Weak Homelink Range

[DB-Cooper]

First of all, this is not related to the Auto-Open/Close feature but just purely the range of manually issuing a Home-Link command. I literally have to be 5 feet in front of the door before the door opens. Similar on closing. This compared to my Volvo and Cadillac where pressing their respective Home-Link buttons can open/close the doors from out in the street (30-50’ away). I have Chamberlain systems, fairly light aluminum doors and the antenna cables are visible and free. As stated, my others cars have appropriate range, but I have to pull the Tesla up so close, press the button and then wait as I’m already there. Minor inconvenience but in my other cars I press from further out and the door is fully open by time the car gets to the garage opening.

I assume there’s no adjustment, has anyone else noticed this?

 

[PoitNarf]

Do you have an LED bulb in your opener? If so that may be your problem. Some LED bulbs emit interference that messes with the RF signals. I had the same issues, range was significantly reduced compared to my previous car and often had to send the signal to my opener 2 or 3 times before it would respond. For some reason the homelink in the Model 3 appears to be more prone to this issue than homelink in my Mustang.

The solution was to replace the LED bulbs I had in my opener with different ones. I went with special LED bulbs that Genie sells which are supposed to limit interference. After putting in the new bulbs my homelink range increased by 3-4X and it also opens and closes on the first try now. Check to see if your opener manufacturer has a LED bulb compatibility chart. The Genie LED bulb I mentioned is available at Lowe’s, Home Depot and Amazon.

 

[DB-Cooper]

Yes very aware of the LED light issue. Have dealt with that in the past. That’s not at play here. First, that issue typically only manifests on close when the light is already on, not on first open. Secondly, having had that issue before I sourced specific bulbs to avoid that. Finally, my other cars do not have an issue with the same openers/lights.

Thanks though, definitely worthwhile for anyone else to troubleshoot. I can try removing the bulb for good measure.

 

[smartypnz]

Is this with the on screen button or a hand held device? If hand held - open window and try. Window coating may block the signal somewhat.

 

[Haxster]

I doubled the total length of the "antenna" wire hanging down from the opener in the garage. This grabs twice the signal. It helped a lot.

 

[Skidmark]

My home link seems spotty and not directly corresponding to range. Some times I remain stationary and have to press the home link 3 or 4 times before the garage activates.

This isnt an issue with the S/X.

 

[Knightshade]

I find mine opens very reliably (automatically) as I approach from the driveway.... but I back the car in (due to where the charge port is) and trying to CLOSE it with the rear of the car facing the garage works very poorly.... usually end up having to turn around and point the front of the car at it to close it.

Anybody else have this experience and find a good fix?

 

[TW14 9LF]

I've also noticed the opener in my Model 3 is very directional. I back in to my garage, and while I have no problem with the garage opening as I pull up, when I leave in the morning, it's about 50%. I have to pull out of the driveway, back up, then aim the car back at the door and it works fine.

Interesting about the LED bulbs. My wife has been complaining that her Homelink opener in her car isn't working very well lately. Coincidentally I just replaced the bulbs with LEDs. Time to run some experiments.......

 

[DB-Cooper]

Yes LEDs are horrible with garage door openers. I’ve had better luck with higher end GE bulbs. Genie makes actual bulbs designed for openers for this reason, but they cost ~10x what a normal one does.

I also feel it’s very directional. Im just using the one built into the screen. The Tesla guy who dropped my car off said the transmitter is in the front bumper. The Volvo’s is build into the rear view mirror so it has a much higher point, similar with the Cadillac. I may try extending the wire, but I do think the location and or angle of the anetnna makes it not work as well as other models.

 

[ngogas]

Mine works great opening and closing from afar. About 30 feet away from the front of the garage.

No LED bulbs. Have you guys trying reprogramming with the oringinal opener having fresh battery? I recall that the manuals in my other cars always said to make sure it has fresh battery for stronger signals.

If it’s still an issue, time to get it looked at to see if you have a bad homelink.

 

[Leeclanual]

Just programmed mine with range of 30’... works as advertised. I parked M3 about 2 feet from closed door when programming it...

 

[csshih]

Do you have an LED bulb in your opener? If so that may be your problem. Some LED bulbs emit interference that messes with the RF signals. I had the same issues, range was significantly reduced compared to my previous car and often had to send the signal to my opener 2 or 3 times before it would respond. For some reason the homelink in the Model 3 appears to be more prone to this issue than homelink in my Mustang.

I have that same exact problem, but my remote is significantly stronger than my vehicle homelink.

 

[djroberts]

I have the same problem. It worked at first and then got weaker and now doesn't open it unless I'm literally inside the garage. My regular remote works from across the street. I've had this about two weeks.

 

[Dan203]

Do you have an LED bulb in your opener? If so that may be your problem. Some LED bulbs emit interference that messes with the RF signals.

I wonder if this is my problem. I had a new opener installed a few weeks ago. As soon as the guy left I swapped the incandescent bulbs for LEDs. My wife's been complaining ever since we got it that it doesn't respond as well to her car as the old one. I assumed it was just the opener itself being different, but maybe it's the bulbs.

 

[WilliamG]

I have an LED bulb in my opener and I can still open the garage from 50-ish feet away, sometimes more.

 

[Dan203]

I have an LED bulb in my opener and I can still open the garage from 50-ish feet away, sometimes more.

I just did some research on this and apparently there are some bulbs that cause interference and some that don't. The maker of my opener has a very specific list of bulbs you can use. The ones I have in there are not on the list. So I ordered a box of approved ones from Amazon. They'll be here Sunday. (I love Amazon)

 

[DB-Cooper]

The issue with LED usually manifests when closing as the garage door as the lights are on.

Strangely, closing isn’t an issue, I assume because there’s no obstruction for the shut door. It’s opening that is an issue, so I definitely think it’s transmitter location and/or antenna orientation. My other car and external remotes work fine with the same openers/lighting. The LED issue is real for some, but that’s definitely not what I’m reporting.

 

[Mashina]

I know this Topic is old but I'll try my luck with finding a solution.
My Nissan Leaf can open the garage door 2-3 time farther than Tesla model 3. This problem wasn't there at first. Closing the garage is no problem, just when I arrive around the corner from my house which is about 50' from garage door. I can open it only when i'm in driveway in front of garage.

 

[Grabthar]

I have a Chamerlain opener too but mine works just fine. Both automatically or manually I can open/close just as a round the corner onto my street. As others have said, however, it is fairly directional and works best when I'm heading towards the house and not away from it.