I wish Ford would integrate HomeLink so that it was powered off when the vehicle is off. If you park outside and configure HomeLink to work with you garage your opening yourself up to theft. All a burglar needs to do is access your vehicle to gain access to your garage. I know other vehicles such as BMW actually place their version in the mirror and wire it to the vehicle. If the vehicle is off the garage door controls are disabled.

 

I wondered about that myself with my 2003.

Eventually, I just learned to appreciate the convenience, because when I stumble drunk out of an Uber after a night on the town, I just mash the number into the SecuriCode Keypad on the door, and use Homelink to get into the garage.

Granted, I could just carry my keys with me, but it's just another thing to lose. lol

 

I have two cars with Homelink. The Ford keeps it powered and the Audi doesn't. Honestly, I prefer the Ford way better. It's more convenient to be able to open the garage without having to carry my keys. Plus, I constantly have to turn my car back on to open the garage door. I thought about it being safer but really all it takes to get into most homes is a rock.

 

I feel more people are prone to look for a garage door opener itself versus using the integrated buttons.

But, if your vehicle is locked and armed properly, then they shouldn't really have enough time to wait for the garage to open and grab anything with the truck's alarm going off in your driveway

 

All you need to add is a relay to make it ignition controlled

 

All the car's I've had before this kept the homelink powered. My Nissan Altima on the mirror did, and my wife's previous and current Toyota Highlanders with it on the actual overhead console do/did. All of our cars reside inside the garage when we are at home so it's no big deal for us. When my mother-in-law comes over, who has one of our doors programmed into her Toyota Sienna, visits for the night we just lock the door to the garage in case someone wants to get into her van to open the garage.

As someone said above, most stock alarms will let you know, that is if you are home, that someone is opening your car that isn't supposed to be.

 

They don't fit in my pockets as well as a key though!