Garage Door Opener Repair 101: A Guide

Your garage door will inevitably need to be repaired. You know the drill of Murphy’s Law: If something can go wrong, it most likely will. And when it comes to garage door opener repair, we’ve seen it all — burned motors, shot wiring, bent antennas, even burned-out batteries. Since garage door openers only last about half as long as the garage door itself, you’ll likely need to replace it with a new garage door opener before you replace your garage door. Fortunately, this is an easy DIY garage door repair. Here is a brief guide to troubleshooting garage door opener repair.

Troubleshoot the Garage Door

The first thing is to check the door to see if the problem is the opener or the door itself. We’ve definitely shown up to a place with a working garage door opener that the client thought was dead. Pull the emergency release cord to disconnect the opener from the door. Check to see if it the garage door still refuses to open. If not, you might have a problem with the tracks, springs, or cables that may require a garage door repair company. The tracks, springs, and cables of the garage door can be dangerous to repair if you don’t have previous experience.

Troubleshooting Whether It’s the Garage or Switch

If the remote still works but the wall unit doesn’t, you’ll either need to repair the switch or swap out the wires. To determine which, remove the switch from the wall and touch the two wires together. (They’re low voltage — no risk of shock!) If this works the opener, the switch is bad. Unless it’s an older model, get a switch that corresponds to the brand of opener you own.

If the wires are bad, you’ll need to swap out the wires but that’s not a big deal either. Swapping out wires is a cheap and easy fix so you’ll be happy to find out a wire is off. This is a good time to remember you should get a wire cutter/stripper tool if you haven’t already. You may not need it for wire repairs on your overhead door opener but they’re a great thing to have at home for any wiring work you might need to do.

Troubleshooting the Remote

If it’s the remote that isn’t working, change the batteries. If that doesn’t do the trick, you may need to get a new remote. You can find one online that corresponds to your brand of opener or purchase a universal remote. Another option is to install a new receiver that comes with its own remote. This protects your door from hacking.

Could the Problem Be the Motor?

If you hear a whirring sound but the door doesn’t open or close, chances are the motor in your garage door opener has gone bad. This will often wear out before the opener itself. The good news is it’s an inexpensive garage door opener repair — one you can do yourself if you are fairly handy with tools.

You’ll first want to purchase a garage door opener replacement kit. You must get a kit that’s compatible with the HP of your garage door opener. A garage with space for two cars typically takes a motor with ½ horsepower but check your model for more info.

The motor gear is a white-toothed wheel, which is mounted on a long metallic piece called the sprocket shaft.

Start By Disconnecting Your Garage Door Opener

Close your garage door, you don’t want that crashing down and being damage (or hurting someone). Next, unplug your garage door opener. Disconnect the trolley and the motor by unplugging the connected cables. Adjust the tension nut mounted on top of the trolley to loosen the chain. Remove the cap that holds the chain on top of the motor unit. Take the chain off the unit’s sprocket.

Disconnect & Detach the Old Motor

Take a close look at how the motor gear is connected (this is the white gear inside your opener). This is a good time to take a picture or two for future reference, so you know how things were put together before. Remove the plastic retaining clip holding it in place. Dislodge the limit switch assembly by pushing the brackets on its sides. Remove any wires connected to the motor (mark these terminals for future reference and you can take another picture if you need to). Remove the old motor assembly and unscrew it from its place. You’ll want to safely dispose of the old garage opener motor. If you have a local scrap metal place you can drop it off there.

Connect the New Motor

Connect the new motor by reconnecting the screws. Attach the capacitor to the old wires. Replace the limit switch assembly, followed by the RPM sensor. Reconnect any wires you removed previously. Check the picture that you took before to see that all the garage door opener’s wiring and screws are back in their rightful place.

Finally, lube all the moving parts within the motor, especially the gear, before you turn the opener on. Test it out. Hopefully, your garage door opener will be running smoothly again. If not, your opener might be dead.

If All Else Doesn’t Work, Is It Time to Purchase a New Garage Door Opener?

If you’re having trouble repairing your garage door opener or find yourself tinkering with it too much, consider purchasing a replacement. Garage door openers have seen significant improvements over the last few years as smart technology has evolved. A new garage door opener will come with an increased security and safety features to protect you and your loved one. “Smart garage door openers” can be connected to your smartphone via apps, allowing you to remotely open and close your doors. This can be great if you think you’ve forgotten to lock your door, or if you want delivery drivers to safely house your packages inside your garage door. Installing a new garage door opener will be relatively easier than repairing one as well. However, if you want to leave the dirty work to an expert, speak with a garage door repair and installation company. An expert will be able to repair your old door opener or install your new one, depending on the route you go.

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