Two crazy tricks to get your 2016 Ram 1500 to connect Homelink with your garage door

It is so frustrating to be reading your owner’s manual and trying to do what it tells you to do and it just doesn’t work. That is the problem that JW, a 2016 Ram 1500 owner, from Texas, is facing as he tries to program his Homelink to operate his garage doors. JW writes, “For the life of me, I can't figure out how to program the Homelink buttons to my garage door openers. Page 160 of the owner's manual says that I need to hold the button until the EVIC/DID display changes from "Channel # Training" to "Channel # Trained". Where the heck do I find this in the EVIC/DID display? Is it on the UConnect screen or the display between the speedometer and tachometer? It's most likely a very easy process that I'm too dumb to figure out!”

I’m sure JW isn’t dumb at all. We have all been in that same driver’s seat. A few other Ram owners had some great suggestions. For anyone that hasn’t had this delightful experience and doesn’t have a clue what JW is talking about, the EVIC is the electronic vehicle information center and the DID is the driver information display. They are typically buttons somewhere on your instrument cluster.

RLM was the first to try to help JW find them. “Not on the EVIC and not on the UConnect screen. Look for actual buttons, likely above the rear view mirror on the ceiling.”

JW knew where the buttons are. But he couldn’t get the display to pop up. “Thanks, but the screen between the speedometer and tachometer is set to show vehicle speed. I know it can be changed to "settings" but where in "settings" do I go? This is the part that's absolutely maddening to me!!”

The first crazy trick to try to program the Homelink

Mac, from Boston, made a suggestion that does not seem plausible or very safe, but he swears that it works. “When you push a button it will automatically come up in evic. Try to program it in drive. That's the only way I could do mine. It wouldn't respond until I put the truck in gear.”

Now, programming your vehicle while it is in gear does not sound safe. Whatever you do, if you are going to try this, do not take your foot off the brake or you will drive into your garage. Trying to program the garage door opener is complicated enough without having to worry about your truck idling or rolling into something. Try at your own risk.

The second crazy trick to try to program the Homelink

Perhaps have a friend with you to help while your try this technique while sitting outside your garage, with the door open. Bubba suggests, “It depends on your garage door opener too. I just moved and had to set mine up. I had to use the door remote and set it to the truck. Then go hit the learn button on the garage door opener go back to the truck and push the garage door opener on the truck twice. Then it was set.”

JW said that he would try the programming “in drive” technique. And he was thrilled to report that it was successful. “Thanks everyone. I was able to get it to work this morning!!”

Another owner, Metal, says he was able to get his programmed as well. “Thanks for the link. Finally got my Genie to work!

Please remember that I am not endorsing programming anything while you are in drive. Be very, very careful. There should be other ways to accomplish getting connected while not risking an accident!