It turns over approx 3 to 4 times, then stops (lights go off, engine stops turning over), within 2 seconds and with the key still in the start position the lights come back on and the engine starts cranking over again. This repeats.

Not surprisingly, many others have experienced problems with the ignition switch on this car. Historically, it is not a sound, but that the key is stuck in the ignition. http://repairpal.com/key-will-not-come-out-of-ignition-570 Your problem sounds different, but it may be related. Although I do not recommend the fix in the link above, it is possible the previous owner of your car did perform this fix and it has resulted in the problem you now have. My better guess is that the chime/buzzer has failed due to moisture or dirt and is no longer producing the sound that it should, but instead is altered to the ringing you describe.To disable follow these instructions:

1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position. (DO NOT
START THE ENGINE)
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off. (Approximately 1
minute)
Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt
warning light turns off.
3. For the seating position being disabled, at a moderate speed, buckle
then unbuckle the safety belt 9 times, ending in the unbuckled state.
(Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt
warning light turns off.)
After Step 3, the safety belt warning light will be turned on for three
seconds.
4. Within 10 seconds of the light turning on, at a moderate speed, buckle
then unbuckle the safety belt.
This will disable the BeltMinder feature for that seating position if it
is currently enabled. As confirmation, the safety belt warning light will
flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds.
This will enable the BeltMinder feature for that seating position if it
is currently disabled. As confirmation, the safety belt warning light will
flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds, followed by 3 seconds with the
light off, then followed by the safety belt warning light flashing 4 times
per second for 3 seconds again.
I hope this helps. Good luck.

Resetting Engine oil Life Monitor
1, turn key to on, but do not start.
2. Press ENG MET button on the Trip Monitor within five seconds.
3. Within five seconds of step 2, press and hold RANGE button on the Trip Monitor. The CHANGE OIL light will flash.
4.Hold the RANGE button until the CHANGE OIL light stops flashung and goes out. This should take about 10 seconds.

If it doesn't reset turn key off and repeat the procedure. Careful to observe the "within 5 seconds"

necss03

How to Reset the GM Oil Life System

After changing the engine oil, the system must be reset.
1. With the engine off, turn the ignition key to RUN.
2. Fully push and release the accelerator pedal slowly
three times within five seconds.
If the CHANGE OIL SOON light flashes,
the system is resetting.
3. Turn the key to OFF, then start the vehicle.
The oil life will change to 100 percent.
If the CHANGE OIL SOON light comes back on,
the system has not reset. Repeat the procedure.

IMPREZA: 2005, 2006, 2007 and
FORESTER: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Check for Immobilizer key on Forester XT models only.
information is always subject to change and correction
new remote for 2005 Imprezas.
This is not the same remote as the 05 Legacy/Outback remote which also has truck/gate release on the front and a red panic button on the back.
Lock: press Lock button for 2 seconds or so to lock car, and arm optional security system. The car with chirp once and turn signals flash for locked, 5 short chirps and signal flashes if any door is not fully closed. The dome light goes on for 15 seconds and ignition key ring (if present) will light for 30 seconds when unlocked.
Unlock: press unlock one time for driver's door, press again within 5 seconds to unlock all doors inkling rear gate (wagon). The system does not open the trunk.
Panic mode: press and hold lock button for approx. 3-4 seconds to activate Panic mode. I panic model the horn honks and turn signals flash until either the lock or unlock button is pushed again.
Finder mode: Press lock button 3 times within 5 seconds to activate Vehicle Finder mode. The horn will honk once and the turn signals will flash 3 times
Distance: works within approx. 30 feet depending on battery strength, nearby concrete walls and etc.
Audible Chirp On-Off: the system will chirp when locked or unlocked. To turn OFF the chirps, unlock the door and then push both lock and unlock buttons at the exact same time for 2+ seconds. There will be 2 chirps indicating the the audible is off. To turn the chirp back on, repeat the process and the system will chirp one time when it is back on.
Battery: as the battery ages it will only work as you get closer to the car. When a battery is replaced, the transmitter must be re-synchronized with the Keyless control unit. To synchronize, press the lock or unlock button 6 times.
Programming: 4 codes may be programmed.
Sit in driver's seat and unlock all doors. Open and close the driver's door
Turn the ignition key from LOCK to ON position 10 times within 15 seconds. Be sure to stop at both lock and on. The horn will HONK once to indicate transmitter programming mode is activated. Leave key in LOCK position and don't remove it from ignition.
You now have 45 seconds to complete the programming as below.
Open and close driver's door again.
Push either lock or unlock button on the remote you want to program. The horn will honk 2 times when successful.
To continue and program other remotes at the same time: open and close the driver's door and push lock or unlock on the remote. The driver's door must be opened and closed between each remote you want to program.
Done programming? remove the key from the ignition and the horn will honk 3 times.
DELETE old codes? Reprogram 4 times, it will overwrite old codes.
Alarm Security System: optional on all models. When locked there is one chirp (can be turned off, see above), the turn signals will flash and the red 'security' light will start to flash once every 2 seconds except for STi which flashes twice every 2 seconds.
There will be 5 chirps if a door, hood, and trunk or gate is not fully closed
You can also arm the system by using the power lock button on the driver or passenger door as you get out of the car and then closing the door behind you.
Disarm the system: push unlock for 2 seconds
Lost remote, alarm activated? When you can't use a remote to turn off the system: open the door with a key or try to start the car and the horn will start to honk. Turn the key on-off 3 times within 5 seconds and the alarm will go off and you can start the car. It's simple!
VALET mode: To set valet mode or just to disable the security alarm system: 1. unlock all doors 2. physically open the driver's door 3. hold the UNLOCK button on remote for 2+ seconds. The red 'security' light will then flash 2 times a second until the car is turned on.
System has been Tripped (except for STi): if you unlock the door with the remote and it chirps the signal light flash 4 times, the system has been triggered;
Identification mode: To find out what happened and why the system was triggered:
Open and drivers door, leave it open. Turn ignition key from LOCK to ON 2 times and then leave in LOCK position.
Tripped code: 1 security light flash: a door has been opened, 3 flashes when the impact sensor was triggered, 4 flashes when the ignition was messed with or battery disconnected

Information taken from: http://www.idavette.net/tech/oilreset.htm

[quote]
The "Change Oil" indicator is reset by using a sequence of Driver Information Center (DIC) key presses as follows:

1. Turn ignition "ON", but do not start engine. (ALDL pin "G" should NOT be grounded.)
2. Press the "ENG/MET" button and release, then, within 5 seconds, press it again.
3. Within 5 seconds of Step 2, press and hold the "GAUGES" button. While the button is held, the "Change Oil" indicator will flash.
4. Continue holding the "GAUGES" button until the "Change Oil" indicator stops flashing and goes out, indicating successful completion of the reset cycle. This should take about 10 seconds.
If it does not successfully reset, turn ignition "OFF" and repeat the procedure from Step 1.
[/quote]

Here is the way to do it without the nissan scan tool. Make sure to follow all steps and it it best if you use a watch with a second hand.
1. Perform "Accelerator Pedal Released Position Learning".
a. Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.
b. Turn ignition switch 'ON' and wait at least 2 seconds.
c. Turn ignition switch 'OFF' wait at least 10 seconds.
d. Turn ignition switch 'ON' and wait at least 2 seconds.
e. Turn ignition switch 'OFF' wait at least 10 seconds.
2. Perform "Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning" .
a. Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.
b. Turn ignition switch 'ON'.
c. Turn ignition switch 'OFF' wait at least 10 seconds.
Make sure that throttle valve moves during above 10 seconds by confirming the operating sound. 3. Start engine and warm it up to normal operating temperature.
4. Check that all items listed under the topic 'PREPARATION' (previously mentioned) are in good order.
5. Turn ignition switch 'OFF' and wait at least 10 seconds.
6. Confirm that accelerator pedal is fully released, turn ignition switch 'ON' and wait 3 seconds.
7. Repeat the following procedure quickly five times within 5 seconds.
a. Fully depress the accelerator pedal.
b. Fully release the accelerator pedal. 8. Wait 7 seconds, fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for approx. 20 seconds until the MIL stops blinking and turned ON.
9. Fully release the accelerator pedal within 3 seconds after the MIL goes off.
10. Start engine and let it idle.
11. Wait 20 seconds.
12. Rev up the engine two or three times and make sure that idle speed and ignition timing are within the specifications.
13. If idle speed and ignition timing are not within the specification, the result will be incomplete. In this case, more test needs to be done.

turn the key on to the power position but do not start the vehicle, then press the accelerator pedal to the floor three times within a ten second period.
Good luck dont forget to rate

1. Turn the key to “Run,” but don’t start
2. Press “ENG MET” on the Trip
the engine.
Monitor. Then, within five seconds,
press it again.
3. Within five seconds, press and hold
“GAUGES” on the Trip Monitor. The
“CHANGE OIL” light should flash.
4. Hold the “GAUGES” button until the
“CHANGE OIL” light stops flashing
and goes out. This should take about
ten seconds.
When the light goes out, the monitoirs
reset. If the monitor doesn’tr eset, turn the
ignition off, then try again.

this is usually due to a dirty throttle body. just beware if you do try to clean it you will need to preform the idle relearn procedure. this does work, ive done it personally.

A. Accelerator Pedal Release Position Learning Procedure.
1. Make sure that the accelerator pedal is fully released.
2. Turn ignition switch “ON” and wait at least 2 seconds.
3. Turn ignition switch “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds.
4. Turn ignition switch “ON” and wait at least 2 seconds.
5. Turn ignition switch “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds (how would you know if you get it right?)


B. Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning
1. Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.
2. Turn ignition switch is “ON”.
3. Turn ignition switch is “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds.
Make sure that the throttle valve moves during above 10 seconds by confirming the operating sound (i never get this right because i never heard anything)

C. Idle Air Volume Learning (Throttle Position Learning)
It's best to time with a watch/clock.
1. Perform “Accelerator Pedal Released Position Learning”.
2. Perform “Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning”.
3. Start engine and warm it up to normal operating temperature.
4. Turn ignition switch “OFF” and wait at least 10 seconds.
5. Conform that accelerator pedal is fully released, turn ignition switch “ON” and wait 3 seconds.
6. Repeat the following (steps 7a, 7b) procedures quickly five times within 5 seconds.
7a. Fully depress the accelerator pedal (HARD)
7b. Fully release the accelerator pedal.
8. Wait 7 seconds, fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for approx. 20 seconds until the Check Engine Light (CEL) stops
blinking and turned ON.
9. Fully release the accelerator pedal within 3 seconds after the CEL is ON.
10. Start engine and let it idle.
11 Wait 20 seconds
12Rev up the engine two or three times and make sure the idle speed and ignition timing are within the specifications. (this is fine because SES light lets you know if you did it right the way it blinks)