Electric Garage Door Opener - fixes

21.12.12: Your garage door opener has a malfunction (not working as it was) and you are wondering whether you should:
a. call someone to replace it
b. call someone to fix it -cheaply
c. replace it yourself (mainly, something foe retired guys to do)
d. try to fix it - inexpensively (something only DIY guys do)
e. decide to move to a condo - something all of us do, if we live long enough

For those with time on their hands and who think they might be able to actually fix this electronic device, the tools and other things you will need:
1. a philips (star) screwdriver
2. the troubleshooting section of the installation manual (the most important item)
3. a stepladder 
4. patience (something I have little of)

The Steps:

1. Review the troubleshooting section for the lights on the door sensors (the devices at the bottom of the door frame) and the main sensor (at the back of the device at the end of the long rod from your door). The easy things that are easily fixed are:
a. the door sensors are not aligned (one is green but

the other is flashing red)
b. the main sensor is blinking

The 'a' problem is caused by something is blocking the light path or someone hit one of the sensors to misalign it. Visually check the alignment and move a sensor until the red ligh stops blinking.

The 'b' problem is caused by something in the device (time to consider moving to a condo?).  
Time to call me, as your DIY skills will be tested (for example, one problem can be the "ribbon cable on

motor drive board (the device) is not properly inserted into connector on controller board").
This can be a simple solution but requires taking things off to expose the circuitry ... and then remembering the things to put back on.

Here is the problem I just had with two openers, after switching openers (to get rid of a 22 year old opener):

a. opener 'a' (mine, the newer one) works perfectly 

b. opener 'b' closes but doesn't open correctly (sensor lights not on and device green light blinking) ... the one that worked perfectly before, and is now used by my wife
c. switched openers, so I would have the problem ... and my wife wouldn't complain.
d. mine now works correctly again but my wife's wouldn't close ... a strange but significant problem
e. i decided her opener was unfixable (partly due to the sale CTC has for a $470 opener on sale for $200) and bought the sale opener

f. decided to take the time to review all troubleshooting details, before opening the on sale box     
g. discovered one door sensor wire had become disconnected on the device and the "ribbon cable" might have been not connected correctly.
h. unplugged the device and waited a few minute before re-plugging.
i. voila!

I will wait a few days, to be sure all is well, before returning the on sale spiffy new device.

Hopefully, one of them malfunctions ...

If you are having problems with your garage door opener and would like to discuss, give me a call or leave a comment on the blog.