Garage Door hilarity...literally feel like I am losing my mind.

[Westerly Wood]

So, a few times while adulting, I have owned a house that had a 2 car garage. And they also have the popular Liftmaster garage door opener thing...
There is a big door and a small one...
Ever since the service call last week, the small door when I go to push the big button to close it, it comes down like 2 feet, then goes right back up again.
I look to see if there is an obstruction etc...nothing.
I press button again, and it comes down like 2-3 feet, then goes right back up again. I am like, WTF....
Yesterday my kid does it in one tap of button, garage door rolls all the way down, no issue.
I test it, no issue.
I call the garage door company and cancel their follow up, as I can no longer replicate the problem.

Yesterday it took me 8 taps of button to put the door down.

I am like yelling in my garage like a crazy person (this happens from time to time, not proud of it, wish I was better at the whole self-control thing...)

It was as if some one across the street got a hold of the remote and every time I tried to put the door down, they would click the button to raise it.

If I only had a video...

I am not very mechanically inclined. Any thoughts from others who know about this kind of thing? Outside of maybe I am losing my mind?

The admin at the garage door company says, well, just call me next time this happens again...

 

[SFIV1967]

Liftmaster Remote Not Working? (4 Things to Check)

Liftmaster remote not working? There are a few common problems that may be causing the malfunction. Here are 4 things you can check right now.

yourgaragedoorguys.com

Ralf

 

[GAD]

I bet the springs are unbalanced.

 

[walrus]

I also think it has to do with the door not the remote. An unbalanced spring as GAD said, or the runners slightly askew can cause the door to work sometimes, then not work. I've heard of people having trouble because of changes in the weather! I would say it needs an adjustment.

walrus

 

[chazmo]

As far as coming down is concerned, I think it's more likely that your light sensor (and light source) are probably not aligned. That'd definitely account for intermittent failures. Going up is another story; lots of possibilities there.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Thanks guys.

 

[FNG]

Yeah, what chazmo said. Check the manual and ensure the safety sensor which prevents the door from closing if it is blocked is aligned correctly or not loose.

 

[richardp69]

I won't even start another conspiracy theory.

 

[adorshki]

Thanks guys.

Yer welcome.

 

[JohnW63]

You might try adjusting the little dial on the opener that tells it how much force to feel before stopping. If it's set very light. it may only close when everything is smooth running. Anything that adds a bind to the door moving will stop the process and reverse it. Normally, this is only on the down movement. Check for anything like spider webs in the sensor path and finally... What time of day are you trying to close the door. If the sun shines on the receiver of the safety beam, it can't see the light coming from the other side and it stops because it thinks something is blocking the path.

 

[Default]

I won't even start another conspiracy theory.

<whispers>Shush you! We don't want him to know we hacked his home network until we compromise his fridge!</whispers>

 

[dreadnut]

Maybe your kid is playing tricks on you using the remote?

 

[GGJaguar]

Once, I had a similar problem. It turned out that between 4 and 5 in the afternoon during the summer, the sun angle was just right for shining into the photo sensor. Maybe it was too bright and freaked out the safety circuit, because the door would close about halfway and then re-open. Some adjustments to the sensors fixed the issue, but it took me an entire summer to figure it out. File that one under "strange but true".

 

[Westerly Wood]

Once, I had a similar problem. It turned out that between 4 and 5 in the afternoon during the summer, the sun angle was just right for shining into the photo sensor. Maybe it was too bright and freaked out the safety circuit, because the door would close about halfway and then re-open. Some adjustments to the sensors fixed the issue, but it took me an entire summer to figure it out. File that one under "strange but true".

wait a minute....as a matter of fact, sunday, the sun was shining down right on the sensors. ROFL. GG! dude, as it is working fine this morning and towards eve yesterday, i wonder if in fact that is what happened.

thanks everyone for chiming in on this one.

 

[davismanLV]

LTGD?? It could happen......

 

[dreadnut]

I like my explanation better - your kid is standing there using the remote in his pocket - sounds like something I would have done, LOL.

 

[Nuuska]

You have a remote? Take it to outside nd experiment by letting the sun shine on receiver and then shadowing it. If there's a difference - you have it - then just arrange a permanent small shadow-unit - like piece of pipe.