Installed a Homelink transmitter

**JuneBug** · 10-08-2011, 09:44 PM

Inspired by wing_woo's excellent post on installing a Homelink unit in his 2009, I decided to try the same project with my 2008. Searching on Ebay found hundreds of these units pulled from many different makes. There are many different styles and colors, but internally they are pretty much the same. I was looking for a gray unit and found one that looked a little different than the rest as it had numbered buttons which turned out to be lighted!

Got this one for $15.50! It was originally installed in a Volvo. I pretty much just followed wing_woo's instructions which worked out well. Since I don't have a sunroof, I tapped into the wiring going to my autodimming mirror, since the wires were right there. The scariest part is taking the X-acto knife to the headliner to cut the hole, but it was easier than I thought. To keep the headliner from flexing when pushing a button, I backed up the transmitter with a piece of styrofoam wedged nicely between the unit and the roof. Took me about an hour this morning and here is how it turned out:

BTW, the LED's in the unit were green, but I replaced them with amber for obvious reasons!

rav4two · 10-08-2011, 10:10 PM

Ahh, ignore my message in the other thread. Thanks!

Satavtech · 10-08-2011, 10:36 PM

Looks nice!
I just ordered one off of Ebay after seeing this. If it goes well I'll probably get another for my wife's Tribute.

edvc520 · 10-09-2011, 09:34 AM

I was thinking if I could use the Lexus IS250's rear view mirror, since it has the homelink integrated into it

SeriousBlack · 10-09-2011, 09:38 AM

That looks great! Nice work.

wing_woo · 10-18-2011, 04:06 PM

Wow...looks great. I haven't been really active on the forum here lately and didn't even see this thread until now.

Deanjet · 10-18-2011, 08:11 PM

Just wondering, could I use the power off of the visor mirror light wiring? I am amazed Toyota has lighted visor mirrors, but no home link in my Rav4. Of course, if I was a lady I would expect lighted visor mirrors. My daughter can't ride with me and not look at herself at least once in the mirror!

**JuneBug** · 10-19-2011, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deanjet

Just wondering, could I use the power off of the visor mirror light wiring? I am amazed Toyota has lighted visor mirrors, but no home link in my Rav4. Of course, if I was a lady I would expect lighted visor mirrors. My daughter can't ride with me and not look at herself at least once in the mirror!

Yes, I was thinking of doing that. But you would have to flip the visor down, then slide open the mirror cover to turn on the light and power the Homelink. Unless you wired it up ahead of the switch so it would be powered at all times.

Deanjet · 10-19-2011, 09:09 PM

Yep, I will just tap into the power wire ahead of the switch for the vanity lights.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuneBug

Yes, I was thinking of doing that. But you would have to flip the visor down, then slide open the mirror cover to turn on the light and power the Homelink. Unless you wired it up ahead of the switch so it would be powered at all times.

auburnham · 01-07-2012, 08:08 PM

Thanks for the post JuneBug. I plan on using the same homelink module in the same year/trim RAV4. Can you post the details of where & how you tapped into power, what you used to make the connections, and any other details on the finish of the install (i.e. any glue necessary, etc.)? I'd like to make a list of parts necessary before I start the job. Any info on how you switched the LED colors from green to amber would be great, too. Thanks.

10-08-2011, 09:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
JuneBug Your Humble Administrator Country: Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 8,997 Thanks: 37 Thanked 630 Times in 521 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Installed a Homelink transmitter Inspired by wing_woo's excellent post on installing a Homelink unit in his 2009, I decided to try the same project with my 2008. Searching on Ebay found hundreds of these units pulled from many different makes. There are many different styles and colors, but internally they are pretty much the same. I was looking for a gray unit and found one that looked a little different than the rest as it had numbered buttons which turned out to be lighted! Got this one for $15.50! It was originally installed in a Volvo. I pretty much just followed wing_woo's instructions which worked out well. Since I don't have a sunroof, I tapped into the wiring going to my autodimming mirror, since the wires were right there. The scariest part is taking the X-acto knife to the headliner to cut the hole, but it was easier than I thought. To keep the headliner from flexing when pushing a button, I backed up the transmitter with a piece of styrofoam wedged nicely between the unit and the roof. Took me about an hour this morning and here is how it turned out: BTW, the LED's in the unit were green, but I replaced them with amber for obvious reasons! __________________ James __________________ 2008 Limited V6 2WD "The Silver Bullet" •Tow Prep •Autodim mirror w/compass •Wade deflector •Weathertech visors •BluLogic Bluetooth •QuickLift hood struts •Auto door locks • (((XM))) radio •Homelink •Unswitched 12V outlets Last edited by JuneBug; 10-13-2011 at 10:59 PM.

10-08-2011, 10:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
rav4two Advanced Member Country: Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 2,182 Thanks: 2 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Ahh, ignore my message in the other thread. Thanks! __________________ 2010 Rav4 AWD V6 - Wife's 2007 Civic LX - Daughter's 1996 BMW 328i - Son's 1995 Miata - Daily Driver 2011 Corvette - Unintentional garage queen

10-08-2011, 10:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
Satavtech Member Country: Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Antonio Posts: 159 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Looks nice! I just ordered one off of Ebay after seeing this. If it goes well I'll probably get another for my wife's Tribute. __________________ 2011 Black V6 Limited 2WD Named (with much input from the kids) VADER

10-09-2011, 09:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
SeriousBlack Advanced Member Country: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N'Hampsha! Posts: 7,784 Thanks: 25 Thanked 23 Times in 21 Posts Feedback Score: 2 reviews	That looks great! Nice work. __________________ To The BlackMobile!!! FS: (4) 20" Black Enkei LS-5 Rims & Tires Used (4) 255/40R20 Yokohama Parada Spec-X's

10-18-2011, 04:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
wing_woo Advanced Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Wow...looks great. I haven't been really active on the forum here lately and didn't even see this thread until now. __________________ 2009 Rav4 V6 4X4 Sport

10-09-2011, 09:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
edvc520 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I was thinking if I could use the Lexus IS250's rear view mirror, since it has the homelink integrated into it

10-18-2011, 08:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
Deanjet Senior Member Country: Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hollywood, Florida Posts: 455 Thanks: 16 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Just wondering, could I use the power off of the visor mirror light wiring? I am amazed Toyota has lighted visor mirrors, but no home link in my Rav4. Of course, if I was a lady I would expect lighted visor mirrors. My daughter can't ride with me and not look at herself at least once in the mirror! __________________ 2011 RAV4 SPORT V6 AWD The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

01-07-2012, 08:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
auburnham Junior Member Country: Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SoCal, US Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks for the post JuneBug. I plan on using the same homelink module in the same year/trim RAV4. Can you post the details of where & how you tapped into power, what you used to make the connections, and any other details on the finish of the install (i.e. any glue necessary, etc.)? I'd like to make a list of parts necessary before I start the job. Any info on how you switched the LED colors from green to amber would be great, too. Thanks.

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