Programming your car to open the garage door

June 19, 2018
In the last several years, most cars have included a feature that allows you to avoid clipping those clunky garage door openers to your visor. Some of the most up-to-date systems do more than garage doors—they allow you to control gates, locks, lighting, security systems, even appliances. None are terribly complicated, but you do have to follow specific steps to get them to work.

Setting your car to operate your garage door opener is pretty straight-forward, and be assured that most garage doors, even older ones, are compatible with this feature in your car. As long as your garage door operates on a frequency of 288-433 MHz, you should be able to program it. If you aren’t sure, the frequency is usually noted on the back of your handheld transmitter.

To program your door opener, be sure you are clear of the garage door, as the process will involve opening and closing the door. Also, be sure the starter on your car is set to the accessory position and check that you have a fresh battery in your handheld transmitter. Then proceed with the following steps:

If you are programming for the first time, or you believe the garage door has been programmed previously, press and hold the two outer buttons on the transmitter until the light starts flashing.

Press and hold the button to be programmed until it begins flashing slowly, then point the handheld transmitter toward the flashing light and press the operating button, holding until the light begins flashing faster.

Find the “smart” or “learn” button on the back of your garage door opener receiver—you will probably need a ladder. Press the button once (do not hold) and observe the light next to it. If it stays on, your programming is complete. If it flashes, proceed to the next step.

Return to your car and press the transmitter button that you just programmed, holding it for about three seconds. Release and press again for three seconds. The garage door should move, indicating that programming is complete.

The process is relatively simple, but it may be helpful to work with a second person. Once you have pressed the “learn” button on your garage door opener receiver, you have only 30 seconds to press the in-car transmitter, so it may be easier to have a second person inside the car to do this. Also, the person at the garage door opener may hear a click when the programming is accepted.

If the garage door does not respond, or the programming seems not to have been accepted, you can unplug the receiver and start again.

The best plan is to first read through the directions for your in-car transmitter. If your car’s transmitter also has capability to control other systems in your home, you will want to understand the whole process before beginning. Also, be sure to have all tools and materials at hand before you begin. Finally, consider having someone assist you to make the process less stressful.

Questions? The experts at Above & Beyond Door Systems are always available to help out. Call us!

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