How to Program a Garage Door Opener to a Vehicle
You have a shiny new car and want to program your garage door opener to it—sounds easy enough. So you get out your garage door remote control and your new car's owner's manual for the instructions from the manufacturer to be able to program the remote control to the car.
Then, after following the instructions from the manual, you press the button for the garage door to go up . . . and nothing happens. Did you miss a step? Read on to learn about what most instruction manuals leave out: the step of programming the car/truck/van to the garage door machine itself.
The Logic Board
On the back side of your garage door opener is a panel called the logic board (see the photo above). The logic board is the computer or brain of the machine. Most new garage door openers are multi-code machines. That means that they use several signals each time you press the button on your remote control. This is for security, so your code can't be stolen by a code-grabber.
Programming a Vehicle to the Garage Door Opener
Once you have followed the instructions on programming your machine, you now have to "teach" the garage door opener to connect to the remote device in your car.
- First, press the "learn" button on the back of your garage door opener mounted on the ceiling. (The learn button, located on the back of your machine, will be square if using a Liftmaster machine. Craftsman, Liftmaster, Chamberlain are all the same. Their learn buttons are square and usually yellow, red/orange, or purple. If using a Genie, the button says "learn button.") The single press of this button should be brief and firm. Do not hold this button down. If you do, it erases all of the programming in the machine and you'll have to re-program all the remote controls that you have, and that's not a fun process.
- Quickly press the button on the remote control and hold it down a moment. If your car has a built-in button, then you'll need to have someone help you by pressing that button now.
- Programming the remote to the machine only takes a second. When the machine accepts the code, the light on the machine might flash for a brief moment, and you should hear an audible click.
Yep, it's that easy! I don't know why the automakers leave this step out, but that's really it.
I hope this helps, and if you have any questions, leave them in the comments below and I will try to walk you through it.
Don't Hold the "Learn" Button Down
If you do, it erases all of the programming and you'll have to re-program all the remote controls you have.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
Questions & Answers
How do you program a 2018 Toyota Highlander Limited garage door opener?
You first program the remote control to the vehicle. Then you find the smart button on the opener and press and release it. Then press and hold down the button you programmed in your vehicle. When you hear the click on the opener, it is complete.
Helpful 85I have misplaced my garage door remote and have gotten a different car. Is it possible to program the newer vehicle to a garage door opener without the remote?
No, you will have to get a remote to use
Helpful 45I don’t have the remote for my garage door. How can I get a code?
You will have to get a remote before you can program your car.
Helpful 19I programmed my Homelink (inside my car) to my garage door and that part works. However, now my keypad on the outside doesn’t work. How do I fix that?
Press and release the learn button on the machine. Then enter a four-digit number in the keyless entry and press the enter button. That will do it.
Helpful 18How do you program a 2019 BMW 530i garage door opener?
Follow the instructions for the car. You have to first program the remote to the car. After the car has learned the remote control, go to the machine and press and release the learn button. The press the button you programmed innthe car. When the lightbulb on the machine flashes it is complete. You may have to do this several times.
Helpful 10
Related
Comments
AUTHORGlad it worked for you
i used a wall mount keypad, in lieu of any actual visor-mount remotes, to teach the buttons in an 04 Avalanche...
Hi, my genie 1/2 hp does not have a learn button in the front , it uses the 12 pin link system. Can I still link up the car?
Thank You so much for the information! I was going crazy thinking I couldn't follow the instructions in the owners manual and wondering what I was doing wrong!
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Jrj. You will need a repeater for yours to work. The new cars have changed from the homelink to another system. The repeater bridges the gap. Change is not always good. What is the name of the system your car is using? It will be in the owners manual
I am so frustrated at NONE of these suggestions can sync my system!! Chrysler 2016 Pacifica
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Barbara some of the new machines will not work with the homelink system unless they have a repeater to make them compatible. The new machines have a different frequency than your older machine. Yours probably has a yellow round learn button and the older one had a square purple button. Ask a local door man to make sure. they havevthe repeater.
Barbara
I have a double door garage. When I moved into this house, 5 months ago, there was a Craftsman garage door opener on one door and the other was a manual open. I programmed buttom 3 on my 2005 Lexus Homelink to work with the Craftsman opener. A couple of days ago I had a Chamberlain 1/2 HP Chain Drive installed on the other garage door and have tried numerous times, unsuccessfully, to program button 1 on the Homelink in my car to the Chamberlain remote. The Homelink light blinks slowly and after some time just goes out. Do I have to clear both Homelink codes and then program button 1 and re-program button 3?
Thanks
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Larry try holding the learnbutton down on the machine for about 15 seconds. Then reprogram both the car and the keyless. Hopefully this will work for you.
I have a several year old Genie accelerator opener - model ISD 1000. My original wireless keypad system stopped functioning. So purchased a new Genie wireless keypad. Model GK-R. Programming went fine and it works as expected. Then I discovered the homelink remote control built in to my 2009 Camry Toyota quit working. So I reprogrammed it and it worked fine. But now - yep, you guessed it - the new wireless keypad no longer functions. Looks like an endless cycle. Not sure how I get them both functional. Any ideas?
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Thanks...glad it helped
Sweeps, just wanted to tell you that you're an amazing man for supplying the public with 7 YEARS worth of advice on this post. Wow. And yes....it helped me to!
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Your new car may not be compatible with the machine. Some car manufactures have changed from a homelink system to another system. You may need a repeater to link your machine to your car. With change usually comes other problems.
Got a band new Nissan Maxima Platinum. I have tried your method several times and it does not work. DUH.
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Yes do the second car just like the 1st one. They should work
Is it possible to program 2 cars with only one hand-held remote?
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Yes you are correct. Parts are no longer made for that machine. Sorry
We have a Dalton Quantum and a brand new 2016 Range Rover. If I'm reading the previous comment correctly, the actual garage door opener is too old to connect to the car? I've tried to connect the car to the actual unit as well as connect the car to the remote. Nothing has worked.
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If your vehicle is a 2006 or newer they may notaccept the older remotes. I run across that daily.
I have a Dalton Quatum opener that I can't program to my car. The opener is so about 14 years old and have been told by Dalton that the opener is too old, is that possible?
That was easy, thanks for the help!!!
After reading the manual to my 2016 Taurus and following the instructions to a tee, all I got was frustration and no luck. It also tried doing step 1 then step 2 and neither worked. I followed your instructions and my car transmitter was working immediately! Thank you for your excellent advice!!
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I have a biltek SL600ACL gate opener. I can't get the keypad are homelink on my cars to program with it. Only the remotes it comes with work. It is 433.92mhz. What can I buy or do to make it work right?
I am trying to configure a 2000 Yukon and a 1140ml, Chamberlain. I have read all instructions. When pushing the lean button, it's red light stays on for about 60 seconds. I can't seem to get the two units to communicate. Any helpful hints would be appreciated.
Not sure if this really fits here, since it's not a car I'm trying to program, it's a remote. But here's what I want to do....
I have a Genie Excellerator opener, purchased about 10 years ago, with Intellicode II, and the three-button Genie remote that came with it. My current lady-friend has a year old home that had a new Sears opener installed. So what we're wondering is....can we program her Sears opener to one of my Genie remote buttons, and my Genie opener to one of her Sears remote buttons? Or is this sort of cross-brand issue only resolved by buying new "universal" remotes?
I did try programming one of the buttons on my Genie to her Sears, just by using her keypad, which didn't work. I'm not sure if getting up on the ladder to open up her receiver and use the actual Learn button would be any different, so thought I'd ask here first if this is even worth trying, or if it's just not possible to use Genie remotes with Sears openers and vice-versa.
I finally got my garage doors wired with the buttons. I don't have a remote. I'm trying to program my car's button to open the garage door and I've followed all the steps and it does not want to program. What am I do wrong? I press the Learn button on the garage door opener and go to my car and press the button twice for 2 seconds each and nothing. HELP!
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There may be a problem with that board. It should program easily
I appreciate the suggestion, which I just tried; however, I had no luck. Rats!
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Erase the board on your machine and try again. If you make several attempts it will sometimes lock out
Help! I bought a new Linear garage door opener today, and I'm trying to set the remote in my 2009 Malibu. I've followed the instructions in the owner's manual (as well as yours). First, note that I was able to program my previous opener. Also, earlier this evening, I was able to program my daughter's opener. Any thoughts?
Yea! finally works AFTER tapping the learn button while wife holding down button on car
Many thanks
Fred & Barbara
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Have you tried programming the car to the machine? Find the learn/smart button on the machine press and release it and then press and hold the remote button on the car. It may have been programed already. Hope this helps
I just moved to a new house without a remote but I do have a key pad can I program my car from the key pad ?
Hi, I have a Saab 95, 2008. The mirror will go in learning mode(first and last buttons for 20sec), but then will not learn from my remote. I press any buttons on the mirror and then the one on the remote, I did cycle the remote button too(rolling codes), but nothing. The car manual states the same procedure for programming.
Any suggestion will help.
Thank you
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You should be able to use it. Just teach the remote to the car. You should not need a smart button on older openers
Do you have any advice on an older unit that does not have a smart button?
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Deby... You need to erase the machines. Then you will have to reprogram the remote controls. To erase the machines push and hold the green learn button for about 20 seconds. To reprogram push an release the green button and then push and hold the remote control button. You will hear a click in the machine and the lightbulb will flash. Let me know if you have problems.
I have a 2011 Tahoe, and 2 liftmaster garage door openers. I can program the openers with no problem EXCEPT that I can not get one button in Tahoe to operate just one garage door. When I program one button, it operates both doors. I have cleared out the memory in the tahoe, started all over, same thing. I even disconnected one garage door opener from power,programmed the other opener to the button (after clearing memory again) in the Tahoe. When I plugged it back in, it still operated by the button. The liftmasters are the same model, green learn button. They have been programmed to my Tahoe in the past, but we wanted to switch the buttons (parking Tahoe in different side of garage.) So what is different now??
Thanks so much. I'll try that. Appreciate the help.
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The keypad will work if it is working the door now. It will be a pain having to punch in the code each time you try to program the car. You need ghe 971LM remote for the red button. Or you can get a universal clicker at lowes and program it
It is square and red. I have the controller in the garage on the wall and a keypad outside. Will either of those work?
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Mark you will need a remote control to program your car. What color is the learn button on your machine?
I have a 2016 GMC Acadia and a lift master garage door. I don't have the original remotes. I've tried everything. What can I do to get it programmed to my car?
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Honestly they can be s real pain. Some of the newer vehicles require a different reciever to work.
Sweeps Luck
It didn't work. In order to check I was doing it right I cleared the remote and outdoor keypad and reset them both buy pressing the green button (light flashes on opener) with no problem. I am at the frustration point where I will just order another remote and forget trying to program the car.
Thanks for trying to help.
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Beemer... You need to press and release the green learn button and then push and hold the button on the homelink system. This teaches the car to the machine. Let me know if this doesnt work
Just bought a BMW 2 series and can't get it to work with Liftmaster using green learn button. I had the BMW genius tech out and he was no help. I have followed the BMW instructions (Homelink) and it never seems to take the remote code so the above instructions don't help. The car Homelink system never blinks slowly why attempting to program it so I think I am stuck. I am afraid if I go and buy a new garage door opener fearing it still may not work. Any suggestions?
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David, you may have to try several times to get the car to accept the remote control. It can be a pain in the butt. Follow the instructions on the car, as each one is different
One more thing. The Tahoe has 3 buttons and each one has a light above it. Not sure if you need to know that.
Sweeps. I tried to read through all the posts and may have missed it so sorry. I have a Marantec M 4500 opener and just bought a 2014 Chevy Tahoe. I can't for the life of me figure out how to program the Tahoe. Can you please help?
Thanks!
Sweeps, thanks for your advice and help. It may be time for a new GDO. thanks for your time. D.P.
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It really sounds as if you have a bad board on your machine. It should erase easily and other remotes should not be picked up without hitting the learn button on your machine. It sounds like a power surge or lightening strike may have caused a glitch in the board. They are usually rock solid unless something like that has occurred.
- AUTHOR
Are you using new 891 or 893LM remotes? The ones that come with the machine?
Hey Sweeps, thanks again for your help. I tried your instructions, in fact it had been unplugged all night. I pushed and held donwn learn button (yellow and round) for 2o seconds(little red light) and nothing seems to happen. The red light stays on until I hit a remote button. I tried holding it less, more, rapidily. and even unhooked hard wired button and tried procedure again. remove batteries from remote. don't know anymorel...lol... maybe I am not clearing machine correctly? thanks inadvance for your help. D.P.
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Unplug the machine for about 10 minutes. This resets the machine. Then hold down the learn button for about 20 seconds. The re enter the remotes into the machine. If it still works your neighbors door, their machine needs to be cleared also.
Hi Sweeps, I have a Sears/Craftsman model 41a3516-2. I programmed another remote for it that works but now the car fob opens and closes door, (not only mine) it seems to respond to neighbours also. I tried to reset or clear it by holding button in, doesn't seem to do anything. Thank you in advance D.P.
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If it wont accept 5 remotes after clearing the board you have a bad board. If the board is bad it will do all kinds of crazy things. You could come home and the door would be open. It could have had a power surge to the board
I haven't cleared the board yet, the thing is, I use a 973LM that works perfectly and bought a 971LM as a spare, since the 973 is working I'm afraid that resseting the board will leave that remote useless and end up with two non working remotes
K, im not at home right now but I will give it a try
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Clear the board by pushing in the orange button for about 15 seconds. Then take your remote control and hold the button down on the remote control. Now press and release the orange learn button. You should hear a click and the light bulb should flash. Let me know if this works.
Orange, shows date 2013
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David what color is your learn button? Learn button an erase button are the same
Hello, my liftmaster 1215E only has en "erase" button, which I poke but the LED indicator does not stay on, though I tried the instructions anyway but nothing happens, I can see the light blinking when I press the button on the control but is not operating the liftmaster. Can you please help?
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It sounds like the logic board may be bad if you are having issues like that. The board will only hold 5 entries and then it will start dropping remotes. Try unplugging the machine, this resets it. If that doesn't work you may have had a power surge and messed up the board. Let me know
The homelink in both my cars have stopped working. Both were working and then they just stopped. Unable to reprogram either of them. Completely reset the opener and the two cars then tried to reprogram them and all the other remotes. Can program the keypad and four remotes. (the last two remotes because the cars won't program. Also, the light won't go out - neither automatically nor with the button. any ideas? i think the light issue is relays, maybe same for remote?
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Douglas..that is an old machine..you need a 303mhz remote. You may get lucky and find one on ebay. The other options is to buy a universal receiver to adapt to your machine. Let me know if i can help.
I'm having trouble programming my 2014 GMC Traverses garage door opener remote to my Wayne Dalton quantum with a brown smart button can you tell me which remote I may need to purchase to get this to work thank you
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Your neighbor needs to erase their logic board and reprogram their machine
I have a Lift-master + and a Honda with homelink. Everything has worked perfectly for several years. Recently I noticed that my homelink button controls my neighbor's garage door in addition to mine. My standard remotes do not control the neighbor's door. Is this an issue I can resolve our does my neighbor need to change something on his opener?
Can I program my car to the garage door without a remote?
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You will have to use a remote control that has been programmed to the machine. What color is the smart button?
I lost my garage remote control ! Can i still program my garage on my 2013 toyota venza ??
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Hi Fran. The machine will only hold five remotes. After five it starts to drop the first ones programmed. To erase all of them jold down the square learn button for about 20 seconds, then wait about a minute, then you can start to program them again. Let me know if you have any questions.
We have 2mercedes suv's. programmed the newest and the older one wont work. Can we reprogram the cars and a handheld at the same time. we have family members with 2 other handhelds and one in car. Can we wipe all thwe codes on the door opener and start over?????
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Brian. It still sounds like the car has not learned the remote control. It sometimes takes several trys go do it. They can be a pain
I have done this many times and even cleared all codes to make sure it wasn't full. I have a new 2015 Tahoe, held in the vehicle button then had someone hit the smart button once. Even tried it by hitting the smart button then holding the Vehicle button but still nothing. I reprogrammed the key pad on the house and it works fine?
finally!!!!! thank you so much!!!!!
What if i have Stanley and Came motors?
Hi I just bought a genie garage door opener modle number 3062 trying to program my acura to the garage opener where is the learn button thanks
I have a genie silent max 1000 trying to program to my 2011 Nissan Quest when training to remote light flashes slow and then goes completely off on both of my cars what am I doing wrong.
Thanks
We are having the strangest thing happen at our home - hopefully you can help -
1. We accidently cleared all remotes
2. Reprogrammed them quickly to main garage
3. Went to add 2nd garage and it somehow piggybacked onto main garage (press one button and 2 doors go up/down or one of each..- note: we pressed the middle button for the 2nd garage and it didn't appear to program)
4. Cleared all and started over - Couldn't get main door programmed but could get keypad.
5. Tried programming the second door - held the garage door opener button and pressed the second button and it didn't program the car - instead it programmed the remote to open both the main door and 2nd door now from the same button on the same remote (external) - (We weren't trying to mess with the main door at this point..)
Do you have any advice?
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Jeff, you may be holding the learn button in to long and causing the machine to drop the others already programmed. Just poke the learn button to program. If you want to erase the board of all programming..push the learn button in and hold it for about 20 seconds. If you clear the programming and try to program one or two and it still drops the ones previously entered..it mean you have a bad logic board, and it will need to be replaced. remember the machine will only hold a total of five remotes/keypads..Let me know if i can help..Joe
Quick add to just submitted (after re-reading the previous answered Q (and it's reference to holding 5)
It seems every time I press the learn to program any remote, all the others are now off channel and won't work.
Older Liftmaster/Chamberlin -
I understand how to program remotes (although reading your post, in frustration I may have held the learn button in to long - but it still seems to work).
My problem is programming more than one remote at a time. Some are not always here - or here together. Even then, trying to program 2 or 3 - plus the keypad...inevitably some don't take and I have to start over. Obviously it is a run to the keypad - and this all happens any time I may want to change Pins - even for the temporary feature.
What can I do?
Thanks
After a year and a half after buying my new car, I finally was able to get the car's universal remote to work - thanks to you !!
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Simon...im not really sure on a Genie. Also, i have found a VW to be a problem being programmed. I would try clearing the board of all codes and then programing each again. A liftmaster/chamberlanin will only hold 5. You may have to try several times to get the car programmed. Sorry i couldn't be more help but, i don't deal with Genies much..Joe
I've just purchased an '07 VW Touareg and cannot program the Genie opener to the vehicle. Is there an issue with Intellicode 1 or 2 with this vehicle? Does this have any effect? The car manufacturer's manual mentions that the Homelink system is compatible with 'most' openers.
It is an older Genie garage opener and I wonder if it's reached its capacity for remotes - 5? We had no problem with the Ford, this is frustrating - any help or guidance would be very much appreciated.
Thanks a lot!It worked for me..
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Rod..use the remote that is working..follow the instrctions on the cars manual to teach the code to the car..oncw the car has learned the code..press and release the learn button on the machine then press and hold the button on the car..if the machines light bulb flashes on then off..its complete..hope this helps..Joe
I press the learn button before I read anything! So from reading your info, I must have erase the codes ? My hand remote still works. I am trying to program my wife new car. We follow the car Manuel , but it is not working! Can you help?
Is there a certain limit of vehicles and remotes you can have programmed to it
I have a Stanley Model 2200 opener without a programing button on the door unit. Am I able to program to my 2009 Chevy Impala. I now have the car programed for a Craftsman opener at an other location.Will I be able to have both progamed for this car?
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No Carolin..you will have to get a remote so you can teach the remote to the machine and then teach the car to the machine..what color of learn button does your machine have?
I have a Lexus and a craftsman garage door opener unfortunaltely the previous owner did not leave any remotes can I still program my car, I managed to program the keypad outside the garage door. Please help thanks carolin
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Bmw..you must have a remote for the opener before you can program your car. The remote has to be programmed to the opener..and then the remote can be taught to the car..once the car has learned it..press and release the red learn button on the opener and then press and hold the homelink button in the car
Hi, I have a 2003 BMW 745Li with 3 buttons on the mirror and have cleared them several times. I tried following the instructions in the owners manual by pressing the red learn button on the back of our professional linkmaster garage door opener and pressing the homelink button 3 times in the car for 2 sec. but to no avail. I don't have a remote for the opener so what can I do to solve this issue???
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Yes every vehicle is different..some can be a pain in the buttocks.
Excellent instructions, but I have some updates that were missed that will help those having problems. When training the homelink in my 2011 Camry, I found that I had to do both sets of training. Also, be sure and clear the homelink buttons of any previous training before you start. Follow the manufacturers instructions. In my Camry I have 3 buttons, to clear the memory, I had to press the two outer buttons and hold until the light went out. I programmed the remote to the homelink button and to the machine. When training the button with the remote, hold the homelink button down until after the rapid flashing and the light goes off. When training the homelink to the machine, hesitate after pressing the homelink button 3 times, then press it a 4th time.
I program my car and the handhelds don't work. I reprogram handhelds and car stops working. Only have 2 remotes so no where near 5. What is going on?
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Barry..im not sure about the stanley system..They are no longer made, and i doubt the remotes would work due to the different frequencys used.
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