It’s a common frustration: you’ve got a new car and you’re ready to sync it with your garage door opener, especially if you’re aiming to program multiple vehicles. Many homeowners run into a snag when they find their universal remote or car’s HomeLink system stubbornly refuses to program for two separate garage doors, or worse, starts controlling both doors at once when that’s not the goal. Let’s dive into why you might be facing this issue and how to troubleshoot it.
One of the primary reasons you might encounter this problem, particularly with older garage door opener systems, lies in the technology they use. Older openers, especially those from the 1990s era like LiftMasters mentioned, often utilize a simple DIP switch or fixed code system. These systems are less secure and, crucially, less discerning when it comes to multiple signals. When you program a universal remote or a HomeLink system, it’s essentially mimicking the signal of your original remote. If both your garage doors are set to respond to the same fixed code, programming one button on your remote can inadvertently control both doors simultaneously.
This is further complicated when you introduce a universal remote into the mix. Universal remotes are designed to work with a wide range of garage door openers, which is a great feature, but they can sometimes oversimplify the programming process. In an attempt to make setup easy, some universal remotes might default to broadcasting a broader signal that ends up activating both doors if they are on similar or identical frequencies. This can also explain why programming the universal remote might have erased the programming on your other vehicles’ HomeLink systems and your wireless keypad. Older systems can sometimes get confused or overwhelmed when new signals are introduced, especially from devices meant to control multiple types of openers.
So, what can you do if your garage door remote is controlling both doors when you only want it to manage one, or if you’re struggling to program separate buttons for each door? First, try resetting the memory on your garage door openers themselves. Most openers have a “learn” button (often yellow, red, or orange) on the motor unit. Pressing and holding this button for a few seconds usually clears the existing remote programming. After resetting, try reprogramming your car remotes and the universal remote, ensuring you follow the manufacturer’s instructions precisely for each device and each garage door opener. It’s crucial to program each remote button to a specific door opener, rather than assuming one programming will cover both independently.
If you continue to experience issues, it might be beneficial to check if your garage door openers are indeed using the same code. While less common with modern rolling code systems, older fixed code systems could potentially be set to the same code if they were installed around the same time or by the same installer. Consulting your garage door opener manuals or contacting a garage door specialist can help determine if this is the case and if there are ways to differentiate the codes if possible.
In conclusion, the issue of a single remote controlling two garage doors, or difficulties programming multiple remotes, often boils down to the type of garage door opener system you have, particularly if it’s an older model. Universal remotes, while convenient, can sometimes exacerbate these issues with older, less sophisticated systems. Careful reprogramming, resetting opener memory, and understanding the type of system you have are key steps in troubleshooting this problem. If all else fails, seeking advice from a garage door professional can provide tailored solutions for your specific setup.
