Garage Door Opener Power

[AccraBob]

I have a 2014 Expedition XLT with the Car2U garage door opener unit on the driver side sun visor. It seems to have power all the time, whether or not the ignition is on. For home security purposes, I'd prefer that it work only when the vehicle ignition is on.

Anyone have any good ideas how to achieve this?

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Hi Bob,

They are only supposed to be active when the ignition is on. They may stay active after you turn off the key before you open the door like the radio and the windows. That's the way they were on my 05 was and that is the way the 17 is as well.

 

[Hayes Riviere]

Like Andy said, it might just be because you haven't opened the door yet. Try turning the Expedition off and after opening the door, try using the garage door opener. Then, if the opener isn't working properly, it shouldn't open the garage doors.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Hi Bob,

They are only supposed to be active when the ignition is on. They may stay active after you turn off the key before you open the door like the radio and the windows. That's the way they were on my 05 was and that is the way the 17 is as well.

I have a 2015 Expediton Limited 4 x 4 - the garage door opener is "hot" all the time.

I do not like the location on the driver side sun visor. It prevents a front seat passenger (or if you're on the right side of the car removing an item) from using the opener. Many GM cars have the opener buttons on the overhead console, between the two front seats - which is a more convenient location. Also, if the left sun visor is folded down for sun, the buttons are not readily available.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I have a 2015 Expediton Limited 4 x 4 - the garage door opener is "hot" all the time.

I do not like the location on the driver side sun visor. It prevents a front seat passenger (or if you're on the right side of the car removing an item) from using the opener. Many GM cars have the opener buttons on the overhead console, between the two front seats - which is a more convenient location. Also, if the left sun visor is folded down for sun, the buttons are not readily available.

My 09 Mercedes ML350 had them in the center above the review mirror. I really don't have a problem with them on the visor. I'm the only one that drives my truck and if my wife is in the truck, I'm ususally the one to open the garaged door anyway.

In all of the vehicles that I've owned that have had the HomeLink system, none have them have ever stayed hot all of the time and that goes back to 97. That is a safety issue if you leave your vehicle parked outside. There may be power to the control but it will not operate the door. Park your truck. roll down the window, step out, and shut the door come back 5 minutes later, reach through the open window and hit the button and see if it opens. It shouldn't open.

 

[AccraBob]

Thanks, ExpeditionAndy and Hayes Riviere, for the info. I had already done the "turn off ignition" and "open door" tests, and while the radio would go off as normal, the garage door buttons kept working.

But when I try the "open window and wait 5 minutes test", the GDO would NOT function. So that is good. But if I open the driver door, even without putting the key in the ignition, the GDO is alive again.

So I think somehow it's tied to the inside lighting timer... we all know the lights time out soon after you leave the vehicle, and they come on when you open a door or unlock the truck. So I suppose that is when the GDO gets powered up again.

Anyone have the same results?

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Thanks, ExpeditionAndy and Hayes Riviere, for the info. I had already done the "turn off ignition" and "open door" tests, and while the radio would go off as normal, the garage door buttons kept working.

But when I try the "open window and wait 5 minutes test", the GDO would NOT function. So that is good. But if I open the driver door, even without putting the key in the ignition, the GDO is alive again.

So I think somehow it's tied to the inside lighting timer... we all know the lights time out soon after you leave the vehicle, and they come on when you open a door or unlock the truck. So I suppose that is when the GDO gets powered up again.

Anyone have the same results?

I'll double check mine because I have never noticed it doing that again, but it sure doesn't make sense because if somebody popped your lock and opened your door they could have access to your garage and house if your truck was parked outside. That might be another test. Like before, window down, this time doors locked, pop the lock, I'm sure the alarm will go off and then see if the opener will work. It's just a thought.

 

[chuck s]

Homelink, the Ford OEM remote control buttons on the visor, is active anytime there's a battery in the vehicle. Have no clue what Car2U garage door opener might be and guess it's an aftermarket item. Since Homelink only used power when a button is pressed it won't hurt to have it hot all the time.

-- Chuck

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Homelink, the Ford OEM remote control buttons on the visor, is active anytime there's a battery in the vehicle. Have no clue what Car2U garage door opener might be and guess it's an aftermarket item. Since Homelink only used power when a button is pressed it won't hurt to have it hot all the time.

-- Chuck

Chuck I think the issue is if the button is always hot and you park outside your garage, then someone could open your door and gain access through the garage door.

 

[AccraBob]

Homelink and Car2U are both available as OEM. Mine just came with the package, I didn't specify one or the other. The Expedition manual describes both. I think the issue is the power to the sun visor including the mirror.

 

[chuck s]

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[chuck s]

Just ran a test. Homelink acts like it is powered all the time but it's not. Homelink is powered as soon as a door is opened and for some time after. Don't know the time delay until power is cut. Anyone accessing the truck after opening a door can open the garage door. Reaching thru a window after the truck has been Off for a while won't open the door.

-- Chuck

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Just ran a test. Homelink acts like it is powered all the time but it's not. Homelink is powered as soon as a door is opened and for some time after. Don't know the time delay until power is cut. Anyone accessing the truck after opening a door can open the garage door. Reaching thru a window after the truck has been Off for a while won't open the door.

-- Chuck

That's kind of disappointing. I really haven't set mine up on the 17 because I park outside but I had it working on the 05 and never noticed that issue. I might just have to try it and see what happens.

Did you try locking the door and then popping the lock like someone breaking into to see if it is still powered or if the security system cuts it off?

 

[chuck s]

Just those quick tests. I currently park inside the garage and I've always opened the garage door as soon as I get in the truck and before even putting the key in the ignition. Assumption was the HomeLink was always powered. Turned out to seem that way but not actually true. Might be something in Forscan that can be set.

I'll run more tests as I get time as we're moving in 3 weeks and were unable to find a 3-car garage in our new area. Her car goes in the new garage (duh) as well as my S2000 roadster so the Expedition will get left outdoors. As an aside the HomeLink from an old, defective left visor from my '07 is velcroed under the dashboard of the Honda and wired always hot. The visor would not remain up, just flopped down. Expensive visor!

-- Chuck

 

[jkayca]

This is how my Oddy and Lexus worked. Do you have a keypad outside for the garage door? If so and since the truck is going to stay outside maybe don't program the homelink buttons. A bit of PITA but maybe worth it if you are really worried about being broken into.

 

[chuck s]

Thanks. That's the current setup at the new (to us) house. One (1) remote opener from the prior owners is in her car. Can't seem to program the opener to HomeLinks in either the Ford or Subaru at present anyway so am stuck for now with this setup.

-- Chuck