**Tried to post this in the DIY section but it said to post here. Could a mod please move this there? Also, could you please fix the typo in the title**

I am not responsible for any damage caused by following this DIY. While this DIY is very easy, it is recommended to have some mechanical experience. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, please have someone who is do it.

Difficulty: 1.5/5

Parts: 1 Relay, 2' of wire, 4 quick disconnects (female I believe), 1 or 2 wire taps

Tool: Flat head screwdriver, pliers, 10MM socket wrench

Time: Shouldn't take anyone more than an hour. I could do this again in no more than 15 minutes

There are no pictures yet, those will be added to the post tomorrow hopefully.

Steps

1. Remove the battery cover using the flathead to remove the 4 push pins.

2. Remove the passenger side windshield trim piece. Once again, use a flathead to remove the plastic push pins. There are 2 of them. One near the middle of the car and one near the battery. Before removing the trim piece, make sure you pull off the wiper fluid hose from the trim piece. The hose fits into 2 little groves.

3. Disconnect negative battery wire.

4. Remove IPDM cover.

5. Open up your garage door opener. There is probably a screw on the back somewhere to get it open. You want to get the circuit board out of the casing. If you have more than one button, make sure you remember which one it is and locate it on the circuit board.

On the back of the board, you will see where the button has been soldered on. My opener only has 2 contact points, but I believe newer ones can have 4. My buddy's opener was like this and is much newer than my garage door, at least 10 years. If you have more than 2, grab a piece of wire and strip the ends. Jump 2 contacts at a time until you find a pair that opens your garage door. Solder on one 4"ish piece of wire on each contact point.

6. Attach a disconnect to each end of the wires you soldered onto the circuit board.

7. Cut 2 lengths of wires. This must reach from your IPDM to wherever you will be mounting your opener and relay. Attach a quick disconnect to one end of each of the 2 wires.

8. Connect the wires from the opener to 30 and 87 on the relay. Attach the wires from step 7 to 85 and 86 on the relay. Polarity doesn't matter.

9. Connect the wire from 86 to a ground point on your car. I just attached mine onto the negative battery terminal.

10. Now you need to locate the highbeam wire. It is the brown wire on the harness with the grey connector. This is the top most connector. Connect the remaining wire from step 7 (85 on relay) to this wire. I found it easiest to use a wire tap here.

11. Test to see if it works. Just reconnect your negative battery wire and flick your highbeams. My opener has a light on it that turns on when a signal is sent so others might as well. If your door opener, have someone watch that light when your flick your highbeams. If no signal is sent by the opener, something is most likely wired wrong or there is a bad connection somewhere. Post here and I can try and help you out.

12. Follow steps in reverse to put back together.

13. Enjoy

 

great write-up, but does need pics.

1. what's IPDM cover?
2. what relay did you use, and where did you buy it?

now, a more general question. the garage door remote is battery-powered, right? so, if your high-beams are on, your garage door remote is always transmitting?...

 

I did this years ago with my SUV that didn't have homelink.
It worked great.

Another way to do it is;
- Remove the battery
- jumper the switch contacts.
- and tie in to the opener at the battery terminals

That way you don't need a battery.
The voltage is a little off, but the opener takes 12vdc it no problem.

 

Pics are coming, I just wanted to get it all written up first The IPDM cover is a black tower looking case behind the battery. Pull up on it to get it off and that is where you'll make the connection to the brown wire. The relay is just a standard automotive relay that I picked up from the local auto place.

That's a good idea about running it off the battery. I'm not 100% sure if it will always be transmitting with the highbeams on, I didn't get a chance to check. I'll double check tonight at some point. I don't use my highbeams too much though so the battery isn't really an issue but it'll save some money and time so why not