Steps to Troubleshoot Your Garage Door Opener

Tips and Troubleshooting   Brett Rowley  | 05 December 2018

Have you ever come home or tried to leave the house in a rush? It can be incredibly frantic, and you might be getting anxiety right now just thinking about it. 

Now let me set an even more abrasive scene for you; imagine coming home or leaving in a rush, and all of a sudden your garage door won’t budge, no matter what you do to your remote or switch. 

If you’ve been in this position, you have my sympathies. You might be angrily thinking, “what causes garage door openers to stop working”, “is there a reset button on garage door openers”, or maybe you’re asking “how do I reset my garage door motor?”

The key is to not panic and calmly fix the problem.

It’s not completely hopeless if it does happen, because there are two things you can do: troubleshoot the remote and get it working again, or manually move the garage. 

If you need to get your garage moving again, keep reading here. 

 

1. My garage door remote doesn’t work

When your electric garage door opener no longer responds when you press the remote control, it’s usually because the batteries need replacing or the garage door sensors are blocked. We have compiled a lot of garage remote resources for our customers to refer to if you are after instructions. Here are a few reasons why and what to do if your auto garage door opener remote no longer works:

  • Replace the batteries. One of easiest fixes and usually the most common is simply replacing the batteries and checking all electrical connections are operational on the remote control. Remove the panel on the back of the remote – you may need a screwdriver for this, and remove and replace the battery ensuring you have the right voltage.

  • Check the sensors. Garage doors operate using a number of infrared sensors which communicate to the motor when to open or close every time you push a button. Ensure that all beam lenses are clean, nothing is obstructing its path and that all beams are aligned.

  • Replace your garage remote. Contact the manufacturer of the garage door opener with the make and model number of your system and ask for a replacement remote. Alternatively, you can shop online or even opt for a universal remote.
  • Reprogram the remote control. Garage remotes use radio frequencies to send signals to the garage door opener when to go up and down. The frequency of your remote is usually printed on it but most common frequencies can include 300 MHz, 310 MHz, 315 MHz, 318 MHz or 390 MHz.

 

To reprogram your garage remote/garage remote repair:

– Locate the LEARN button on garage door opener, it’s usually black or a colour.

– Hold the LEARN button down until indicator light is blinking and then release.

– Press and hold the button on your garage remote until the indicator light flashes, this means the signal has been received.

– Press and release the LEARN button once more to lock in the new remote.

View our video on how to reprogram your garage door

Click here!

As garage systems may vary, it is always a good idea to check your garage door manual first or contact one of our friendly staff members at Gryphon Garage Doors.

 

2. My garage door wall switch won’t work

When your garage door no longer functions when you have pressed the wall switch, it’s most likely that the sensors are obstructed or the power source has been disrupted. Here are the most common factors and what to do if your wall switch does not work:

  • Check power connection. Believe it or not, one of the most common issues is finding the opening motor unplugged. Find out where the motor is plugged in and ensure that it has been plugged in all the way.

  • Check the electrical system. This is a little more technical and hands-on but it’s possible that the circuit breaker, fuse, or GFCI has tripped or burnt out. Locate and inspect your circuit breaker for any trips, if other parts of the garage door are malfunctioning then you’ll most likely have to reset the breaker or GFCI. Replace any burnt-out fuses. Ensure that all wires are connected and match up.

  • Inspect motor. It can happen, but if your opening motor is no longer operational, there could be a chance that it has burnt itself out and will ultimately, need to be replaced.

 

How do I open my garage door manually? 

If your motor doesn’t work for some reason, here is how to open your garage manually.

If you find that your garage door is still not responding or is acting strangely, check out our article on troubleshooting your garage door for some useful tips on troubleshooting your garage door.

 

How do I know if my garage door opener motor is bad? 

If you can press your remote or wall switch, and you can hear noise coming from the motor itself but the door won’t move, it probably means you need garage door motor repair. When you do need repairs for your garage door, contact a professional. 

 

Contact a professional

Garage door or garage remote not working despite trying these methods? It may need a service or repair. Inspecting your garage door system can be quite a technical task and may require you to read an ancient manual filled with foreign transcripts that you are not familiar with – providing you remember where you last put it.

 

Where to get your garage door serviced, repaired and installed 

Gryphon Garage Doors is one of the best garage door companies for sectional and roller door repair in Perth, and have been helping Australians protect their homes and commercial spaces in stylish ways for over 25 years. Why is this important? Well it means we’ve come across countless different jobs, and have had to overcome each one. So no matter your situation, you gotta get a Gryphon. We have:

  • Finger proof safety 
  • Quietest motors on the market 
  • Trained professionals 
  • Customised products
  • Warranty up to 7 years!
  • After sales service

Your garage broke down and you need it to open ASAP? Not a problem, give us a call and we will try our best to get to you today and open your space. We look forward to hearing from you.

Brett Rowley

Brett is a garage door expert who also runs Gryphon Garage Doors. He strives for great customer service, excellent product knowledge and constant innovation.