How to Program Your Genie Garage Door Opener to Your Car

Imagine the convenience of simply pressing a button in your car to open your garage door as you arrive home. No more fumbling for a separate remote! Modern vehicles are often equipped with integrated systems like HomeLink and Car2U, designed to seamlessly connect with your garage door opener. If you have a Genie garage door opener and want to utilize this feature in your car, you’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through the straightforward steps to program your car’s built-in remote system to your Genie garage door opener, enhancing both your convenience and security.

These in-car systems, typically found with buttons located on your visor or overhead console, operate directly from your car’s power. This eliminates the need for batteries, a significant advantage over traditional handheld remotes. Both HomeLink and Car2U are widely compatible with Genie garage door openers. Identifying which system you have is simple: HomeLink systems usually feature a single LED indicator and may display a house icon on the central button, while Car2U systems are recognized by three LED lights positioned above each button.

Programming Your HomeLink System for Genie Garage Door Openers

HomeLink is a popular and versatile system for integrating your garage door opener with your vehicle. 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 garage door opener, it’s good practice to clear any previous settings. To clear HomeLink:

1. Press and hold the first and third buttons on your HomeLink system simultaneously.
2. Keep holding until the indicator light blinks slowly at first, and then begins to blink rapidly. This should take about 20 seconds.
3. Once the rapid blinking starts, release both buttons. Your HomeLink system is now cleared and ready for new programming.

Note: Clearing HomeLink will erase all previously programmed devices. You’ll need to reprogram any other garage door openers or devices linked to your HomeLink system.

Step 2: Train HomeLink Using Your Genie Remote

This step involves teaching your car’s HomeLink system to recognize the signal from your Genie garage door opener remote.

1. Choose the HomeLink button you wish to use for your Genie garage door opener.
2. Position your Genie garage door opener remote approximately two inches away from the chosen HomeLink button in your car.
3. Press and hold the button on your Genie remote that you typically use to open your garage door.
4. While still holding the Genie remote button, immediately press and hold the chosen HomeLink button in your car.
5. Continue holding both buttons simultaneously until the HomeLink indicator light changes from a slow blink to a rapid blink. This indicates successful signal learning.
6. Once the indicator light blinks rapidly, release both buttons.

Step 3: Finalize Programming with Your Genie Opener

The final step connects your HomeLink system to your actual 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 illuminates. Then, release the button. A long purple LED will start flashing, indicating programming mode.
3. Immediately return to your car and press the HomeLink button you programmed in Step 2 for two seconds, and then release.
4. Press the same HomeLink button again for two seconds and release. The long LED on your garage door opener will flash blue and then turn off, confirming the connection.
5. Press the programmed HomeLink button a few more times to test if your garage door opens and closes.

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

1. Locate the Learn Code Button on your Genie garage door opener powerhead. This is often a colored button (usually red or yellow).
2. Press and release the Learn Code Button. A red LED indicator will begin to blink. You typically have a short window of time (around 30 seconds) after pressing the learn button to complete the next steps.
3. Immediately go to your car and press the desired HomeLink button one time. The red LED on the garage door opener should 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 if the garage door operates.

For further assistance, consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual, visit www.homelink.com, or the Genie Company website at www.GenieCompany.com.

Programming Your Car2U System for Genie Garage Door Openers

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

Step 1: Reset Car2U to Factory Default Settings

Car2U systems come with default settings that assign specific garage door opener brands to each button. For Genie openers, it’s often beneficial to reset to default to ensure a clean programming process. The default Car2U settings are:

• Button 1 = Genie® Manufactured Openers
• Button 2 = LiftMaster® Manufactured Openers
• Button 3 = Wayne Dalton® Manufactured Openers

Car2U buttons inside a car for garage door control

To reset Car2U:

1. Press and hold buttons 1 and 3 on your Car2U system simultaneously.
2. Hold for approximately 20 seconds, or until all three LED lights above the buttons begin to flash.
3. Release both buttons. The Car2U system is now reset to factory default settings.

Note: Resetting Car2U will clear any previously programmed garage door openers.

Step 2: Program Car2U to Recognize Your Genie Opener

The programming steps for Car2U are similar to HomeLink, but it’s important to follow them precisely. Again, 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 turns ON. Release the button. The long purple LED will start to flash.
2. Press and hold the Car2U button you want to program for your Genie opener for two seconds, then release.
3. Press the same Car2U button again for two seconds and release. The long LED on the Genie opener will flash blue and then turn off, indicating successful pairing.
4. Test the programming by pressing the Car2U button a few times to see if your garage door responds.

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 will begin to blink.
3. Go to your car and press the desired Car2U button one time. The red LED on the garage door opener should stop blinking and stay illuminated.
4. Press the same Car2U button one more time. The red LED will turn off.
5. Press the Car2U button again to operate your garage door.

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

A unique feature of Car2U is the ability to reassign the default button settings. If you want to use button 2 or 3 for your Genie opener (which are initially set for other brands), follow these steps:

1. Press and hold buttons 1 and 3 on your Car2U system for just ONE SECOND, and then release. All three LEDs will light up solid red.
2. Decide which button (2 or 3) you want to reprogram for Genie. Press and hold that button. The corresponding LED will begin to flash. While continuing to hold this button, press and release button 1. Then press and release button 1 again.
3. Release the button you were holding in step 2. Wait for the LED to stop flashing. This button is now configured for your Genie opener.
4. Repeat Step 2 if you want to program another Car2U button for a second Genie garage door opener.

For further assistance with Car2U, consult your vehicle’s manual, visit learcar2u.com, or the Genie Company website at www.GenieCompany.com.

By following these instructions, you can easily program your car’s HomeLink or Car2U system to operate your Genie garage door opener, bringing added convenience to your daily routine. Enjoy the ease of access to your garage with just a press of a button from your car!