Garage Door Not Opening or Closing? Here's What Could Be Wrong
By the LocalXR Team|Published:
The Sinking Feeling of a Stuck Door
You press the button on your remote, hear a click, but nothing happens. Or, the door starts to close, only to immediately reverse and open again. A garage door that won't cooperate is a major disruption. The good news is that the problem is often a simple fix you can do yourself. This guide will help you troubleshoot in the right order.
1. Check Your Power and Remotes
Start with the simplest explanations. You'd be surprised how often the problem is simple.
- Dead Remote Battery: Try the wall-mounted button. If it works, your remote's battery is the problem.
- Tripped Circuit Breaker: Check your home's breaker panel. The opener may have tripped its breaker. Reset it once.
- Opener Unplugged: Look up. Is the motor unit plugged firmly into the ceiling outlet? Vibrations can sometimes loosen it.
- Vacation / Lock Mode: Many wall controls have a 'lock' button that disables the remotes. Check to see if this was accidentally pressed.
2. Check the Safety Sensors (The #1 Culprit)
If your door starts to close, then suddenly reverses and goes back up, the safety sensors are almost always the cause. These are the two small 'eyes' at the bottom of the door track, about 6 inches off the ground.
The Fix (DIY): First, check that nothing (a box, a shovel, a spiderweb) is blocking the path between them. Second, check the small LED lights on the sensors. One light should be green and one should be amber (or both green), and both should be solid. If either light is blinking or off, the sensors are misaligned. Gently bend the bracket of the blinking sensor until its light becomes solid. This should solve the problem.
3. Check the Door's Physical Path
Is there something physically in the way? Look at the metal tracks on both sides. A rock, a tool, or other debris can get jammed in the track and stop the rollers, causing the door to get stuck or go crooked. Carefully clear any obstructions.
4. Check the Manual Disconnect Cord
Every garage door opener has a red cord with a handle hanging from it. This is the manual release. If this was accidentally pulled, the opener will disengage from the door, and the motor will run without the door moving. Try pulling it again to re-engage the 'trolley' and then test the door.
If You Are Stuck: How to Open the Door Manually
If your car is trapped and you need to get out, you can open the door manually. **WARNING: Do this ONLY if the door is fully closed.**
- 1. Pull the red emergency release cord. This will disconnect the door from the opener.
- 2. Lift the door by hand. If the springs are balanced, it should not be extremely heavy. Lift it all the way up until it rests horizontally.
- 3. To close it, carefully pull it down by hand and lock it from the inside.
When to STOP and Call a Professional
If you've tried the simple fixes and the door still won't move, or if you had to lift it manually and it felt incredibly heavy, you have a more serious problem.
- If the door feels extremely heavy: This means your torsion springs (the large springs above the door) are broken or have failed. The opener is not designed to lift the door's full weight, and the strain will cause it to stop. This is a DANGEROUS repair. Call a pro.
- If the door is crooked or off its tracks: Do not touch it. A door in this state can fall. Call a pro.
- If you see a snapped spring or frayed cables: These are the most dangerous parts of the door. Do not go near them. Call a pro immediately.