Garage Door Remote Mod

Ok so many have asked for more info regarding this mod I’ve done with using an ordinary garage door remote and turning it into a “homelink” style switch in the wife’s 3rd gen Tacoma. There is already a little info out there regarding this mod but figured I’d share what I did in the case it helps you decide and understand how to get it done.

This mod is very simple but do keep in mind will be different for everyone when it comes to the style remote clicker you have but concept is the same throughout. There is also more ways to wire but this is the basic way to turn any garage door remote into a functional push button switch that looks like it came direct from the factory.

Parts needed:
Current garage door remote
Wire (of course)
Assortment of connectors your choice
Misc tools you’ll figure those out
Place to mount the switch (if no slots available)
The rest just look at the pics

Process:
Open remote and find the switch. In my image the switch is #1


Switch #1 is circled in red that’s what I will tap into


Flip over circuit board and locate pins to solder leads to. Can figure this out by using an insulated handled screwdriver and touching/jumping two prongs at a time till it opens your garage door. Can also be found easily if you know how to read a circuit board but if you have zero clue what you are looking at here’s a pic of the two prongs i soldered leads off to give you an idea.


Next solder your new leads. (Watch YouTube if you don’t know how to solder)


I used hot glue to keep the wires tight and in place (not thatbit needs it) i just did because I’m ocd and felt like it you don’t have to


I used a file to create a slot for the wires to exit the remote


I glued some magnets to the remote to keep in place. I will be mounting this remote behind the upper console. Could use Velcro but felt magnets are better for this in my case


My AOB (air on board) Momentary switch came in
Link to there site
https://www.aironboard.com/online/catalogsearch/result/?q=Garage


I used the blue one to match interior lighting and that’s the smaller style switch in the Tacoma’s

(must use a momentary style switch) doesn’t have to be AOB but be sure it’s momentary. The switch came in so had to bench test.
Keep in mind it doesn’t matter which way you wire the two leads red or green can be either way. (Red and green wires come off the AOB switch plug included with the switch sold by AOB)

The blue is positive to the battery and the black ground. (The blue and black only control the light in the switch and will not harm nor affect the 3V battery inside the garage remote) I’ve tested this and AOB states this in the wiring schematic


Next I ordered a switch panel that fit in the upper console. My wife’s rig didn’t have any open slots plus the upper console is the perfect spot for this switch. Can mount anywhere you like but make sure your remote has a good line between it and the garage door. More stuff in front of it probably won’t help if your remote isn’t very powerful.
I ordered the switch panel from shapeways 3D printed. Link is below. Shipping was quick price was good enough and no complaints. Do keep in mind it’s not an exact color match for the black interior but it’s close enough. If this bothers you you can always paint it.
https://www.shapeways.com/shops/mrphixit



Next remove the upper console. Pry at the four corners and gently remove. This is very easy but know the console will fall pretty quickly so be ready to catch it lol. Quick side note if you haven’t already upgraded to LED lighting interior I don’t know what to tell ya either lol DO IT!!!


Once the console is down pop out the section you are to remove in order to install the new switch panel. Pretty straight forward it’s held in by some plastic tabs


Install the new piece same it’s straight forward only goes in one way


Behind the console is already prepped for these kinda switches why toyota didn’t already have the console switch panel installed with some plugs is beyond me but is what it is.
Thankfully no cutting is involved for this one. If you don’t have a moon roof keep in mind if you want to add a switch to that panel cutting into the console and more intensive process will be involved (look back at the shapeway link for those instructions) For just the center section not much is needed


Now here’s the fun part (very simple but remember it might be different in your rig.)
I already have a switch for the traction control which is illuminated at night so a perfect place to splice in the AOB Garage switches light controls. After doing some probing with the volt meter I found which wire controls the light for that switch when headlights are on. In my case the red/white is the positive and the black was ground.
I spliced the blue wire from the AOB switch which is the positive. And spliced the black to black for the ground. (Be sure you extensively test and make sure before you commit to tapping into these wires)


Now I positioned the remote (put where you want it that’s best for your situation) There is ample room above the overhead console perfect for this type of remote. Again it’s held by magnets


Finish any loose ends do some testing and off ya go
I needed a slot to put my beat-sonic front camera switch so that slot in the image isn’t empty like the pic shows


So there it is. Very simple and I hope easy to follow. There are other ways to do this mod and I’m sure someone is gonna say I’m dumb or blah blah blah for taking this much time doing it “this way” but I don’t care and keep that to yourself and don’t troll this thread
If you have any questions, just ask em I’d be glad to give my input and help you if needed. Thanks and enjoy.

 

This is why I love TW.

 

Very cool and clean set up! I was actually planning to do something like this until a couple months ago o realized my truck had homelink. Only took me over a year to notice it

 

So great wright up OP and now you have given me more information on things that I have already thought about. Question though since you have seen the overhead console open do you think there would be enough room to run wires from there back down towards the center console area? I have envisioned moving some buttons from the center console to this area so that I can put acc switches there, or vise versa, thoughts?

 

That’s funny. Wish this one had homelink from the beginning

 

There’s plenty of room to run wires.. can route them down the a pillar easily as well. Plenty of room

 

Figured as much, appreciate the information.

 

Very nice mod! I may do this in my 78 TA! Thanks for sharing!

 

nice job, take it one step further and find a 78XX voltage regulator and remove the coin cell(s)....not sure if its a 1.5 or 3v setup.

 

Thought about it but doesn’t really matter to much as it’s very easy to access if needed. Definitely contemplated it lol

 

Zero dollars, zero parts, 8 second install.

 

Where's the fun in that?

 

The time and money I saved I went and had some fun.

 

Un originality is boring to me and ugly

8 second install? Rookie only take 2 seconds to do that install

 

Fun as in trolling threads? sounds fun Cost me $20 and took less than an hour to do. I waist more time on the toilet. If $20 breaks your bank I feel sorry for ya. I’m sure we could walk around your ride and point out many a waisted time and dollars. To each their own I guess. Enjoy your way while others enjoy theirs. Living life correcting and smartassing others to me is a large waist of time.

 

Who's trolling. I'm just offering a different perspective.

 

Think we all know the old clicker in the visor trick lol.

 

Fair enough... different strokes and all. I did that on my FJ, and after a two years of it being there I decided to move it only to discover it had left a huge dent from the clip pressure. I left it there for the next 8 years.

 

Nice mod!

 

Ok, who wants to help me out with this?

Cracked my remote open, and instead switches and corresponding posts on the flip side, I have soft buttons and nothing on the other side...

Should I just solder a lead to the opposing semi circle things?