auto garage door problem

[rh71]

Happened last year when it was a bit cold but it got fixed... entirely on its own.

I try to open the thing with the automatic garage door opener but it only goes up about 6 inches, then stops. It closes back down fine also (when I press the button again). I use the manual release latch to see if anything is caught and its not. It had been working 10 minutes prior when I got the car out... this time I was trying to get the car back in.

Manually the door will open and close fine also. I release the latch to see if it works when it's not hinged to the door and the chain moves fine all the way.

Is there something wrong with the automatic opener ? Any tell-tale signs / is this common ?

 

[Baked]

Busted motor?

 

[Kelemvor]

Usually it's the other wy around where doors won't close because they think somethin gis in the way or the sensor is blocked or something like that. Haven't heard of one not wanting to Open before.

 

[dullard]

Sounds like a busted spring to me. The motor itself is no where near powerful enough to lift the door. Thus springs are there to help the motor lift the door. Check to see if any of the springs are broken. If so, you are talking ~$30-$100 per spring (there are two of them usually and they are usually replaced in pairs) plus a ~$40 service charge.

Torsion spring ok on left, broken on right.

I can't find a broken extension spring picture.

 

[meltdown75]

Mine was doing that when my sensors weren't perfectly aligned as FrankyJunior mentioned. Also I found that sometimes the sunlight can shine in and sort of blind the sensor.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Mine was doing that when my sensors weren't perfectly aligned as FrankyJunior mentioned. Also I found that sometimes the sunlight can shine in and sort of blind the sensor.

Hmm... the sensor is located that far down near the door ? I always walk out the garage after hitting the button to close it and it never goes back up. It would only go back up if I force it a bit...

 

[mobobuff]

Garage door openers rarely work well in very cold weather. It's common accepted fact. I've spent many minutes sitting in my car pressing the button like mad just inching the door up or down the rail guides.

 

[rh71]

think I found the problem... one of the metal wires that looks like a cable leading to the pulley (near one of the tracks) is frayed... when the frayed part reaches the pulley wheel... it stops. I guess I'll have to fix the wire.