Find

Garage door remote — keep it off a sunny dashboard

Garage remote

Garage door remote tip: a hot dashboard can drain the battery and warp the case. Keep the remote on the visor or in a shaded console instead.

Garage door remote: keep it off a sunny dashboard (related household photo)
Photo: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

A garage door remote left on the dashboard bakes in the sun all afternoon. Heat can shorten battery life and loosen the case over time.

Give the garage door remote a shady spot

  1. Clip the remote to the sun visor or keep it in a closed center console.
  2. Avoid the dash top and the rear window shelf, where sun hits hardest.
  3. On very hot days, check that the case still snaps tight and the button feels normal.
  4. If range drops after a hot spell, try a fresh battery before anything else.

That is the beat: shade beats sun. The garage door remote lasts longer when it stays out of the heat.

More help