Garage Door Opener

Please HELP!!!

Anyone know why my garage door opener won't close my garage door? It opens fine, but won't close it. The screw and hinges have been lubed. Door opens/closes FINE when it's warm out. But when the weather is cool/cold door will open, but not close. Door will only move a couple of inches and then retract to where it started. It has done this for several years - just never had a vehicle in there where I wanted/needed to open and close it on a regular basis.

Thanks in advance if you can help.

 

How do I do that? Have never messed with a garage door before

 

Do you have the manual?? There is probably some small knobs on the back or side-might require a screwdriver....and they will make the opener push harder before it backs up

 

Ha, I have had the same problem.. Turns out during a certain time of the year and day i can open the Garage door but it won't close. I found that the sun must have been at the right angle and was blinding the infrared sensor. So i had to stand between the sun and the sensor to get it to close.

 

Susan, check the sensors on the sides of the opening at the bottom. They need to be looking across the opening and straight at each other. The only other thing I can think of is the door itself is hanging up on the tracks and it thinks it has hit something and returns back up. I'm not sure how to adjust the closing force, but you might be able to find out how by googling the brand of opener you have.

 

Don't think I have one... I"ll check on line. So why will it work when it's warm out, but not when it's cold?

I wish that was the issue. My "issue" is the temperature.

sensors are fine - green light

 

Sounds like the 'Electric eye' sensors (1 of 2 safety reverse features) are working as intended, and like the resistance safety reverse feature (2nd of the two reverse features) needs adjusting.

What kind of opener is it?

Regardless, look for little adjustment knobs on it that you would adjust with a flathead screwdriver. (There may be two pairs in differing locations, such as side and top, or undera hinged front plastic hood, depending on the type opener)

You are trying to decrease the downforce.

There will usually be arrows that get point in a rounder direction around the knobs, either in a 'increasing' or decreasing' direction, with a small diagram showing whether that knob applies to the upward or downward movement of the door.

When in doubt, mark the present locations of each knob so you can return the knob to that setting if need be.

When you determine the right knob to decrease the downward force, try it at half a turn and try the opertaion. If you need to go an addiitonal 1/4 turn, try that.

 

It's a Genie Pro Screw Drive opener 9 1/2 years old

 

I think those have the square-ish dark metal case?

Look on the lower side of the case for a pair of holes and shine a light in them. I think that is where the adjustment knobs are on that type opener.

Pretty sure the adjustment knobs are accessible without opening / removing the outer 'shell' on those.

 

I just googled your issue and it sounds like either the limit switch contacts need to be cleaned or the circuit board needs to be changed. The cost of the board was cheap.

 

I'll look tomorrow... too depressed tonight.... Taco has to sleep outside

thanks... been looking as well.... just can't figure out why it worked yesterday when it was warm and not today when it's colder.

 

Have you ever lubed the screw? A little goes a long way. I have two Sears screw drive openers. I have to do maintenance on them twice a year, usually in the fall and spring.

You might want to take the entire shroud off of the drive assembly. If the main drive gears are nylon they could be worn out. The gears on my original chain drive opener gave out after 15 years of service.

 

Yup, lubed it tonight. Usually lube it once or twice a year.

The issue is the cold... don't know what, just that it doesn't work when it's cold out. Done this the last three years.

 

I also have to lube the frame that guides the pull arm on my older screw drive, which is 13 YO at this point.

 

Is it a metal or wood door?

If everything is lubed as per regular maintenance, i would make a modest adjustment to the downforce and see if that takes care of it.

The change in performance due to the temp change makes me lean that way.