Homelink Pro Tip

[Torv]

I've had a myriad of troublesome issues getting my Taycan to recognize and open my garage reliably. I deleted and re-added, faithfully following the instructions repeatedly, and could not get my garage door to open except intermittently.

With that in mind, I thought perhaps my 15-year-old garage door opener was out of date with the Homelink technology imbedded in the Taycan so I spent $625 and had a new a garage door opener installed. As the technician finished installing the new unit, I mentioned my problems with the old one. After my tale of woe, he looked at me and said, “I wish you told me that earlier. The problem isn't with your garage door opener, it's with the LED light bulb you used to replace incandescent one on the garage door opener.”

He told me that LED light bulbs emit a frequency that effectively jams the signal from the remote used to open the garage door, including the Homelink in the Taycan (or any car for that matter). Hence my problem.

After setting up anew in my Taycan with the new opener, everything works hunky dory. The moral of the story is if you’re having trouble with your Homelink, check to make sure you're not using an LED light bulb on the garage door opener. Who woulda thunk it?

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[Mus]

Hmmm. I’m not sure. I have LED bright whites on my garage door lights. House is 13 years old. I had no home link connection issues.??‍

 

[submatrix]

Also, did you train your Homelink with a fresh battery on your remote? If you use an old battery, the trained frequency can be slightly off, which leads to the signal being more prone to interference, as I understand it.

 

[Torv]

Hmmm. I’m not sure. I have LED bright whites on my garage door lights. House is 13 years old. I had no home link connection issues.??‍

It's not a problem with LEDs in the garage, just an LED installed on the garage door opener itself.

 

[Torv]

Also, did you train your Homelink with a fresh battery on your remote? If you use an old battery, the trained frequency can be slightly off, which leads to the signal being more prone to interference, as I understand it.

Oh yeah, I did all that.

 

[Jhenson29]

I have LED bulbs in my garage door opener (as well as everywhere else…) and I don’t have any issues. It works 100% of the time. From fairly far away as well.

 

[KTC]

This is actually true. If you google many garage door openers, they tell you specifically which brand of LED lights to use or not use. Some actually indicate that they do not cause RF interference.

But I'm assuming you didn't change your garage opener lightbulb right when you got your Taycan?

 

[chrisk]

I use two LEDs on my garage opened (replaced lightbulbs) and it works fine with Taycan and all previous cars.
The garage opener has an antenna wire. You can position it or extend it wherever you want, maybe far from the opener and the LED bulbs.

 

[Torv]

I have LED bulbs in my garage door opener (as well as everywhere else…) and I don’t have any issues. It works 100% of the time. From fairly far away as well.

Perhaps the issue is isolated only to Liftmaster brand garage door openers.

 

[Torv]

But I'm assuming you didn't change your garage opener lightbulb right when you got your Taycan?

Actually, I might have because my wife’s Audi also developed issues with her Homelink activation more or less simultaneously.

 

[Jhenson29]

Perhaps the issue is isolated only to Liftmaster brand garage door openers.

Mine is a LiftMaster as well.

But I did a quick google search and found that is may just be the type of bulb you use.

https://blog.lightingsupply.com/blog/do-led-bulbs-interfere-with-garage-door-openers

These are what I have in my garage door openers: GE Relax

 

[Xesed]

Many people have problems with Homelink. I've heard stories of many people's doors opening or closing only halfway and not wanting to move. Many people I know have had to close their doors and leave home on public transportation. Unpleasant. Especially when it happens before an important family vacation and other trips. In any case, always check the HomeLink version, and only after updating, contact a company that can fix or replace your garage doors. I think it would be right. But you may argue.

 

[Crick]

One more pro-tip on Homelink: remote battery

My garage door opener is a 2003 - and after about six failed attempts to set up Homelink, I was beginning to worry about the opener age.

I called Homelink (800-355-3515). Incredibly helpful. Walked me through step by step over the phone.

The solution? a new battery in the remote.
Despite the remote working perfectly to open and close the door, and completing the first step of the Taycan pairing "successfully," the battery was not healthy enough to transmit a clean enough signal for the Taycan. With a new battery in the remote, the Homelink synchronized on the third button press.

All good with this hold garage door opener (OverHead Door Phantombuster Model 777 fwiw)

 

[Crick]

a new battery in the remote.

Here are the printed instructions from Homelink (emphases are HomeLink's):

Thank you for contacting HomeLink regarding your (vehicle) that is having programming issues. Below I have included troubleshooting tips along with programming instructions.

Before beginning programming make sure the vehicle is parked outside, facing the garage, free and clear of the garage door as the door will be operating during this programming process. Also, when going to the garage door opener, please use a sturdy ladder or other device. Please note a second person will make this process easier and more convenient for you.

First try the following troubleshooting tips:

• Make sure batteries in the remote are new.
  
• Try a different garage door remote for programming.
  
• Make sure the vehicle is outside of the garage when programming (within 10 feet of the opener but no closer than 5 feet). So just outside your garage door but where the door will not hit your car.
  
• Make sure the garage door antenna is straight and facing the ground.
  
• Make sure to step over the eyebeam at the end of the garage.
  
• Try pointing the remote behind the mirror if it’s located on the mirror, try in the sunglasses compartment if it’s on the overhead, or try the remote behind the driver’s side seat
  
• If you have a reinforced steel door or hurricane door those could cause interferences
  
• Make sure there is a clear line of sight to the garage door opener with no obstructions
  
• If you have more than one garage door motor in the garage, make sure all other motors are unplugged while programming the door you want.
  
• Unscrew any CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights) or LED bulbs from the garage door motor (this is a HUGE interference)
  
• Turn off any floodlights within 100ft even if they are on a dusk to dawn or motion sensor.
  
• Turn off Bluetooth on your cell phone while programming.
  
• How many garage doors are there? If more than one, can you unplug the other one for programming?
  
• Try programming inside the garage in the other stall if there is more than one

Programming Instructions:

1. Press 1 & 3 together (on HomeLink unit) to erase codes

2. Press & release HomeLink (HL) button of choice for 2 seconds and let go. (flashing after you let go or shuts right off?) If flashing, skip to step 3. If it shuts off, press & hold HL button of choice.

3. Press and hold the handheld remote transmitter and point within 1-3 inches of HL unit until you get a rapid/green flash.

4. Press & release Learn button to head back to the car within 30 seconds

5. Press HL button 4 times at 2-second intervals

(If the garage door moves, programming is complete. If not, repeat steps 4 & 5)

Please don’t hesitate to reach to contact HomeLink at 1-800-355-3515 if further assistance is needed. Our hours of operation are Monday-Friday 9a-7p ET, Saturday 9a-5:30p ET.

 

[Tsingtao]

I've had a myriad of troublesome issues getting my Taycan to recognize and open my garage reliably. I deleted and re-added, faithfully following the instructions repeatedly, and could not get my garage door to open except intermittently.

With that in mind, I thought perhaps my 15-year-old garage door opener was out of date with the Homelink technology imbedded in the Taycan so I spent $625 and had a new a garage door opener installed. As the technician finished installing the new unit, I mentioned my problems with the old one. After my tale of woe, he looked at me and said, “I wish you told me that earlier. The problem isn't with your garage door opener, it's with the LED light bulb you used to replace incandescent one on the garage door opener.”

He told me that LED light bulbs emit a frequency that effectively jams the signal from the remote used to open the garage door, including the Homelink in the Taycan (or any car for that matter). Hence my problem.

After setting up anew in my Taycan with the new opener, everything works hunky dory. The moral of the story is if you’re having trouble with your Homelink, check to make sure you're not using an LED light bulb on the garage door opener. Who woulda thunk it?

This is a great piece of intel!!! My openers are about 14 years old and I have been going freak'n nuts with the taycan's homelink for months. The sumbitch is so erratic and random when it fails that I can not make heads or tails of it. But, I have indeed replaced the OEM light bulbs with LEDs a few years back and that could be the problem. Now to Home Depot to snag a couple of the LEDs recommended in a post below.

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