DIY garage/gate opener
 

To make this garage/gate door opener cost me under $7 in parts at radio shack and around 3 hours to complete. Parts i bought are 1 push button momentary switch and 1 LED, other parts you will need are some small gage wire, wire connectors, electric tape.

I wanted to make my remote control button hidden, and ash tray seemed a perfect place for it.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/aa4f7877.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/3f1323df.jpg


First I removed the ash tray
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/dfee7874.jpg

Then unscrewed these 2 screws and removed the piece of console
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/d1fc52fd.jpg

After disconnected 3 wire harnesses 2 for windows and 1 for little light for ash tray
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/25cba020.jpg

Then I removed the cone shaped plastic piece which i will not use for this project also i marked with blue arrows 3 small metal pieces that need to be straightened to make the hole slightly smaller so that the switch would hold securely. This step is done much easier if the whole metal piece is removed all i did was just wiggle it around and pulled it out.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/7eb085a0.jpg

Here is a picture of the button installed in that metal piece that i removed.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/7567c221.jpg

Me working :cheers:
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/fb16f5b4.jpg

Here i soldered 2 wires to a switch, drilled small hole for LED and installed it
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/df5742c9.jpg

Made 3 holes marked with arrows for wires to pass
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/f03df58c.jpg

Put the metal piece back on and push all the wires through holes
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/1ff2c098.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/45f5acad.jpg

Here I soldered the black wire from LED to the returning wire of the switch (so it will only be a negative wire while the switch is on), and the Red to a separate wire that will be soldered directly to the positive on remote
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/5370e2c5.jpg

Soldered 2 wires to a switch on a remote control from the back and one to the positive point that comes directly from the battery and will go the LED's red wire.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/891a58cc.jpg

Put some connectors for easier installation, and taped wires to avoid shorts
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/9bbf88e1.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/ee10586a.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/21b79ff5.jpg

I put the remote under central console toward storage compartment and installed everything else like it was before.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/e6e10d3c.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/2c5c4ce6.jpg

when the button is pushed LED lights up
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/9b16e216.jpg

I'm very happy with this setup and remote still has good range.

Good job!

I also did a DIY exactly as you have done, with some minor exceptions. I carefully drilled a countersunk hole in the Seat Heater blanking plug for the push button switch and drilled a small hole in the same blanking plug for the LED which I epoxied to the backside so only the lens (flush with the top of the blanking plug) is visible. I also got a spare blanking plug if I ever want to switch it back, I think I paid $2 for the spare plug. Because I have the non-smoking option w/ Oddments Tray, I couldn't use the Ashtray as you did.

Instead of removing the circuit board from the standard garage door opener, I drilled a hole through that case for the wiring and made my solders to the board in-situ. Then I mounted the entire door opener w/ double-stick velcro to the inside of the console. I kept the 9-volt battery power rather than try and build a converter and tap into the car's electrical harness as a power source.

When I need the change the battery, all I need do is remove the Oddments Tray, pull the opener, swap the battery and replace it. In 4 yrs., the original battery is still good.

Man, wow. Great write-up.

We all appreciate it, and it looks perfect

I was considering somethig similar just with OEM Targa roof switch insded of making a switch but after finding out that rey run for around $40 i just didnt think it was worth the money. But if i wouldnt have smokers option i would have most likely went your way as well

Thank you :cheers:

Yea, I understand. FYI, I didn't use a Targa Roof switch either. I used a stock Radio Shack push buttion switch - PN #275-644 and an LED PN#276-011. Wired them the same as you've done. The look is unobtrusive and about as inexpensive as you can get. I got a duplicate Garage Door controller here; http://florida-operators-controls.com/412001_linear_multi_code_transmitter.html

Nice job on that DIY blueillusion97! :cheers: