The revamped 2019 Chevrolet Camaro has been controversially redesigned, with Chevrolet dragging the classic car design kicking and screaming into the 21st century by restyling its body and giving it a bunch of fancy new features, including a rear camera mirror, forward collision alert, 10-speed automatic transmission, and a brand new infotainment system. However, despite all these fancy new features, one of the most standardized features of cars for the past few decades is disappearing – the beloved built-in garage door remote system!

Garage door openers not available on the 2019 Camaro

The built-in garage door remote, known by some as HomeLink or the Universal Home Remote, will no longer be a feature on Chevrolet’s Camaro, with the GM Authority deciding to get rid of it for reasons which are still not clear. The garage door opener feature will not be present on the standard 2019 Camaro and will not be available as an add-on feature either, leaving Camaro enthusiasts wondering how they’re going to conveniently open their garage doors in their fancy new automobiles!

This shows a departure from Chevrolet, who up until now had included HomeLink and/or garage door opener features on the 2018 Camaro, being equipped as standard on the 2SS, 2LT and ZL1 trim levels. Although this could be a sign of the rapidly changing technology of the age we’re living in (you can do most things from your phone these days), others have speculated that the change in the 2019 Camaro is more to do with money than anything else.

Why is Chevrolet ditching the system?

You see, GM is currently trying to reduce the price of their Camaros due to declining sales, meaning that non-essential features such as built-in garage door remote and/or HomeLink systems are often the first to go. With the sixth-generation Camaro selling less than its older siblings, Chevrolet officials think that the car’s increased price may have been to blame. Due to this, Chevrolet has removed a bunch of the extra features in order to bring costs down and attempt to undercut their competitors on the forecourt.

Profitability itself is another factor which pundits think may be to blame for the disappearance of the feature, with the fancy features (i.e. 10-speed automatic transmission and rear camera mirror) making it harder for Chevrolet to make a profit. However, by keeping these fancy (you might argue gimmicky) new features and getting rid of the built-in garage door opener system, Chevrolet will have an easier time balancing out their profits and making enough money to sustain themselves down the line.

Although we can’t force Chevrolet to start putting built-in garage door remotes back into their cars, plenty of other vehicles still come with HomeLink garage door opener systems as standard. If you’re more bothered about convenience and want to open your garage door with ease when you come home after a long day, maybe you should look into a vehicle which comes with HomeLink integration as standard instead. But what exactly is HomeLink and how does it work?

What is HomeLink?

HomeLink is a wireless control system which is based in many different vehicles from many different makes and models of car. HomeLink allows you to safely and easily operate remote devices which are related to the everyday use of your car. For example, it may be used as a garage door opener or gate opener. HomeLink is not limited to being a garage door opener, however; it can be used to operate your home’s alarm system, exterior and interior lights, as well as countless other electronic gadgets. Basically, anything you might want to be able to operate as you enter and exit your home, you can probably do via HomeLink.

HomeLink is the most widely used and trusted wireless control system (for cars) in the world, using three small buttons which are integrated into the interior of your car. These buttons are often subtly placed on your rearview mirror or sun visor – somewhere easily accessible as you pull in and out of your home. The 3 buttons can be programmed to perform various functions, making them completely versatile and universal. Once the system is set up, you simply press the relevant button and your appliance/light/gadget will function as appropriate!

HomeLink is compatible with almost all garage door openers and gates, in addition to a long list of RF (radio frequency) controlled devices too. More recent and advanced versions of the system can even tell you when you have accidentally left your garage door open! The system is powered by your vehicle’s electrical system, so you never need to use batteries – just ensure that your car battery is in good condition and your HomeLink system will always work! Although many phone apps now allow you to open your garage door and whatnot, pressing a small button in your car is undoubtedly quicker and safer than pulling out your phone, which could easily be out of battery or not working properly.

The HomeLink system has been around for decades, winning the PACE Award in 1997 for improving the user experience between cars and homes. By the early 2000s, the system was integrated into over 20 million cars in the US, with that number only growing ever since. So, if you happen to own a 2018 Camaro (or any other Camaro with HomeLink installed) then you’re in luck, as you’ll still be able to use this convenient garage door opener system! But how exactly do you go about programming your older Camaro to work as a garage door opener?

Programming your old Camaro to work with HomeLink

When programming your old Camaro to work via its in-car HomeLink buttons, you need to take into account what model of garage door opener you have, as this will affect how you go about programming it. Before anything else, ascertain what types of garage door opener you have and when it was manufactured!

Programming Rolling code garage door opener

If you have a rolling code garage door opener system that meets UL325 Safety Standards, which is very likely if it’s less than 20 years old (manufactured after 1994), then you should follow these steps.

In your Camaro, reset the HomeLink buttons by holding down the 2 outside buttons at the same time. Do this until the in-car LED begins to flash quickly. Do bear in mind that this can take up to 60 seconds to work, and you should ensure that your key is in auxiliary and your car door is shut, as though you’re about to start the car up and drive away. Now, decide which of the three buttons you want to use to transmit the signal to your garage door opener. Get your transmitter and hold it close to the button, pressing and holding down the garage door remote transmitter and the designated in-car button at the same time. Eventually, the in-car LED will blink rapidly, signifying that the two are now “married” together. At this point, you should go to your garage door opener unit and go to the “learn” button or “smart” button. Depending on your opener unit, the name, placement, and appearance of this button can differ, so be sure to check your garage door opener manual if you’re not sure where it is. Once you’ve found it, press this button for a moment. The light should then turn on and blink, although it will stay lit if you have a Genie garage door opener system. If you have a Genie system, go back to the in-car transmitter button and press it a few times until the door begins to move. If you have a Sears, Liftmaster, or Linear Megacode garage door opener system, press and hold your in-car transmitter button until the light on the garage door opener itself flashes. You may need two people for this, depending on the type of garage door opener you have.

Programming Fixed-code garage door opener

If your garage door opener system has been around for more than 20 years (manufactured before 1994), then it’s probably a fixed-code opener, and the process for programming your Camaro’s HomeLink system is a little different.

In your Camaro, reset the HomeLink buttons by holding down the 2 outside buttons at the same time. Do this until the in-car LED begins to flash quickly. Do bear in mind that this can take up to 60 seconds to work, and you should ensure that your key is in auxiliary and your car door is shut, as though you’re about to start the car up and drive away. Choose which in-car button you want to program, and then press and hold it down while holding down the button on your hand-held garage door opener remote at the same time. The in-car LED should begin to blink rapidly and the two are now “married” together. Now simply test your in-car HomeLink button by pressing it and seeing if the door opens!

Although it’s sad to see that Chevrolet is ditching the HomeLink garage door opener system in their newer vehicles, plenty of manufacturers still design their cars to easily work with your garage door automatic opener system. Got a problem with your garage door opener or HomeLink system? At Champion Garage Door Repair we will get you up and running in no time!