How to Troubleshoot My LiftMaster Garage Door Opener
Garage door opener problems are always inconvenient, but if you’re a DIY-er, there are some problems you can attempt to tackle on your own. Read our easy-to-follow guide, “How to Troubleshoot My LiftMaster Garage Door Opener,” to learn more about two of the most common LiftMaster garage door opener problems and solutions.
How to Troubleshoot My LiftMaster Garage Door Opener
Homeowners often run into problems with their remotes not working or the door not opening. If your garage door is not opening and you don’t see any signs of spring problems or major damage, try the troubleshooting solutions listed below.
If you are concerned you may have a serious problem on your hands, turn the power to the door opener off and contact a professional immediately.
Remote or Keypad Not Responding Consistently
Your garage door remote and keypad are powered by batteries. As the batteries lose power, the remote or keypad becomes faulty until the battery dies and they stop working altogether. How long they last depend on the quality of the remote and keypad, the quality of the batteries, and how often they are used.
Open the remote or keypad to check which type of batteries are needed before buying replacements. If the remote still has some battery life, turn off the power to the opener before removing the remote’s battery cover.
Insert the replacement batteries and reattach the battery cover. Finally, reprogram your remote or keypad according to your manual. If you don’t have a manual, you can usually find a digital copy online.
If replacing the batteries doesn’t resolve the issue, contact a professional to inspect your garage door system.
How to Open Garage Door Keypads
Lift the cover of the keypad and look for the battery cover at the bottom of the unit. The age of the unit will determine how you open the battery cover:
Newer Keypads – To remove the cover, apply pressure to the cover and slide it down. If it has an oval cut that prevents you from sliding it open with your hands, use a flat head screwdriver for additional pressure.
Older Style #1 – Some older keypads use a screw to hold the battery cover in place. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screw and then slide the battery cover off.
Older Style #2 – If your battery cover has a pinhole, insert a small Phillips screwdriver in the hole then pull the cover out and down to remove it. Small Phillips screwdrivers can be found in glasses repair kits.
How to Open Garage Door Remotes
To open the remote look on the backside for a battery cover. If you don’t see a battery cover, the remote housing needs to be split in two. For remotes with a visible battery cover try the following:
- Remove the cover by applying pressure and sliding the cover down.
- Some battery covers are locked with a screw. You’ll likely need a small screwdriver like those found in glasses repair kits.
Who Sells Garage Door Remote Batteries?
Your best bet for finding the right batteries is a quick stop at your local auto parts store. You can also try a drug store or your local Walmart.
The Garage Door Won’t Close
If your garage door refuses to close, it’s likely that the safety sensor is blocked, dirty, or out of alignment. The safety sensor has mechanisms on either side of the door. One of the sensors is a sender and the other a receiver. Try the suggestions below to troubleshoot the problem. Remember to turn the power to the opener off when you are attempting repairs.
Clear the Sensor’s Path
This one is easy. Take a look at the door opening and make sure nothing is in the path of the sensor. This causes a break between the sender and receiver. If nothing is there, then move on to the next option.
Clean the Sensors
With a soft microfiber cloth, wipe down the sensors to remove any dust, debris, and/or cobwebs obstructing the beams. If the door still won’t close, check the alignment of the sensors.
Re-align the Sensors
Loosen the fastener and straighten the sensors. When the sender and receiver are in alignment, the LED light on the receiver should have a continuous green glow.
Check the Wires
Using a ladder, check the safety sensor wiring on the garage door opener. These are the white and black wires. You’ll want to confirm they are in the correct terminals and haven’t come loose.
If the door still will not close, call a garage door repair company for further assistance.
Call Heritage Garage Door for Repair and Diagnostics
Contact us to schedule a service call, our technicians are trained to service all makes and models of garage doors, openers, and accessories. We’ll find a solution to any garage door problem.
Heritage Garage Door operates in Southern California.
