Garage Doors Operate without Key

I have 2014 Limited and the garage door buttons are operational without the key. That's a concern since it's parked outside and all someone needs to do to get in the garage is break in to the Tundra and hit the button. Does anyone know of a way or a hack to solve this problem without making the buttons inoperable?

Curious if this has been discussed before as I couldn't find any existing threads about it.

 

We have a power switch on the inside of our garage for this reason.

 

This is known, it's been discussed, and nothing has come of it in terms of a satisfactory solution.

 

And you turn it off at night or when you're not home? I'd be forgetting a lot plus have two vehicles that do go in the garage.

 

since this topic comes up every few months, here's a question: what would you do if you had a dedicated opener remote? would you leave that in your vehicle at all times? if you do, how is that any different from the built-in buttons being on all the time?

 

I did see someone added GDO functionality to their Tundra that didn't have it and wired it to a circuit that's only hot when the ignition is on. That's a great idea but that mod sounds easier said than done for a factory setup. Thinking out loud maybe there's a third party opener that works with 12v I can wire into an ignition triggered circuit like that guy did.

 

It's no different at all and I'd be looking for an alternative for that as well!

 

And aren't all vehicles like this?

 

The GDO buttons on my car only operate with the ignition on.

 

I found a 12v homeland button set on Amazon but it's $149 and I'd still need to wire and mount it. In the process I think I figured out a good work around. One of those key code openers and they're only $30. The downsides of course is that it's larger which isn't a big deal and I need to enter a code every time I use it. But I think that would be far easier (for me anyway) to remember to turn a power switch on or off to power the GDOs.

Thanks guys! I think you helped me solve this.

Keypad Remote:

$35 Genie Garage Door Opener Wireless Keyless Keypad - Safe & Secure Access - Compatible with All Genie Intellicode Garage Door Openers - Easy Entry into the Garage With a PIN - Model GK-R, White

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00715DTJQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

12v Homelink Remote:

$157 Brandmotion 20004101 HomeLink Wireless Control System

https://www.amazon.com/HomeLink-60-HMLKV5BLK-Wireless-Control-Headliner/dp/B00A79G9FY

 

Interesting, the few vehicles I have had do/did not require the ignition to be on.

 

Is this a techstream setting? Seems like default should be GDO works only with vehicle on. Will operating trigger alarm if non fob entry ? I have glass break sensor assuming that works.

 

I was concerned at first when I bought my Tundra since the GDO buttons work with the truck off (previous cars only worked with ignition on) but you are 100% correct about the old school garage remote .. people leave them in the car for the night without thinking twice about it. I realized if someone wanted to get into my garage they could just as easily break the glass window on the normal door to the garage and let themselves in that way which would be easier than hoping the truck had an opener. Also garage door RF "security" is a joke and any kid with 5 minutes and a HackRF can grab your code in the morning and let themselves in after you leave without you ever knowing (or they could go old school with a coat hanger ... https://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/safety-tips/how-thieves-break-into-homes-by-the-garage-door/).

So in the end do the most you can to prevent or discourage such things. The driveway is well lit at night and there are cameras also if the garage door opens the smart home system will automatically lock the deadbolt on the inside garage door to the house if it's unlocked as well as the alarm sensor on the garage doors and window.

 

If you have a modern opener it'll use rolling code technology that can't easily be hacked. Back in the day openers only used a few different codes and they were set with dip switches. Now each time the remote is pressed a new code is generated between the two. If you're worried about you car being broken into and the door opened then you should think about switching to a cell phone app based approach. Something like MyQ from liftmaster.

As for which is better, the buttons on the mirror or a clip on remote, one of the two can be stolen and since your address is in your glove box a thief would know exactly where to go even if you aren't parked at your house. All they would need to do is steal your remote and replace it with one that looks the same. You would get home and push the button thinking that it just needed resetting and nothing more.

 

Three Solutions:

1. Use the deadbolt

2. Plug your garage door opener into a Wemo Switch and use your phone to turn your opener on and off via Wifi. I have mine set to a schedule to shut off automatically at a certain time, then come back on again in the morning.

3. Ultimately I decided not to use the mirror and went this route with the OEM remote and hid the button. https://www.howtogeek.com/189435/add-a-hidden-garage-door-opener-to-your-vehicle/

 

In all honesty i'd be more worried about leaving my car/truck with a sketchy valet for a number of reasons.

 

If you don't park your truck in the garage, why did you program your buttons to open it in the first place?

 

Convenience. It's easier to park the truck and open the garage door to walk in than get out keys and open the door manually. For me the convenience is worth the potential security trade off as I have other security in case someone breaks into the truck and opens the garage door (alarm, cameras, inside door locks, attack kittens, etc). Also when the truck is in the driveway 99% of the time I am home so the potential of someone using the garage door opener in my truck to get in without me knowing is minimal.

 

Maybe so he can enter his home through the garage door

 

If they someone is willing to smash glass to break into your truck, they are willing to smash glass to break into your garage or house.

Worry about whether or not your aim is true. Not which glass they have to break first to push the button to open your doors.

 

Both our garage door buttons in the garage have a "lock" option.

 

I guess it's different for each one of us. For me I don't lock doors as if someone wants in they would just damage more stuff. I'm too far away from any houses to hear someone breaking in and it would take police far too long to get here. I park my car in the garage and my truck outside (my tractor's in the other bay). I don't have a Homelink mirror in my Tundra but my Rav4 has one. The truck has a remote in one of the overhead compartments. What I do like about the mirror is that my opener must send out a signal and the mirror tells me which direction the door is going with a yellow triangle and then it turns green once it's finished. If I'm closing it and it reverses course the triangle will show it changed directions. Much nicer than trying to look in the mirror at an angle to make sure it closed.

For those who don't use their garage as a place to store your vehicle I would suggest a keypad like Kabra posted a link to. Or, just hide a remote somewhere and not use the Homelink mirror.

 

Haha that's a great question! My truck is often used as a truck rather than just transportation. So it's pretty frequent that things from the garage are going in the truck or visa versa. Or even just taking groceries in is a more direct route through the garage.

 

I think this is an example of the old adage "1st World Problems". Most residential locks basically keep honest people honest.

 

I had the same exact concern and carry a small remote with me. I have a piece of velcro attached to it and a small piece on the console just under the 4WD select knob. I'll attach it there when I'm in the truck, then take it inside when I exit the truck.

I'd rather the mirror button option be inoperable without the key in the ignition but from the Infiniti, Corvette, and Mazda I've had, all operate without the key.

Here is what I use now:

$20 2 for Liftmaster Chamberlain Craftsman Garage Door Opener Remote Keychain 890max

https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Replace...all+garage+door+remote&qid=1580250013&sr=8-15

 

Two cars in the garage here. Then the power switch off to opener when we are all inside and down for the night

 

Figured that much, but wanted to know if there was a specific reason beyond the obvious. If the security is a concern for the OP the simplest solution is to go through all the hassle of using a third party opener and carrying it with you when you leave the truck. That or use your regular keys for the man door, if your garage has one.
IMO this just seems to be a search for a solution to a problem created unnecessarily. Reprogramming is overly complicated when it can be resolved with in either of the two ways listed in here.

 

I'm the OP and I just don't like to create situations where I have one more thing to remember as I want to simplify my life and these little things add up. I have a car and truck and drive and drive them both about the same. The truck is kept in the driveway and the car in the garage. Taking the remote inside with you is a reasonable solution and maybe fine for a lot of people. For me it will be a nuisance I don't want. If you didn't see the solution I figured out in all the discussion, it's to use a remote with a keypad and keep it in the truck. I don't need to open the garage every time I drive the truck (maybe 1/3?) so for me this should be a great solution. A little more trouble than hitting a single button but I'll use a four digit code and that's not much more pain.

 

I've had the same concern but our Liftmaster control pad in the garage has Lock button that disables the opener.

Other options... key fob size third-party openers. Or make it a SmartHome opener for a few bucks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMhcsfr29Yg

 

My 2017 was the same way. I contacted Bob at http://www.bobsmirrors.com He made me a pigtail that was simple to install between the mirror and the harness. Now my homelink only works with the key in the on or aux position.