru models equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission. It comes in handy when you have a flat tire and want to prevent damage to your axles and transmission. To make your vehicle exclusively front-wheel drive, you have to insert a fuse into one of the empty slots in the fuse box, which is located under the hood. If you aren’t confident that you can make this modification yourself, you can always have the job done at a Subaru service center.

Learn More At Our Subaru Dealership

Now that you know about these Subaru special features, you’ll probably see your vehicle in a new light. If you’re in Louisville, Kentucky, and need help cracking your car’s Easter eggs, consider coming to Bachman Subaru. Our Louisville dealership is home to a cutting-edge service center that provides all kinds of auto services, from routine maintenance to vehicle modifications. Also, we have a devoted team of factory-trained technicians who know every Subaru model inside and out. So, you can count on us to help you activate all the hidden features in your vehicle. Contact us today at 502-719-7300 or fill out the form below to schedule an appointment.