DIYs

Programming & Troubleshooting Homelink Garage Door Opener for B7 Audis

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Note: this likely applies to any Audis with the Homelink garage door opener system in the visor, but I can only speak for certainty on 2006-2008 Audi A4/S4/RS4s; however, Homelink is a universal system used by many car manufacturers, so give it a shot and let me know if it works on other models too!

I recently moved into a house with a GARAGE and let me tell you it is amazing to have a private place to work on my car, rather than a carport like I’ve had the past 6+ years before now…but as soon as I tried to program my S4 to use the Homelink garage door opener system, I realized mine didn’t work anymore. Normally to program you hold down the two outer buttons until the light blinks, but my LED didn’t blink or turn on at all – indicating it had no power. In this post I wanted to show how I fixed it, as well as some other tips for programming the Homelink when your garage door uses a rolling code like mine.

Standard Programming Instructions:

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If you have a newer garage door opener, then programming your homelink garage door opener is super easy and can be done in just a few minutes following these steps:

  1. First insert your keys into the car and put them in the “ON” position (but don’t start the engine).
  2. Hold down the two outer buttons together for about 20 seconds until the LED starts flashing rapidly which puts the system into programming mode, then release the buttons.
  3. Hold down the button you want to program for about five seconds, until it blinks slowly, so you can program that specific button. From here, you have about 5 minutes to complete programming the button.
  4. Lastly, simply go to the front of your car and point your garage door opener right below the driver’s side headlight and hold the garage door opener button down until the turn signals flash three times (likely about 20-30 seconds). Hold the garage door remote very close to the bumper, ideally no more than 12 inches away, for optimal reception. Once the hazards flash three times it is programmed and you are all set!

Rolling Code Programming Instructions:

If you go back into your car and press the button you just programmed and nothing happens, your garage might use a rolling code. To confirm, press and hold the button – if the LED flashes quickly and remains lit after 2 seconds, you have a rolling code and need to complete a few additional steps. This video explains it far better than I could, and worked better than the instructions in the car’s manual:

What to do if your Homelink Light doesn’t come on:

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If you’re like me and the LED on the visor doesn’t light up at all, then the system isn’t getting power. First, check the fuses – fuse #16 is for the Homelink/garage door opener. If that fuse looks fine, then the other weak point is the wiring in the driver’s side fender – it is prone to breaking as it gets very brittle and rubs against hard plastic. This was indeed the issue with mine and many other B7s judging by this thread on Audizine. Jack up the front drivers side and remove the wheel, then using a T25 bit remove the fender liner enough to access the area just above the upper control arms and slightly closer to the driver’s side (essentially where the wire comes from the cabin and down through the wheel well, eventually making it to the bumper where the Homelink module is found). Once you expose the wire, you’ll likely see it is frayed or cut altogether as was my case. Simply connect these wires back together and voila, you’re all set. 

Any questions? Leave me a comment!

Nick Roshon

Nick has been an Audi owner and fanatic for the last 10 years, and started Nick's Car Blog in 2009 to share DIYs and pictures of his A4. Currently he drives a 2012 Audi TT-RS, and has previously owned a B7 S4, B7 A4, and an 82 Audi Coupe (GT) LeMons race car. In his day job, Nick is a digital marketer and lives in San Diego, CA, USA.

9 Comments

  1. Do you know if there is a similar problem with the wiring in the Audi A4 convertibles? I have a 2003.

  2. Hey Nick, Great DIY! When I got home today I did all of the following and looked at those 2 little wires but they looked fine to me. Should I strip them and look inside? If not, do you know of any other weak points that I should check out? It’s really been bugging me that my homelink light just randomly stopped working. Oh and yes I checked my fuse and sadly it looked find.

  3. Hi Chad – I dont know of any other weak points. I’d say maybe strip the wires and check, if anything it’s “free” whereas I think the next step might be a more thorough diagnostic or to start to replace parts, which might cost you some coin. I’d mabye just replace the fuse anyway, or swap out with another fuse temporarily anyway, just to make sure it doesn’t look “fine” but has a small break in it.

  4. NIck, good job with your clear explanations. My Audi A4 Cabriolet Home Link system has worked for years.
    Then it didn’t. I have tried reprogramming. No luck. The LED does not glow, but the 3 buttons (1,2,3) are all lit. Ideas?

  5. Just to clarify…the three lights are on and working, but the LED doesn’t light up when I hold down 1 and 3. Could it STILL be the wiring in the wheel well??

  6. I would think that is something else – that wire would cut off the power so the LEDs wouldn’t turn on at all. It sounds like yours just won’t go into programming mode, which is strange.

  7. Hi Nick. Not sure if you still following this thread. Anyways, I bought an American ‘05 A4 convertible (I live in Nova Scotia, Canada) and it all works super. Only prob is the Homelink won’t program. All lights work, it seems to set up to accept the remote signal but doesn’t. After 5 minutes, the car flashes once and I have to start over. Pretty sure I got 5 or 6 hours on it with no luck. I tried both fixed and rolling code with no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks.

  8. Hi Garry – that is an odd one. I would see if you could get it to work with a friends garage, the issue could be your garage door machine itself?

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