[TopRowSeat]

Just got my shiny new silver Terrain SLT2... One option that I am sorely missing is Homelink.

You can buy one on eBay for a reasonable price and there are lots of examples online where people have added them to various vehicles with some excellent results.

I'm interested in trying the mod but can't figure out where the ideal installation site is.

If you were adding a HomeLink unit to your Terrain, where would you put it?

 

[Mobius]

I would probably make use of the little (useless except for collecting dust) indented coin holder (or whatever it is for) that is just in front of the armrest compartment. Easiest place for access (from the armrest compartment) in my opinion.

 

[Islander]

Ordered my SLT-1 last night and biggest, and only, disappointment is lack of Homelink....what was GM thinking?? I look forward to seeing what good ideas come out of this thread so I can fix the problem when new Terrain arrives in late January.

 

[Islander]

I guess everyone is just carrying the old garage door remote in their vehicles. I suppose the big advantage to Homelink is not having to change batteries or finding a spot in the car for the remote. I still think this was a real stupid decision by GM. They market a vehicle with back up camera, power liftgate, heated seats, etc., etc., and you can't have homelink?? Everyone else has it standard, or at least available, in this price range.

 

[gearhead]

I would probably make use of the little [/color] (useless except for collecting dust) indented coin holder [/color] (or whatever it is for) that is just in front of the armrest compartment. Easiest place for access (from the armrest compartment) in my opinion.

Exactly where we put our garage remote.
It's a Craftsman 3-button and fits like a glove.
For X-10 users, there's still enough room for the 2-button remote keyfob to run your X-10 macros with.

 

[CWGrizzwold]

Since I posted the original statement, I was able to find a very small garage door remote that fits much better on my sun visor. Much better than the old system, and it is programmable so I can use it control other X10 devices that I already have (lights, outlets, etc).

Still, I agree that it was a bad decision to leave it out. Does anybody know if Homelink was left off of other 2010 vehicles? Maybe GM is phasing it out on all of their new vehicles...

I would bet a decent sum of money that Homelink would be offered for 2011. Perhaps on the SLT-1 and SLT-2. There might also be some other options that were left off that seem to come up time and time again in here as they are already available on the Cadillac SRX. It will be only a matter of time until someone figures out how to install the Caddy Homelink in the Terrain and Nox.

 

[tribuin]

Interesting theory on why homelink wasn't included on 2010 Nox/Terrain. Please note that this is speculation by someone based on what they were told. I don't agree with the decision to leave homelink off, but it seems to be reasonable reason why they did based on issues I recently had with one of the newer garage door openers:

I know you just reposted someone else's theory, but I don't buy it. Rolling code Garage Door openers have been around for nearly 20 years. Besides, I have programmed plenty of Homelink transmitters, and have never had any problems. Just following the directions. It was easy.

 

[gearhead]

Just did some more research on this. Its not just rolling code openers. There are a slew of new openers that won't work with homelink without buying an adapter ($70 - its the first thing listed under FAQ, so it is becoming a big issue). If I look at this from a business perspective, I would have to ask myself:

1. How much does it cost me to install homelink?
2. How many owners use homelink for anything other than opening the garage door?
3. Can a home owner buy homelink functionality?
4. Which decision will create more negative feelings:
a. Not installing homelink
b. Installing homelink knowing that its not going to work with several popular brands of new garage door openers and people are going to have to pony up money for adapters

If I'm GM, I'm trying to cut costs and create a positive customer experience. IMHO, the uproar in this forum would be far greater if homelink didn't work than if it wasn't there. Yes, people aren't happy its not there (me included), but I would have been far unhappier if the buttons were there but they weren't usable with the new garage door opener I bought (I'm glad my research led me to the adapter - it will make my wife very happy that she's able to use her homelink again).

In my case, I found a very small remote that is compatible with my garage door. I'm able to tuck it out of the way, it does more than homelink, and I didn't end up paying for it and homelink (you don't think that GM wouldn't pass the cost on to me).

Having said all of this, I believe it would have been in GMs best interest to point out that they weren't including it and tell us why. I'd rather hear it from them than to try and speculate.

Excellent info as always, SnowItch.
Thanks, as always!

 

[Cadx6]

About three months into the run of the new design 2007 Escalades, Cadillac dumped the supplier they had used for years (I presume it was "Homelink" since that's what was shown on the sticker), & went with a new brand - Lear Car2U. Unfortunately they did it before they changed the programming instructions in the owner's manual. You think you guys have something to gripe about (which you definitely do) you should have seen the Escalade forums go ballistic when they couldn't get their door openers to program. Fortunately, when I called to chew out my salesman for giving me a defective car - he was ahead of all the other people at his dealership & knew to fax me a copy of the notice sent out by GM with new (totally different) instructions. As far as I know, GM is still using the Lear system in all the Chevys, Buicks, GMCs, and Cadillacs that come with a system - at least my 2009 Escalade has the same as my 2007 did.

 

[Roesterman]

Didnt option become "universal garage opener" instead of " homelink" about 2 years ago? My 2009 Vue has universal garage door opener, not homelink. Maybe when they switched the supplier they couldnt call it homelink anymore.

 

[Narg]

I'd just like to add my disappointed feeling in the lack of the Homelink buttons. Really stupid GM!!!!!

 

[Cadx6]

Roesterman is apparently correct - I stand (semi) corrected. The sticker for my wife's 2003 CTS lists "Homelink Garage Door Opener, but in looking again, the sticker for my 2009 Escalade just says "Universal Home Remote". In any event, I agree with you guys that I can't believe GM left out something this basic on these two models that definitely aren't "entry level". I'd hate to carry around a separate opener - too easy for someone to reach in & snatch off the visor or console. Also too easy to fall out or otherwise depart when you're not looking. With all the outcry, it will be interesting to see if it shows up on the 2011.

 

[Narg]

With all the outcry, it will be interesting to see if it shows up on the 2011.

And, hopefully you can retro fit it to older models...

 

[Narg]

Here's an idea:

http://www.gatehousesupplies.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=26&Click=2&gclid=CM3_89epwKACFQUMDQod2Gv1TQ

Replace the rear view mirror with buttons on the mirror for Homelink.

 

[SobeTerrain]

I'd just like to add my disappointed feeling in the lack of the Homelink buttons. Really stupid GM!!!!!

btw I was disappointed with the no home link as well but, want you all to know after reading the posts here, there really is a simple fix. I purchased a small digital universal garage door opner. I can get the name if anyone is intrested. It's about the size of a tic tac box. It has two buttons so u can use one for home and if you need one for office. I used Velcro on the back and placed it in the little compartment in from of arm rest. Very easy to hit one of the buttons while driving up to garage or gate! Good luck

 

[gmcdan]

I purchased one off Ebay for $20. Friend and I installed it in the overhead since I don't have a knob for the rear lift gate or a sunroof. Hooked up 2 wires, one 12volt and the other ground. Took a minute to program and it looks good and work perfectly.

 

[gearhead]

Yes, it looks awesome, gmcdan.
Any tips on where to buy, how to wire, etc?

 

[reako]

I purchased one off Ebay for $20. Friend and I installed it in the overhead since I don't have a knob for the rear lift gate or a sunroof. Hooked up 2 wires, one 12volt and the other ground. Took a minute to program and it looks good and work perfectly.

Thanks for the pic gmcdan, looks perfect! And for $20 this is definitely on my to-do list. How easy was it to make the cuts, what tools did you use, exactly which wires did you end up splicing into (and what connector did you use to connect the wires) and where can we find these wires? Seems like an easy enough job though, if anyone has this info please feel free to contribute.

For those looking for these units just type homelink into ebay and there are quite a few used for $20 free shipping.

 

[barhoc11]

I purchased one off Ebay for $20. Friend and I installed it in the overhead since I don't have a knob for the rear lift gate or a sunroof. Hooked up 2 wires, one 12volt and the other ground. Took a minute to program and it looks good and work perfectly.

Myself as I know others would LOVE to see a step by step walk through on this if possible. This looks factory good but I know you had to cut into the plastic where you mounted it, this makes me uneasy to try it without a good step by step.

Great job on this, hopefully you can help everyone else do this as well!

 

[dclennon]

Myself as I know others would LOVE to see a step by step walk through on this if possible. This looks factory good but I know you had to cut into the plastic where you mounted it, this makes me uneasy to try it without a good step by step.

Great job on this, hopefully you can help everyone else do this as well!

This looks really great! I agree a good Step-by-Step guide would be helpful for those of us looking to add one to our vehicles.