How to Program Your Car Garage Door Opener to Work with Genie?

Integrating your Genie garage door opener with your car’s built-in remote system offers unparalleled convenience. No more fumbling for a separate remote – with systems like HomeLink and Car2U, your garage door opens at the touch of a button on your car’s visor or overhead console. These in-car technologies are powered directly by your vehicle, eliminating the need for batteries, unlike traditional handheld remotes. Genie garage door openers are designed to be fully compatible with both HomeLink and Car2U.

Cars equipped with HomeLink typically feature a single LED indicator and often display a house icon on the central button. Car2U systems are identifiable by three LED lights, one above each button.

Programming Your HomeLink System for Genie Garage Door Openers

HomeLink is a widely used system for integrating garage door opener controls into vehicles. Here’s how to program your HomeLink system to work with your Genie garage door opener.

Step 1: Clear Existing HomeLink Programming

Before programming a new Genie opener, it’s good practice to clear any existing programs from your HomeLink system. This ensures a clean setup and avoids potential conflicts.

To clear HomeLink, press and hold the outermost buttons (usually button 1 and button 3) simultaneously. Keep holding them until the HomeLink indicator light changes from a slow to a rapidly blinking light. This process usually takes about 20 seconds. Once the indicator blinks rapidly, release both buttons. This indicates that the HomeLink system is cleared and ready for new programming.

Step 2: Teach HomeLink Your Genie Remote Signal

Next, you need to teach your HomeLink system the signal from your Genie garage door opener remote.

1. Select the HomeLink button you wish to use for your Genie garage door opener.
2. Position your Genie remote approximately two inches away from the chosen HomeLink button.
3. Press and hold the button on your Genie remote that you typically use to open your garage door.
4. Simultaneously, press and hold the selected HomeLink button.
5. Continue holding both buttons until the HomeLink indicator light blinks slowly and then changes to a faster blink. This change in blinking speed indicates that HomeLink has successfully learned the frequency signal from your Genie remote.
6. Once the indicator blinks rapidly, release both buttons.

Step 3: Synchronize HomeLink with Your Genie Opener

The final step is to synchronize the programmed HomeLink button with your Genie garage door opener unit. The process varies slightly depending on whether you have a newer or older Genie model.

For Newer Genie Garage Door Openers (with a Program Button):

1. Locate the PROGRAM button on your Genie garage door opener motor unit (powerhead). This button is usually on the back or side of the unit.
2. Press and hold the PROGRAM button until a round blue LED light turns ON. Once it’s on, release the button. A long purple LED will then begin to flash, indicating the opener is in programming mode.
3. Immediately go to your car and press the HomeLink button you programmed in Step 2 for two seconds and release. Repeat this process – press the same HomeLink button again for two seconds and release.
4. Observe the long LED light on your Genie opener. It should flash blue and then turn off, indicating successful synchronization.
5. To finalize and test, press the programmed HomeLink button a few more times. Your Genie garage door should now activate.

For Older Genie Garage Door Openers (with a Learn Button):

1. Find the learn code button on your Genie garage door opener powerhead. This is often referred to as a “Learn” button.
2. Press and release the learn code button. A red LED light on the opener will start to blink, indicating it’s ready to learn a new code.
3. Within 30 seconds of pressing the learn button, press the desired HomeLink button in your car one time. The red LED on the opener will stop blinking and remain on solid.
4. Press the same HomeLink button one more time. The red LED will turn off.
5. Press the HomeLink button again to test. Your garage door should now respond and open or close.

For more detailed instructions or troubleshooting tips, consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual, visit the official HomeLink website (www.homelink.com), or the Genie Company website (www.GenieCompany.com).

Programming Your Car2U System for Genie Garage Door Openers

Car2U is another in-car system that allows you to control your garage door. Here’s how to program Car2U to operate your Genie garage door opener.

Step 1: Reset Car2U to Factory Default Settings

Car2U systems come with factory default settings that are pre-programmed for different brands. To ensure smooth programming with your Genie opener, it’s best to reset Car2U to its default settings.

The default Car2U settings are:

• Button 1: Genie® manufactured openers
• Button 2: LiftMaster® manufactured openers
• Button 3: Wayne Dalton® manufactured openers

Car2U buttons integrated in a car for garage door control

To reset Car2U:

1. Press and hold buttons 1 and 3 simultaneously for approximately 20 seconds.
2. Continue holding until all three LED lights above the buttons begin to flash.
3. Once all LEDs are flashing, release both buttons. The Car2U system is now reset to factory default settings.

Step 2: Program Car2U to Recognize Your Genie Opener

Now you need to program Car2U to work with your Genie garage door opener. The process differs slightly for newer and older Genie models.

For Newer Genie Models (with a Program Button):

1. Press and hold the PROGRAM button on your Genie garage door opener powerhead until the round blue LED light turns ON. Release the button. The long purple LED will start to flash.
2. In your car, press and hold the Car2U button you wish to program for your Genie opener for two seconds, then release. Repeat this – press the same Car2U button again for two seconds and release.
3. Observe the long LED on the Genie opener. It should flash blue and then turn off, indicating successful programming.
4. Test the connection by pressing the programmed Car2U button a few times. Your Genie garage door should now activate.

For Older Genie Models (with a Learn Button):

1. Locate the learn code button on your Genie garage door opener powerhead.
2. Press and release the learn code button. The red LED light on the opener will begin to blink.
3. Within 30 seconds, press the desired Car2U button in your car one time. The red LED on the opener will stop blinking and stay on.
4. Press the same Car2U button one more time. The red LED will turn off.
5. Test by pressing the Car2U button again. Your garage door should now respond.

Step 3: Changing Factory Default Button for a Genie Opener (Car2U)

If you want to use a button other than button 1 (the default Genie button) on your Car2U system for your Genie opener, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold buttons 1 and 3 for just ONE SECOND and release. All three LEDs will light up solid red.
2. Decide which button (2 or 3) you want to reassign for your Genie opener. Press and hold that button. The corresponding LED for that button will start flashing. While still holding this button, press and release button 1. Then, press and release button 1 again.
3. Release the button you held in step 2 and wait for the LED to stop flashing. This button is now set to operate your Genie opener. Repeat this step if you want to program a second Car2U button for another Genie opener.

For further assistance with Car2U programming, refer to your vehicle’s manual, visit the Car2U website (learcar2u.com), or the Genie Company website (www.GenieCompany.com).

By following these steps, you can easily program your car’s built-in garage door opener system to work seamlessly with your Genie garage door opener, adding convenience and simplifying your daily routine.