Garage Door Repair - My garage door opener will open, but not close my door
All garage door openers produced after January 1, 1993 entail the federally administered safety sensor auto reversing system?. These sensors are found four to six inches over the garage floor and safeguard the door opening with an invisible beam. If there is any problem with the safety sensors, the light bulb on some openers will flash many times and the garage door will not shut unless constant pressure is used to the wall button mounted inside the garage.
There are a some different things that can cause this type of issue, which are listed below with similar solutions:
1. Clear any foreign material from between the safety sensors. Debris from leaves, trash, and dirt on the lens of the sensor itself are all examples of things that can obscure the sensor's signal.
2. Examine each sensor for a steady glowing indicator light. If both indicator lights are on, or if one indicator light is flickering, the sensors may be slightly out of alignment.
To check for misalignment; obstruct the beam of the sensors so that they cannot directly see each other. When the safety eyes is blocked, the indicator light on one of the two sensors will for a moment go out. This is probably receiving sensor. Discard the obstruction and loosen the bracket on the back of the receiving sensor. Adjust the receiving sensor until the indicator light goes out, if not already out, then realign until the green or red light is bright and steady, then refasten the sensor. This usually takes a couple of attempts before alignment is restored.
If an indicator light is not burning on one or both sensors, check for a possible loose or shorted wire. Sensor wires are attached to the white and black terminals on the back or side panel of the overhead motor unit. Confirm that they are firmly connected to each terminal. Also verify the wires for any breaks, specifically anywhere they are spliced together.
If the previous steps have been followed thoroughly and the conditions continue, there may be an electronic short in either the wiring, safety eyes, or the receiver logic board. In this case, remove the safety eyes and temporarily wire them in the motor head unit with a lessened known unshorted set wires. If the symptoms continue after the eyes are removed, replace the computer board and or safety beams. If the symptoms cease with the safety eyes after using unshorted wires to the motor unit, replace all the wiring from the opener head to the safety sensor location 4 to 6 inches on top of the floor.
Following any adjustment to the sensors, the opener itself, or the garage door, the safety system must be tested:
1. Use the remote control push button to raise the garage door.
2. Set a box or similar object in the path of the door.
3. Press the remote control push button to close the door. The door should not move more than one inch, and the opener lights shall flash.
WARNING: Without a properly installed safety reversal device, people (particularly small children) can be seriously injured or death by a shutting garage door. If the electric opener closes the door when the safety-reversing sensor is obstructed (and the sensors are no more than 6 inches on top of the floor), call for a trained door systems technician.
About the Author
Preferred Doors
provides detailed information on Garage Doors, Garage Door Openers,
Garage Door Repair
, Overhead Garage Doors and more.
