Frustrated that your garage door opener commonly cause garage door openers to act up. In this post, we’ll explore the top 5 problems owners encounter and how to diagnose the culprit so you can get back to using your opener trouble-free once again. Sometimes the fix is simple, other times it’s time to call in the experts. Let’s take a look at what could be the root of your clicking conundrum.
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1. Weak or Dead Battery
If your opener runs on battery backup, the first thing to check is whether the batteries are low on power or fully drained. A battery with insufficient voltage can make the motor click as it tries to engage but lacks the grunt to lift the door. Replace the batteries and see if that solves the issue before assuming it’s something more complex.
2. Loose or Broken Gears
Over time, gears inside the electric motor can become stripped, cracked, or loosen to the point movement is impaired. The motor still has enough power to click on, but rotation is compromised. Gears may need cleaning, tightening, or full replacement depending on wear level. An inspection by Garage Door Opener in Hampton can determine if gears need attention.
3. Broken Cable or Pulley
The cable running from the opener motor to door attachments is subjected to constant flexing and can fatigue or fray after extended use. A snapped or disconnected cable prevents motion translation to the door. Inspect for kinks, frays or breaks in the cable that could cause a disconnect. Replace if damaged. Check pulleys are also intact and spinning freely.
4. Tracked Misalignment
If the door tracks are bowing, bent or out of alignment with the rail, it creates added resistance against smooth travel. This might cause the motor to click on but stall as it tries moving an improperly positioned door. Check tracks are straight, sloped correctly and aligned end to end for easy gliding travel. Adjust or replace warped sections as needed.
5. Worn Out Opener Motor
As with any electric motor, garage door openers have a limited lifespan that’s subject to the number of open/close cycles over years of use. An old motor struggling through reduced efficiency may try clicking on but lack power for full travel. Test by manually lifting/lowering the door – if still heavy, the motor inside is past its service life and requires replacement by a qualified technician.
Diagnosing Safety Sensor Issues
The safety sensors present on garage door openers provide an invisible light beam across the entrance as an additional safeguard against closing on people or objects. If this safety system fails or becomes misaligned, it can stop door functionality entirely even if the motor is running fine, so diagnosis is important. Here are some common sensor problems to watch for:
Beams Not Aligning – Over time sensors may tilt out of alignment, disrupting the invisible light beam. Re-level so light meets its receiver across the whole opening.
Dirty Lenses – Dust and debris can obscure the beam. Clean lenses with a cotton cloth or compressed air to clear.
Loose Wiring – Inspect sensor wires for loose connections, cuts or pinches that disrupt the communication path. Tighten wire terminals or replace if damaged.
Worn Out Sensors – Like other components, the sensor eyes themselves have operational lifespan that may expire after many years or door cycles. Replace if cleaning and alignment don’t resolve issues.
By methodically checking for and addressing the above issues when your opener experiences troubles like clicking but not completing travel, you can pin down the root cause and get things running smoothly again. We hope these tips help guide you to safe and proper garage door opener maintenance and repair.
John Dixone is an avid home blogger, with the goal of helping his readers find inspiration and ideas for their next project. He writes about everything from small design projects to large renovations. His goal is to help people transform their homes into something that reflects who they are.
