Programming your car to operate your garage door offers unparalleled convenience. However, if you have an older Stanley Vemco garage door opener, especially one without a ‘learn’ button, you might find the process a bit puzzling. This guide will walk you through the steps to successfully program your Stanley Vemco opener to your car’s built-in system, often known as Homelink, using a universal remote as an intermediary.
Understanding Your Stanley Vemco Opener and DIP Switches
Older garage door openers, like some Stanley Vemco models, often utilize DIP switches instead of a modern ‘learn’ button for security coding. DIP switches are small switches, usually numbered 1 through 9 or more, that are set to either the ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ position. The combination of these settings creates the security code for your garage door opener.
Identifying Your DIP Switch Settings
- Locate the Control Panel: Find the control panel on your Stanley Vemco garage door opener motor unit. This is usually on the back or side of the unit.
- Find the DIP Switches: Open the control panel cover. You should see a set of small switches, these are your DIP switches.
- Note the Settings: Carefully examine the position of each switch. Note whether each switch is in the ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ position. It’s helpful to write this down as a sequence (e.g., ON-OFF-ON-ON-OFF…). Sometimes ‘ON’ is indicated by a ‘+’/up position and ‘OFF’ by a ‘-‘/down position, or they might be labeled ‘1’ and ‘2’.
Programming a Universal Remote for Stanley Vemco
Since directly programming your car to an older Stanley Vemco with DIP switches isn’t usually possible, a universal garage door remote acts as a bridge. A Chamberlain KLIK1U Clicker is a popular and compatible option.
Setting the DIP Switches on Your Universal Remote
- Open the Universal Remote: Open the Chamberlain KLIK1U remote (or your chosen universal remote) to access its internal DIP switches.
- Match the DIP Switch Settings: Set the DIP switches inside the universal remote to exactly match the pattern you recorded from your Stanley Vemco opener. This means if switch #1 is ‘ON’ on your opener, set switch #1 to ‘ON’ in the remote, and so on for all switches.
Using the Universal Remote’s ‘Learn’ Function (If Available)
Some universal remotes, like the Chamberlain KLIK1U, might have a ‘learn’ button in addition to DIP switches. While DIP switch matching should be sufficient for basic operation, using the ‘learn’ function (if available) can sometimes enhance reliability.
- Locate the ‘Learn’ Button (if any): Refer to your universal remote’s instructions to see if it has a ‘learn’ button. It is usually a small button inside the remote casing near the DIP switches.
- Press the ‘Learn’ Button: If there is a ‘learn’ button, press it. An LED on the remote might light up.
- Activate the Remote: Press the button on the universal remote that you wish to use to control your garage door multiple times (as indicated in your remote’s instructions, the original poster mentioned 16 times). This sends the signal to the opener and, if a ‘learn’ function exists in the remote’s logic, it further solidifies the connection.
- Press the ‘Learn’ Button Again (if applicable): Some remotes require you to press the ‘learn’ button again to save the settings. Check your remote’s instructions.
Programming Your Car’s Homelink System
Now that your universal remote is programmed to operate your Stanley Vemco garage door, you can use it to program your car’s built-in garage door opener system (like Homelink).
Using the Universal Remote to Program Homelink
- Clear Existing Car Programming (Optional but Recommended): To avoid any conflicts, it’s often recommended to clear any existing garage door programming from your car’s Homelink system. Consult your car’s manual for instructions on how to do this. Usually, it involves holding down two outer Homelink buttons until the indicator light flashes rapidly.
- Start the Programming Process in Your Car: Press and hold the Homelink button in your car that you want to program for your Stanley Vemco garage door. Keep holding the button until the Homelink indicator light starts to blink slowly.
- Transmit the Signal from the Universal Remote: Immediately after the Homelink light starts blinking slowly, press and hold the programmed button on your universal remote close to the Homelink control in your car.
- Wait for Signal Recognition: Keep holding both buttons until the Homelink indicator light in your car changes from a slow blink to a rapid blink or a solid light. This indicates that your car’s Homelink system has learned the signal from the universal remote.
- Release Both Buttons: Once the rapid blinking or solid light is observed, release both the Homelink button in your car and the button on the universal remote.
- Test the Programming: Press the programmed Homelink button in your car. Your Stanley Vemco garage door should now activate. If it doesn’t, repeat the car programming steps. You might need to cycle the garage door opener by manually opening and closing it once and then try the Homelink programming again.
Conclusion
Programming an older Stanley Vemco garage door opener to your car requires a slightly indirect approach using a universal remote as a go-between. By understanding DIP switches and utilizing a compatible universal remote, you can successfully bridge the technology gap and enjoy the convenience of operating your garage door directly from your car. Remember to always consult the manuals for both your universal remote and your car’s Homelink system for the most accurate and detailed instructions specific to your devices.
