Can the HomeLink system be installed in our trucks? I didn't see it as an option. My wife's vehicle has it and it is very handy.

Yes

I'm assuming it is for the truck in your sig.
You need the overhead console out of a suburban/tahoe/yukon... WITHOUT the sunroof.
I got mine off ebay for about $120 last year.
You can also go to JPCustoms.com, but that is spendy (probably about the same as the stealer)

If you're handy you can probably adapt just about any homelink module. Do a search here for homelink, there are many different ways to do it, all the module needs is power and ground.

Mike

Whattya need to know? Buy a console off ebay with the module in it. Talking long consoles, you want to find one from a Tahoe, Yukon or 'Burban. Most of those will also have the rear A/C controls that we don't need, but make them attractive to resell, and I THINK (not sure, though) that the Blazer/Jimmy ones will work too. The S-truck panels may not be the same exact color or grain pattern, thats the sticking point.

You want to find the ones with the 3 separate buttons (all the buttons look alike), because IIRC those are the ones that work with the newer openers with the varying codes. I think the older "oval button" homelink modules will work, too, but I'm not sure about opener compatibility.

In my case, I had the long console, so I just veryyyyyy carefully took out the "garage door opener" door by gently prying up on the hinge tabs while easing the door hinge pins out....1 at a time, and, again, veryyyyyy carefully. After you separate the wiring harness, do the same to the other console's Homelink module. You have to "open" the module first, because it is not really a "door" like the other ones.

WATCH THOSE HINGE PINS! I can't stress this enough!

Reinstall the Homelink in your console by first threading the wiring up through to match how it was in the other, then gently push the hinge pins back into the tabs and snap the module closed. Match the wires up to the appropriate color ones (power {orange}, ground {was that black or white...I forget}, lighting {brown, I think}) already there for the overhead lights and connect them up.

Reinstall your console, and use the instructions at www.homelink.com (http://www.homelink.com/) to program it, and away you go.

Now the neat part...... reinstall your old door in the console you bought, and then resell it. You make some money back!!!!!

You can usually find consoles for about $50-75 on ebay. You could even try your local boneyard. Sure beats the hell out of $200+!!!!!!!!!!

Now, if you have a shorty style console, I don't have intimate experience with those, but from what I've seen, you'll probably also have to find one from a Tahoe, Yukon or 'Burban (like posted above). These may also have the rear AC controls in them, like the longer one. The S-consoles definitely don't work here. You'd probably have to take out the A/C controls and wiring, and then swap out your blank panel (or Attitude/Gauge mount) into the new one, and then mount the new console. Swap the other parts back into your old one and resell that!

This was one of the first mods I did, since the BigRedTruck was to spend its life sleeping inside, and I HATED the garage door opener door in my console.

Hope this helps!

Tom :pig:

yep, got mine off the board here for about $40 as I remember.

Do the Homelink modules work on switched power, or do they need a constantly on power source?

I would say constant power....I had tied mine into the overhead lights in the console.

i have mine powered by a switched source. i didn't want anyone to be able to get in to my garage by breaking in to the truck.

you could use RAP if you can find a good source, ie onstar mirror.

i have mine powered by a switched source. i didn't want anyone to be able to get in to my garage by breaking in to the truck.

That's what I did for the same reason, works fine. You don't need constant power for it to work. I tied mine into the overhead lights first, and it would turn off after a while, the truck sensed the current flow and turned off the circuit after 10 minutes or so.

I find it amazing that GM didn't offer this in the trucks. I mean, how much could it have possibly cost for them to list it as an option? $5? The people that wanted it woulda payed for it....

Tom

I find it amazing that GM didn't offer this in the trucks. I mean, how much could it have possibly cost for them to list it as an option? $5? The people that wanted it woulda payed for it....

Tom
Exactly. The same with the other "cost cutting measures".

You can buy a $50K loaded truck but no Homelink but you can a $9k car and get it?????

It's an option now right? Anyway, I bought and installed mine cheaper than GM would have wanted to do it when it was built I am sure.

Check out this page, it shows how some of us put them in for very little $$$$ Click Here (http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8423&highlight=HomeLink+Wiring)

:cool2:

BigMoe,


Thanks. That link was awesome! From what I can see, any HomeLink system can be used, correct? I have been looking for one for my exact vehicle. If any of them can be used I will buy one. I have a dremel and other tools so it should be easy I hope. The only issue I am still wondering about is the wiring. Any help/ideas on this? Thanks again.

BigMoe,


Thanks. That link was awesome! From what I can see, any HomeLink system can be used, correct? I have been looking for one for my exact vehicle. If any of them can be used I will buy one. I have a dremel and other tools so it should be easy I hope. The only issue I am still wondering about is the wiring. Any help/ideas on this? Thanks again.

Yes just about any HomeLink can be used. I am not sure if some of the older ones will do the rolling codes that are on some newer garage door opener. My neighbor has some of his exterior home lighting on a system her can activate with his HomeLink, so the choices of what you can do with them are good. And in the 2003 and newer they have to be wired up differently. I used a place in the hole were the overhead console for a ground, and I am going to run a wire down the post for power. But for now I have to turn on one of the map lights to use it, I tapped into one of the Orange wires. :) Moe