I am having problems with my craftsman garage door. Can anyone help.?

Question

About a month ago, our garage door started having problems. It never has this problem opening, only closing. We press the button, it goes down for an instant, then goes back up. If you pushed the button again, no problems.

Two weekends ago, my friend and I finished drywalling the rest of my garage. Afterwards, that problem went away for three days. Then, all of a sudden, the door will not close at all now unless I hold my button down on the garage door opener in the garage on the wall or the one outside against the garage. The one I keep in my car will not close the garage door. The light in the opener just blinks over and over.

I am wondering if something happened with the wiring when we drywalled but it worked for several days after so who knows. Also, I tried oiling the chain on the garage door and that works well for about a couple hours, but then it goes back to not opening again? Any assistance is appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

On a Craftsman opener, the only time the lights blink on and off like that is when the safety beams are misaligned. In that case, the only way to close it is to hold in the wall switch until it closes all the way. Your beams might be close, but not dead on aligned. Sometimes they'll be ok, other times not.

If they're bolted directly to the tracks, the movement of the door causes the tracks to move also. If the beams are not properly aligned, this too, can cause the problem.

Check the led's on the safety beams-make sure they're both solidly lit up, as opposed to flickering. One should have a yellow light which stays on constantly, the other, a green light which indicates proper alignment. If the green light is out, or flickering, try moving the beams slightly until you get alignment. If both lights are out, you may have a damaged wire.

Answer 2

You might try some small adjustments to the tracks. If there is any binding at all as the door moves on the tracks, it often produces the symptoms you are describing. First check to make sure none of the screws that hold the tracks top the wall have started working loose. If any have, tighten them down and try again. If not, pull the release chain so you can operate the door manually. Then operate the door yourself, checking for any points of resistance. If you find a place where the door is a little sticky, try backing out the screws close to that point on the track a little and try again. Once you get it so it works you may need to install a shim or two to secure the tracks.

Answer 3

Most electronics will get worse, not better. If it happens again wiggle the power cord while it is plugged in. If that does not work unplug it and try something else in the receptacle. If that something else works your opener is the problem. If it is a Chamberlain brand I have seen two with bad solder connections on the circuit board, both of those on the transformer primary. (120V going into the transformer and 32V going out) If the outlet is OK you might bang on the side of the opener trying to shake the connection. Not with a hammer but a broomstick or your hand. The next time it happens you might immediately unplug the opener and use an extension cord to another outlet.You could also have a failing bearing on the end of the motor shaft. The metal powder from the bearing dusts onto the circuit board and shorts some of the tracing. You could also have the worst possible thing, an intermittent. Please let me know what you find, as we never seem to get feedback from these unusual problems.

Answer 4

I'm having the same problem! I tried oiling the chain and that helped for a few days and then it did it again. I then oiled the wheels and it's working again. If it stops again, I guess I'll just find something else to oil! anyway, I think it's sticking somewhere although I can't figure out why the car opener wouldn't work when the wall one does. Maybe it just has more power or something.

Answer 5

It sounds like someone pressed the lock button. Next time you push the button thatsmounted in the garage, see if there istiny light blinking in the button. If there is try pressing and holding the lock button until it stops, that should do it however if it works you may need to re program the car button.