Garage Door Stopped Opening/Replugged Worked Again

year and the worker said it could last years or go out in a month-- you just don't know.  In the last month it just stopped, I pulled the plug, plugged it back and it worked fine.  A day ago, it wouldn't work again.  Again, I unplugged it, plugged it back and it worked fine.  Any idea what caused it, or is it just plain time for a new one.

and keyless entry $570.00

would also get the safety photo and new wall console with any of the motors."

I have the same problem tho it only happens perhaps once or twice a year. I think the memory on board gets messed up. I do have a cheapie surge protector on mine.

Funny story... I told my brother in law years ago that I did this and he just ignored me. I heard more recently he had a spike and it cost him some bucks to fix the opener. Now he uses a surge protector on it.

e year and the worker said it could last years or go out in a month-- you j= ust don't know. In the last month it just stopped, I pulled the plug, plug= ged it back and it worked fine. A day ago, it wouldn't work again. Again,= I unplugged it, plugged it back and it worked fine. Any idea what caused = it, or is it just plain time for a new one.

try (code pad) $470.00 or=20

otes and keyless entry $570.00=20

u would also get the safety photo and new wall console with any of the moto= rs."

It may be easiest to install another Genie because the mounting hardware an= d dimensions may be identical. Liftmaster is the same as Chamberlain and S= ears Kenmore, only with a one-piece overhead rail instead of a 2-3 piece ra= il that bolts together (no big deal). Chain and belt drive are about the s= ame, including for noise level, but Chamberlain uses a quieter motor with t= heir belt drive models (the motor brushes are muffled?). Unlike the old Ge= nie plastic belt drive models, the Chamberlain belts are OK because they're= rubber cogged belts, just like the timing belts used for car engines. =20

When you say the opener didn't work, do you mean it was 100% dead, or did t= he overhead light turn on or some clicking noise occurred? Because if ther= e was some sign of life, there's a chance the motor start capacitor has gon= e bad. It's a cylinder about 1-2" diameter and 3-5" long and should be ava= ilable from any electrical or air conditioning/heating supply. Another pos= sibility is that one of the big plastic drive gears has cracked, a common p= roblem.

I'd unplug the AC power (IMPORTANT!) and then remove the circuit board beca= use I think it may simply have solder joints that cracked from years of mot= or vibration. Inspect under bright light and a magnifying glass because so= lder cracks can sometimes be nearly microscopic. The joints most likely to= have failed are at connectors, heavy components, and hot components (darke= ned areas of circuit board). Resolder with a 30-40 watt iron and some rosi= n flux or fresh rosin-core solder. Also look at the plastic wrapped cylind= rical devices -- electrolytic capacitors, for any that are bulging or leaki= ng at the ends. Sometimes an opener motor won't run because the relay cont= acts have burnt. There are usually 3 relays -- one to open the door, anoth= er to close it, and a third to operate the overhead light. Sometimes swapp= ing the relay for the overhead light for one of the motor relays will fix t= he opener. These relays are in plastic boxes that can sometimes be opened,= but to clean their internal contacts relays just rub an alcohol-dampened (= not soaked) business card between the contacts while pinching them together= ; do not file. Those relays are standard parts, but it can be hard to find= one of the exact same physical dimensions and layout, although you may be = able to find them at Newark Electronics, Allied Electronics, or Digi-Key, a= nd the latter company charges very little for shipping on small orders. So= metimes the relay is OK but the transistor connected to its coil has blown = out from high voltage generated by coil, in which case you have to replace = both the transistor and the diode meant to protect the transistor from that= .

the year and the worker said it could last years or go out in a month-- you= just don't know. =A0In the last month it just stopped, I pulled the plug, = plugged it back and it worked fine. =A0A day ago, it wouldn't work again. = =A0Again, I unplugged it, plugged it back and it worked fine. =A0Any idea w= hat caused it, or is it just plain time for a new one.

try =A0(code pad) $470.00 or

otes and keyless entry $570.00

You would also get the safety photo and new wall console with any of the mo= tors."

If the electro-mechanical components are all in good shape & the units runs well (when it runs), consider replacing the board.

Check this out...

n the year and the worker said it could last years or go out in a month-- y= ou just don't know. =A0In the last month it just stopped, I pulled the plug= , plugged it back and it worked fine. =A0A day ago, it wouldn't work again.= =A0Again, I unplugged it, plugged it back and it worked fine. =A0Any idea = what caused it, or is it just plain time for a new one.

entry =A0(code pad) $470.00 or

emotes and keyless entry $570.00

=A0You would also get the safety photo and new wall console with any of the= motors."

My 10-year old Genie wore out. I now have a new Genie Silent Max 1000

Heavier doors have stronger springs. Properly adjusted springs should very effectively equilibrate door weight so as to "neutralize" it.

cheers Bob

I had the door braces upgraded to meet hurricane door standards several years ago -- just didn't get a new door. The home inspection man said the braces were what really mattered.

I know nothing about hurricane door standards but that doesn't seem to make sense.

I'm not sure what you mean by "braces" but if I have something really strong (the braces) holding a really strong door in place, I'd assume the hurricane wouldn't blow it down.

However, if I have something really strong (the braces) holding a piece of cardboard in place, I'd assume the hurricane would blow the cardboard in, reardless of how strong the braces are.

Am I missing something?