Door opener problem

[dodge man]

I have a Chamberlain garage door opener, about 15 years old. The problem is getting it to go down with a remote. I have one remote and one car both programmed for it.

It always goes up and down with the button in the garage. It always goes up with the remotes. It will sometimes go down with either the remote or the car but it’s less than 50% of the time. If I try and lower it with a remote and it doesn’t work it will go down with the button in the garage so I do think it’s the safety eyes.

Getting closer with the remote doesn’t help. I reprogrammed the remote and car, that helped for a day. I also read a CFL or LED can interfere with the signal. I have a regular rough service light bulb in it and taking it out doesn’t help.

Any thoughts?

 

[grsthegreat]

when you press the indoor button, is it just one press, or do you hold the button to lower it. did you replace batteries in remotes?

 

[Roadworthy]

If it was the safety eyes the button on the wall wouldn't work either and the light on the opener would flash to indicate you have a problem. It never hurts to clean and align these eyes but they're not likely to be your problem. Check the antenna on your unit. The remotes need to be able to "see" it. If it's tucked neatly away somewhere or rolled up you may have found your problem.

 

[Topzide]

I would also check to make sure that something hasn't vibrated loose over the years. Most unlikely, but would check to make sure. Also, have you adjusted the spring tension lately? It'll tear up the gears over time if not. Just replaced MIL gears after 25 years of neglect. Gears can still be had for under $30. People were telling her that she needed a whole new opener! I found the gears and on a trip out, fixed it.

 

[dodge man]

when you press the indoor button, is it just one press, or do you hold the button to lower it. did you replace batteries in remotes?

I did replace the battery in the remote. I just have to press the indoor button for a second for the door to lower.

I did clean the eyes off also but I’m 99% sure they are working. I do need to take a look at the antenna. The car I have programmed sits right below the opener and I’ve brought the remote inside, it still malfunctions most of the time.

 

[kenmbz]

Do you get any blinking lights using the remote to open the door?
Not much trouble shooting through the lights on the system, but it could be that the remote acts as one press while the wired button acts as a few presses?
When was the last time the rollers were lubed and the open/close forces and distances checked?

Any noise on rollup or rattles? Check the screws/plates/hinges holding the door panels together too, they can loosen up causing a slight drag on the doors.

 

[ning]

Sounds like an issue with the remote itself, or the remote pickup at the opener unit.
Is there a light on the remote that comes on when you push a button?
If so, and the light only comes on for "up", then it's definitely the remote; the "down" button could be dirty.
If no light at all, button could still be dirty but it doesn't rule out the opener's remote circuitry.

 

[dodge man]

If I just had the one remote I’d think it was that but I have the car that is programmed also. Both malfunction.

The door has always rattled a little but the button on the wall works 100% of the time. It’s a single car door and not very heavy.

I reprogrammed both the car and remove a couple days ago and they worked fine for a day.

 

[kenmbz]

If I just had the one remote I’d think it was that but I have the car that is programmed also. Both malfunction.

The door has always rattled a little but the button on the wall works 100% of the time. It’s a single car door and not very heavy.

I reprogrammed both the car and remove a couple days ago and they worked fine for a day.

That sounds more like the antenna or the circuit that picks up the signal.
Maybe try to unplug and use contact cleaner on it?

 

[dodge man]

That sounds more like the antenna or the circuit that picks up the signal.
Maybe try to unplug and use contact cleaner on it?

I’m thinking along those lines. I’ve watched a bunch of YouTube videos and didn’t see anything I haven’t tried. I’ve got an identical unit in the bay next to the problem one. I may program its remote and see if that makes a difference.

 

[LittleBill21]

its not an eye problem, if you don't have to hold the main door button down the entire time the door is closing.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ya, that was my thought. By holding the indoor button you can bypass the eyes. But since hes not having to do that, its not the eyes. The fact that 2 dofferent openers arnt working, leaning to the door control itself. My Genie opener started doing this last year. Got sick of messing with it and went with new opener. Quieter and more reliable. Plus has inside motion light and wifi controls.

 

[ning]

Ya, that was my thought. By holding the indoor button you can bypass the eyes. But since hes not having to do that, its not the eyes. The fact that 2 dofferent openers arnt working, leaning to the door control itself. My Genie opener started doing this last year. Got sick of messing with it and went with new opener. Quieter and more reliable. Plus has inside motion light and wifi controls.

My indoor button doesn't bypass the eyes.

I agree though, it's the opener itself.

You don't have to replace the opener, though. You can get an external radio thing and wire it to the opener you have.

 

[dodge man]

My indoor button doesn't bypass the eyes.

I agree though, it's the opener itself.

You don't have to replace the opener, though. You can get an external radio thing and wire it to the opener you have.

Can you elaborate on the external radio thing?

 

[EarPlug]

The way this works is the wall button basically puts a "short" across the contacts that tells the door to go up or down.
The Remote is a radio signal that tell the circuit board/receiver to put a "short" on the activating circuit.
Since you have tried 2 different remotes (original and the car) and get the same results it is probably the receiver board. Most likely a relay has gone bad for the Down signal.

Have you tried unplugging the opener to reset it?

 

[dodge man]

Have you tried unplugging the opener to reset it?

No I haven’t but I will.

 

[grsthegreat]

Most openers will bypass an eye, but you have to hold down the button. This is to be able to close a door with defective eye, until eye can be replaced. Its done this on my genie, chamberlin and old sears closer.

 

[grsthegreat]

They sell devices like below that can work on most devices. It becomes the reciever instead of your door unit. I just added this to my shop rollup door. Depending on the frequency of the remotes and car though, you have to match the frequencies or use different remotes.


LiftMaster 850LM Universal Gate and Garage Door Opener Receiver

 

[ning]

They sell devices like below that can work on most devices. It becomes the reciever instead of your door unit. I just added this to my shop rollup door. Depending on the frequency of the remotes and car though, you have to match the frequencies or use different remotes.


LiftMaster 850LM Universal Gate and Garage Door Opener Receiver

Exactly; similar Universal Garage Door Opener Remote Upgrade / Conversion Kit

Our place had a gate controller on the driveway and it was cheaper for me to get one of these and be able to add a zillion remotes than to get two remotes from the fancypants gate brand to work with the built-in. Similar with the crappy old garage door opener, I put these on the two garages so everything's on one remote, very cheap remotes.

These units are usually wired to where the pushbutton unit comes in (in addition to the pushbutton), unless the opener (gate or garage door) has a specific connection point for them.

Much cheaper to do this (quite possibly matching your remote) than the replace the opener, even if the opener makes more noise than desired..

 

[MMM2]

There is no problem with the operation. Mechanically . If it does not reset by removing all electrical power from the unit, you could have a corruption/fault on the control board circuitry (I don't think they have replacements for that cheap part) If you knew someone into electronics, you could take the card to him to locate potential part failure. Otherwise, it is just more of planned obsolescents due to inferior parts. I am sure you have checked all the basics along with re- pairing remotes. Have a good day..