Garage Door Opener Motor Is Weak

Garage door opens but the motor won t stop running.

Garage door opener motor is weak.

T his is a pretty uncommon problem but one that can happen after you ve first installed your garage door opener. That wiring can become damaged or disconnected. If your garage door opener will not open or close the garage door when holding down the wall button and you can hear the motor operating it is most likely an internal or external drive gear on the door opener that has worn or damaged. This is related to the up limit switch.

Try making small adjustments. Many garage door openers use fractional horsepower psc motors. If it happens at all it will usually be noticed when you first install the garage door opener. External wiring connects the wall mounted door control and the safety sensor to the motor unit of the garage door opener.

It s important to get this switch at just the right distance from the motor so that the door is able to close all the way but the motor also knows to stop running. These motors have a run capacitor that can get weak or go bad reducing the motor s start and run torque below acceptable levels. Many garage openers use nylon drive gears that wear in time and need replacing. Check that wires are securely attached to the sensor s photoelectric eyes each eye has 2 wires and the wall unit.

Very often when your garage door opener is not functioning properly it can be repaired. When this unusual problem occurs it means the up limit switch probably needs to be moved away from the motor unit. This is a very common failure with single phase hvac equipment too. We often recommend repair over replacement for this reason.