Sign up or log in to customize your list. Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question The best answers are voted up and rise to the top I have a Craftsman 1/2 HP garage door opener. It's always been a little finicky, but tonight it stopped working. In the middle of going up as tonight, the door halted, leaving a gap between the door and the ground. I got out of the car, squeezed under the door and realized the motor was still running. My wife pushed the door opener a few more times, but the door wouldn't move despite the motor responding. I pulled the release on the door and opened it all the way. I realized parking the car in the garage would be a hassle, since I would have the open the door manually again. So I just closed the garage with the chain disengaged. The motor will start and stop in response to button pushes like it is supposed to - normally the first push starts it in one direction, the 2nd reverses the direction and the 3rd will stop the motor.

However, the chain has completely stopped moving (and by extension, so has the door). This causes the motor to run for an extensive period of time before it seems to timeout and give up. The chain and door connector assembly haven't budged since. I've not worked on garage doors before, but I have a degree in Computer/Electrical Engineering. I've never studied to be an electrician or anything, so I'm well aware there are a lot of things I don't know about this. hollow metal door frame attachmentBut generally speaking, is this the type of thing I could potentially fix myself? keypad lock for pocket doorOr is it more likely the whole unit is shot and I should just call a repairman up front?sliding french doors houston

I know I have the manual around here somewhere, I'll keep looking for it and list exact part numbers if I find it. Update: I popped the sprocket protector off just like in the video form Steven's answer and the chain is still firmly attached. When the motor is running, you can clearly see the shaft and sprocket are not moving at all, not even jerking when starting or stopping, like something had locked up the shaft.garage door repairs sugar land tx repair garage garage-door-opener garage-doorgarage door keypad remove It sounds like the chain might not be on the sprocket that drives it. concealed door closer price listGet up on a ladder and look at the top of the unit. You should be able to easily see if the chain is off the sprocket.

Try running the opener while you are up there too. If the chain has come off you will need to loosen the chain tension, place the chain back over the sprocket and tighten it to the correct tension. Your user manual should have details on how to perform this but usually there is a screw you adjust on the trolley that controls the tension. Make sure to disconnect your door from the trolley before you do this. Here's YouTube video that shows the process. I ended up having to have this replaced. I got a repairman out on a 'free housecall' who quoted me a price for the parts & labor. The price was less than a replacement, but the fellow warned me no one would warranty a repair on a 15 year old unit beyond 30 or 60 days. The unit originally had a 10 year warranty and was installed in 1999 (Craftsman garage door opener warranty page, for reference). It's possible that the fellow really needed to sell a unit and was underselling the feasibility of the repair. But I'll never know because I sprang for a replacement unit with a lifetime warranty through both the installation company and the manufacturer.

Thank you for your interest in this question. Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count). Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead? Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged repair garage garage-door-opener garage-door or ask your own question.A malfunctioning garage door opener can leave you in the cold. Having an automatic door opener in your garage is a great convenience, but you have to give the opener and all its parts regular maintenance, or it can flummox you with erratic behavior. One such quirk is a refusal to open the door as commanded: When this happens, you could get locked out of the garage. This can indicate a problem with the motor, but it might have other causes, including a bent, misaligned or loose track or sensors that are dirty or out of alignment. Motor problems often require professional help.

Make basic checks first. Ensure that the unit is plugged in, the door isn't locked and, if you are using a remote, that the remote has batteries. Check the breaker controlling the door opener, and reset if it it's tripped. You should also ensure that the door is engaged with the trolley. Someone might have pulled the emergency cord. Disengage the door from the trolley by pulling the emergency cord if none of the basic checks reveals a simple explanation for why the door won't open. Try to open the door manually. If it won't move, look for a bent or loose track or a bent roller. Any defective part you find will have to be repaired or replaced. It may also help to spray lubricant on the door rollers. Press the remote or the wall-mounted start switch, listen to the motor and watch the movement of the chain. If the motor hums, but the chain doesn't move, that indicates a problem with the motor. If the motor works but the chain doesn't move, the chain sprocket may need servicing. If nothing happens at all, the safety sensors may be out of alignment.

You should see a steady light on both of them, which indicates that they are aligned and working properly. If one or both lights are off or flashing, look for dirt, cobwebs or leaves in front of the sensor lenses, and clean the lens if necessary. If the lights still flash, manually realign them until the light is steady. This may involve tightening one or both of the vertical door tracks with a screwdriver or wrench. Try the door again after servicing the sensors. If nothing happens when you press the start switch, there may be an electrical disconnection inside the motor casing or in the house circuitry. Look inside the motor for loose wires. If you find one, unplug the door opener before tightening it. Check the circuit wire for connection problems, using a voltage tester, if you can't find any problems inside the motor. Consult a professional if the opener hums but the chain doesn't spin. This could be the result of a faulty capacitor. A test will reveal whether or not it needs to be replaced, but the test involves discharging the capacitor, which can be dangerous.