Adding Factory HomeLink

[nubuilder]

I just picked up a factory HomeLink for my truck for $5 from a guy parting out a Tahoe. (one of the little gadgets that can be nice to have) I'm pretty sure my owner's manual should have how to program it.

I ended up having to cut some wires, but I have more than enough to work with. I have both the end that plugs into the switches and the end that plugs into the vehicle wiring harness (not sure if mine will have a plug in the console for it or not right now). I had to cut the wires leading to the map lights and ground.

These are the colors that go into the unit itself:
Black, White, Orange

I will try to get a pic of the wiring posted tonight, if not tomorrow.

A little more about how the wiring is:
The BLACK is connected to some YELLOW wires (literally tied together and wrapped with tape from the factory; very stupid if you ask me). Guessing this to be the ground.
The ORANGE wire is connected to some PURPLE w/YELLOW STRIPE wire (again, twisted and taped). Guessing this is the power wire.
The WHITE wire is continuous from one plug to the other. Guessing this is for illumination? Don't know if it has it or not.

I believe it was wired to get power from the live wire coming up to the map lights.


I would like to wire this so that I do not have to have the key on to use it (been in some vehicles that require this and find it annoying).

I won't be installing this immediately, but it will be going in this summer.

Anyways, does anyone happen to know of a wiring diagram for the overhead console OR have done this themselves (I'm pretty sure Riggs did it on his old truck)?

Basically....where the heck do I run all the wires?

Again, this won't be done overnight, but it will be done this spring.

Thanks!

 

[nubuilder]

Pics as promised. Of course, after cleaning the dried on blood off.

The plastic isn't even scratched or warn so I'm guessing no one ever used it.
It comes apart in 3 pieces via the two screws on the back: electric module, rubber buttons that are reinforced by plastic to keep their shape, and the black plastic piece that you see and holds everything in place.

Cut connections highlighted

 

[Riggs]

i did the EXACT same thing in my 97, cut those other wires off, its obviously been put in another vehicle.

then when you take down the console, there are already Orange, White, and Black wires up there, i just taped into those, basically cut the factory wire in half and put 2 ends in one side of the butt connector and one in the other, or you could solder it

and then to reset it hold the 2 outside buttons until the red light blinks and then you can program it

 

[Riggs]

and im about 90% sure i didnt have to have the key on to use it either, and you probably dont have the plug up there either so i would just cut the plug off

 

[nubuilder]

Thanks Cody!!! I'll most likely solder everything and shrink-tube it all.

I can't wait to get the truck back out! I've got this to do, an Escalade cluster to install along with a full interior LED swap (gauges and lighting), swap my radio, and install all the interior parts that I painted last June. Can't wait!!!!

 

[Black02Silverado]

The homelink is nice to have. I added it to my 02 as well a long time ago.

 

[nubuilder]

The homelink is nice to have. I added it to my 02 as well a long time ago.

I'm a gadget person...and this sort of falls into that category.


Plus, if I'm always gonna have 2 vehicles, I really don't want to worry about forgetting the opener in the other truck. If I did, we have a keypad on the garage anyways. Just more of a convenience thing.


After this and the instrument cluster, there's really nothing else I can add/swap unless I was able to find a truck with leather seats (would have to be a truck so I could get the back seat), but I'm not big on leather anyways.

 

[ScottyBoy]

I have homelink in mine. Never used it though because I don't have a garage. Correct me if I am wrong, but can't it be used for other things too like turning lights in your house on and off? I am sure you would need a special receiver though to actually switch the lights on and off.

 

[nubuilder]

I have homelink in mine. Never used it though because I don't have a garage. Correct me if I am wrong, but can't it be used for other things too like turning lights in your house on and off? I am sure you would need a special receiver though to actually switch the lights on and off.

Yes, it can be used for lights too. I read that somewhere in my research.

Here's the official site.

I have no idea what kind of receiver you would need on the light though. It would be cool to have it set to turn on a security light for when you come home or something.

 

[Bigredmariner]

I have homelink in mine. Never used it though because I don't have a garage. Correct me if I am wrong, but can't it be used for other things too like turning lights in your house on and off? I am sure you would need a special receiver though to actually switch the lights on and off.

Yes it can be used for other things too, but like you said you need the HomeLink receivers inside to receive the signals from the vehicle. I used to have my carport light and a lamp inside controlled by the HomeLink in my truck. It was pretty nice since I was way out in the country and no street lights or anything around.