Homelink in a 1st Gen

I posted this information in my build and have had a couple of PM's about it since, so I figured it was worth a separate thread.

I love modern conveniences. My Tundra and the wife's mall crawler 4Runner both have Homelink and I love it! No fumbling in the center console and no ridiculous remotes hanging from the visor. Alas the 1st gen tacos don't have a whole lot of options for retrofitting. My first thought was a gentex mirror with homelink built in, but our rearview mirrors are not attached to the windshield. Removing the existing mirror and putting it on the windshield would look rediculous to me too. After googleing the hell out of "tacoma homelink" I only really came up with 2nd gen options. However I found several insightful writeups on TW for retrofitting a sun visor homelink module.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...k-install.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...k-install.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...-pictures.html

The second and third articles were especially useful and gave me enough courage to attempt it on my 1st gen. I picked up a beige rolling code homelink module off fleabay for a whopping $25 shipped.




I wanted to install the module behind the map lights. To gain access to this area, just pop off the covers to the map lights. There are 4 screws that hold the mirror and lights to the ceiling of the cab. I also pulled the two sun visor clips off.



I just following the aforementioned articles and cut a hole in the headliner. Wiring was simple. Just tapped the power off the map lights and grounded using one of the screws that hold the mirror up. The results are fantastic. It came out way better than I expected and, dare I say, it almost looks factory.





After putting it all back together I noticed there was still a little bit too much wiggle room between the back of the module and the roof of the cab. I folded up a piece of cardboard and wedged it in between the two and now it works flawlessly.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garage_door_opener

 

Thanks guys!

We can compair notes on the 12th!

 

So I found one nuance with this setup. For whatever reason, when the truck is turned off, the Homelink doesn't work. Which is weird, case the map lights still work and that's where I'm stealing power from. I'm guessing it's a current draw issue.
I don't know why, and really don't care. I only close it when I'm leaving and open it when I'm coming home, so it's not worth running a separate power wire.

 

You got it. Once you pull the mirror/map lights off and the sun visors clips out you can just pull the headliner down enough to put the homelink in place. If you want even more wiggle room you can pull the sun visors completley off. In most modern cars the headliner is only held in place by all the little roof accessories and interior moldings.

 

Holy shit! My rep went from like 450ish to 4111 because of this thread. Score!

 

You can find most everything here
http://www.homelink.com

If you need a reference vehicle, I used an 07 4runner cause it worked the same way as my wife's 4runner.

It's pretty strait forward though. First turn the key to on position and the the rest is strait from the website:

1. For first time training, press and hold the two outer HomeLink® buttons, releasing only when the HomeLink® indicator light begins to flash after 20 seconds. (Do not perform this step when training the additional HomeLink® buttons.) I skipped this step
2. Hold both the handheld transmitter button and the HomeLink® button you would like to program until the HomeLink® flashes slowly then rapidly (then release both buttons)
3. Press and hold the HomeLink® button you just programmed. If the garage door opens/closes then programming is complete. If it does not then proceed to step 4.
4. Get a ladder and press and release the “learn” button on the back of your garage door motor head
5. Within 30 seconds get back into your vehicle and press and release the HomeLink® button you just programmed up to 3 times or until your garage door activates. Programming is complete.

 

I just programmed garages. One was rolling one was not.