What Could be Wrong With My Overhead Garage Door?

Question

It goes up fine when I press either the button on the garage wall or the remote in the car, but it won't go down at all unless someone stands in the garage and holds the wall button down the entire time the door is going down. The remote doesn't work at all to get the door to go down. I tried disconnecting the sensors, and that didn't help at all. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

The programming has lost its mojo.  If you have the users manual check it. If not you usually can get the instructions on the Internet for the type you have.

Answer 2

Sounds as if your sensor/s became unaligned or one is bad.

I would not continue depressing the button like you have stated.  be sure that the sensors are aligned correctly. it is designed to not operate without them.

Answer 3

About nine out of ten times when we encounter a door doing exactly what you've described it is a problem with the light sensors.  They are either not lined up properly or have gone bad.  First, you need to reconnect them and see if you can line them up and get the door working - the light sensors MUST be connected and lined up for the door to function in the down direction.

Contrary to what some have stated, it most likely has nothing to do with the door's balancing (spring tensioning) or the opener's programming.  Problems in these areas would cause other issues that you do not seem to have.  Also, holding the button down to get the door to close is just fine as long as the door isn't binding in any way.  That is actually one of the intended functions of the wall button - a sort of manual override.

If you cannot get the light sensors to work after being lined up, they have probably gone bad - usually caused by power surges or excessive moisture - and will need to be replaced.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

The best way to test the sensors is to cut the wires about 12" from the sensor and connect them directly to the power head.  Keep in mind that on certain brands, polarity is important.  Once you connect them to the powerhead, tape them together at the lens so that they are facing each other.  If the door will close after this process, your sensors are still good and either they were just no aligned or you have bad wiring (either cut or corroded).

Answer 5

Replace the sensors as they were before and check that they work.

Presumably the door is badly balanced, so that the weight requires less force or energy for openning than for closing. If so then it may be a help to reduce the amout of this weight until the motion in both directions needs about the same effort from the motor. Also check the mechanical joints for too much friction or resistance to this motion, at the same time as you look at the balancing. Lubricate with grease, oil will run out.

Check that the motor is not overheating when at present the button is held down, to close the door. Possibly it has become partly damaged and needs a chance to dry out or more seriously to be replaced. If it has brushes, examine them for sparking and for wear and replace them.

Answer 6

It needs re-reprogramed sounds like.  On the back of the main box with the light, is a RED button or a switch.  This will need to be pushed in while someone else operates the remote control.  There may be mote instructions on the back by the button on how to do it.  Good Luck