Subaru, homelink, and liftmaster realy need to step up their game

[wanteating]

Just want to share my experience in case someone else meet the same problem.

Moved into a new house with a relatively new garage door opener installed, but it just won't work with the homelink on my 2013 BRZ. I am pretty sure that I did every step right, but the homelink just won't learn the signal from my remote.

Called homelink, they only claimed that these systems are compatible (although all the info I gathered on internet, including this site, suggests there is a known compatibility issue) and asked you to follow the instruction again (although you have done it over 10 times).

After a lot of conversation, the representative was finally convinced that my steps are correct. Then she put the blame on my remote, which is the standard package with this opener according to Liftmaster website, and asked me to change my remote (893LM) to 893MAX. HTH can this help!? Not going to spend another 20-30 dollars for another frustrating result. But if it's true, then shame on Liftmaster doesn't include 893MAX in their package.

They have a site, http://bridge.chamberlain.com/#/intro, supposed to let you check the compatibility, but this site is a junk as no matter what information I put it, it will show compatible. Don't waste your time on it as there is no value to reference.

Very frustrated with the service I got from homelink, no one wants to take the action/responsibility with a valid customer issue.

Opener brand: Liftmaster
Opener Model: 8365-267
Remote Model: 893LM
Keypad Model: 877M
Date of installation: 3/19/2015

[Kimsey47]

Originally Posted by wanteating

Just want to share my experience in case someone else meet the same problem.

Moved into a new house with a relatively new garage door opener installed, but it just won't work with the homelink on my 2013 BRZ. I am pretty sure that I did every step right, but the homelink just won't learn the signal from my remote.

Called homelink, they only claimed that these systems are compatible (although all the info I gathered on internet, including this site, suggests there is a known compatibility issue) and asked you to follow the instruction again (although you have done it over 10 times).

After a lot of conversation, the representative was finally convinced that my steps are correct. Then she put the blame on my remote, which is the standard package with this opener according to Liftmaster website, and asked me to change my remote (893LM) to 893MAX. HTH can this help!? Not going to spend another 20-30 dollars for another frustrating result. But if it's true, then shame on Liftmaster doesn't include 893MAX in their package.

They have a site, http://bridge.chamberlain.com/#/intro, supposed to let you check the compatibility, but this site is a junk as no matter what information I put it, it will show compatible. Don't waste your time on it as there is no value to reference.

Very frustrated with the service I got from homelink, no one wants to take the action/responsibility with a valid customer issue.

Opener brand: Liftmaster
Opener Model: 8365-267
Remote Model: 893LM
Keypad Model: 877M
Date of installation: 3/19/2015

Want to sell the homelink mirror?

[Imrac]

I believe i used the 893LM to program my homelink mirror, I do have a different opener (Circa 2001).

Have you reset the Homelink Mirror? (Press the 1st and 3rd button for 20 seconds)

1. For first time training, press and hold the two outer HomeLink buttons, releasing only when the HomeLink indicator light begins to flash after 20 seconds. (Do not perform this step when training the additional HomeLink buttons.)
2. Hold both the handheld transmitter button and the HomeLink button you would like to program until the HomeLink flashes slowly then rapidly (then release both buttons)
3. Press and hold the HomeLink button you just programmed. If the garage door opens/closes then programming is complete. If it does not then proceed to step 4.
4. Get a ladder and press and release the "learn" button on the back of your garage door motor head
5. Within 30 seconds get back into your vehicle and press and release the HomeLink button you just programmed up to 3 times or until your garage door activates. Programming is complete.

Are you able to try programming another garage door or homelink device? Maybe a faulty mirror.

EDIT:take a look here too, this one says you should hold down the homelink button, but press the remote several times (holding for 2 seconds each time) http://www.homelink.com/program/inst.../0/0/usenglish

[thunderinokra]

It looks like you probably need the Homelink Compatibility Bridge, since the Homelink system in our cars is the older technology and the new garage doors have a new security measure that makes it a little more difficult to fool them. I fought with this a year or so ago when my parents replaced their garage door opener and we couldn't program her mirror to it.

[wanteating]

Originally Posted by Imrac

I believe i used the 893LM to program my homelink mirror, I do have a different opener (Circa 2001).

Have you reset the Homelink Mirror? (Press the 1st and 3rd button for 20 seconds)

1. For first time training, press and hold the two outer HomeLink buttons, releasing only when the HomeLink indicator light begins to flash after 20 seconds. (Do not perform this step when training the additional HomeLink buttons.)
2. Hold both the handheld transmitter button and the HomeLink button you would like to program until the HomeLink flashes slowly then rapidly (then release both buttons)
3. Press and hold the HomeLink button you just programmed. If the garage door opens/closes then programming is complete. If it does not then proceed to step 4.
4. Get a ladder and press and release the "learn" button on the back of your garage door motor head
5. Within 30 seconds get back into your vehicle and press and release the HomeLink button you just programmed up to 3 times or until your garage door activates. Programming is complete.

Are you able to try programming another garage door or homelink device? Maybe a faulty mirror.

EDIT:take a look here too, this one says you should hold down the homelink button, but press the remote several times (holding for 2 seconds each time) http://www.homelink.com/program/inst.../0/0/usenglish

Thanks, Imrac. I failed at step 2, the red indicator will only flash slowly and never rapidly. I also tried the method in your link too but no luck. It's a good point about the faulty mirror as I haven't got a chance to try another garage door opener, will update this post if I do get a chance to.

[wanteating]

Originally Posted by thunderinokra

It looks like you probably need the Homelink Compatibility Bridge, since the Homelink system in our cars is the older technology and the new garage doors have a new security measure that makes it a little more difficult to fool them. I fought with this a year or so ago when my parents replaced their garage door opener and we couldn't program her mirror to it.

Thanks, thunderinokra. Yes, I've reached to the same conclusion based on my research. There seems a new security mechanism, security+ 2.0, will cause issues.

The point is that if homelink admit their product needs to be upgraded (with the bridge you mentioned), they'll give it up for free ($7 for shipping) as they should. Otherwise they will charge you the retail value of the bridge plus shipping. As a customer with a good faith on the products, I feel it's unfair for me to purchase the bridge on my own expense.

However, I failed to convince Homelink that my homelink is not compatible with my garage door opener as the their system (mentioned in my post above) suggests they are compatible, which I found ridiculous because it seems no matter what information I put it, it will always return compatible as the result.

[Sovran]

I've recently had almost exactly the same experience. The various sources of documentation don't agree with each other, and it's not a problem we should have to deal with anyway given that the new security standard came out long ago (2005-ish, I think). That's how the parts world works, it seems.

I'm going to try one more time with the Canadian instructions, just in case, but I suspect I'll end up buying the Compatibility Bridge.

[wanteating]

Originally Posted by Sovran

I've recently had almost exactly the same experience. The various sources of documentation don't agree with each other, and it's not a problem we should have to deal with anyway given that the new security standard came out long ago (2005-ish, I think). That's how the parts world works, it seems.

I'm going to try one more time with the Canadian instructions, just in case, but I suspect I'll end up buying the Compatibility Bridge.

Sovran, yes, it's so frustrating to deal with these representatives, I understand that they are following their books to do their jobs, but as a big company like Homelink, they need to show more courtesy to their customers. Please let me know if you have any luck with Canadian instruction, if you do, I shall give it another go although I believe that I've tried and failed.

Thank you.

[Imrac]

That sucks. I was actually looking at maybe replacing my garage door opener with one I can use with a phone and get notifications. But if I buy a new one and my old remotes and homelink devices no longer work, not sure I want to.

I may look at getting one of the retrofitted devices.

Good luck!

[SpartaEvolution]

I bought this for ~$25 off Amazon and, after the first one was stolen from my mailbox, the replacement they sent has worked perfectly ever since. (Note: in an '06 G35 6mt sedan )

[r3myx626]

Don't use the garage remote. When I set mine up it didn't work with the remote so I went through the steps to register a new remote on the opener with the homelink mirror being what I used. I can't remember the exact process but maybe that'll help.

[retoocs]

So what you are saying is your new garage door opener is incompatible with you old car and they should provide upgrades for your 4+ year old car for free to work with you new garage door opener. Got it.

[jubella2]

Originally Posted by r3myx626

Don't use the garage remote. When I set mine up it didn't work with the remote so I went through the steps to register a new remote on the opener with the homelink mirror being what I used. I can't remember the exact process but maybe that'll help.

This is what I did as well when I bought a new opener. I don't remember the brand though. I've also noticed I have to hold the homelink button for a second or two rather than just press and release or else it won't open the door.

[Sovran]

I got the repeater (thanks for the link, SpartaEvolution), and now it finally works properly. I have the same experience as jubella2, though. I have to hold the button for a couple of seconds for it to work.