Need help for issue with garage door remote.

[jo-jo]

We have a sears garage door opener from 06. Worked fine until a few days ago. Remote didn't work. Replace battery. Worked once or twice. Maybe old battery. Bought new durcell. Didn't work. Reset it with the red/orange learn button. It will work once, maybe twice, third time, you can see the flash on the opener, but the door doesn't open. Tried again later, same thing. Sometime hit button on remote

I don't understand, it seems like it's communicating with the unit, but unit not responding. Just tried again. Saw flash, door closes. Flash, nothing, flash,nothing, then no flash, no flash. It's like it will work every few hours.

Do I try to get a new remote or do you think the main unit is just dying? It is 18 years old.

 

[jo-jo]

Since you've already tried a new battery and resetting it, it could be either the remote or the main unit itself. One quick thing to check is if there’s any interference around the opener, like other wireless devices that might disrupt the signal.

Nothing new in household.

 

[fla4fun]

Well, it could be either one, the remote or the unit. Can you get an inexpensive universal remote to try? I had to replace the remote for my opener a few years back (and I learned not to leave a remote in a hot car in Florida). The new remote is cheaper than a whole new unit.

My unit gave out about a month ago (kept running the door up and down, and up and down) so my BIL is putting in a new one for me over Thanksgiving. Mine is a little older than yours. It was installed in 1992.

ETA - When I replaced the original remote, I did have to hold it at an angle to the receiver unit for it to work, not point it straight at it. Have you tried using your remote pointed in different directions to see if there is one particular way that works consistently? My remote would show the blinking light no matter how it was pointed, but would only operate the door if pointed up and slightly left of the unit.

 

[jo-jo]

Well, it could be either one, the remote or the unit. Can you get an inexpensive universal remote to try? I had to replace the remote for my opener a few years back (and I learned not to leave a remote in a hot car in Florida). The new remote is cheaper than a whole new unit.

My unit gave out about a month ago (kept running the door up and down, and up and down) so my BIL is putting in a new one for me over Thanksgiving. Mine is a little older than yours. It was installed in 1992.

ETA - When I replaced the original remote, I did have to hold it at an angle to the receiver unit for it to work, not point it straight at it. Have you tried using your remote pointed in different directions to see if there is one particular way that works consistently? My remote would show the blinking light no matter how it was pointed, but would only operate the door if pointed up and slightly left of the unit.

No, I held it toward the back of unit, but willing to try different areas.

I think buying new remote will be the next step.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm guessing the button on the remote (what's actually attached to the circuit board) has probably failed. Not unusual considering it's 18 years old.

I agree a new remote will probably get you going.

 

[jo-jo]

I'm guessing the button on the remote (what's actually attached to the circuit board) has probably failed. Not unusual considering it's 18 years old.

I agree a new remote will probably get you going.

Well, I ordered a new one. But yeah, no idea how long these things last, but 18 years sounds like a pretty good run.

 

[sam_gordon]

Well, I ordered a new one. But yeah, no idea how long these things last, but 18 years sounds like a pretty good run.

I know you said you already ordered one, but your local hardware store probably carries them. Just FYI.

 

[_19disnA]

Do you have other remotes (and do they still work) or is that the only one? Is there also a button mounted on the garage wall and does that still let you operate the door? My guess would also be that remote is bad as others have mentioned.

 

[jo-jo]

Do you have other remotes (and do they still work) or is that the only one? Is there also a button mounted on the garage wall and does that still let you operate the door? My guess would also be that remote is bad as others have mentioned.

The wall mounted wired button does work.

We might have another remote somewhere in the garage. Looked but couldn't find it. I'm sure it will turn up two days after the new one arrives.

 

[hertamaniac]

My hunch tells me the button that depresses the contact inside the remote is defective. I agree with others that replacing it is the next step. It wouldn't hurt to clean the optical sensors on the bottom of each side of the garage door and spray garage door specific lubricant on the rollers/hinges.

 

[jo-jo]

My hunch tells me the button that depresses the contact inside the remote is defective. I agree with others that replacing it is the next step. It wouldn't hurt to clean the optical sensors on the bottom of each side of the garage door and spray garage door specific lubricant on the rollers/hinges.

But the spider webs are part of my design plan.

We have done that every few years. First year we had issues with door moving, we had no idea that was the reason.

 

[_19disnA]

Cleaning and occasional lubrication should be part of any regular maintenance. However, if the door operates normally using the wall mounted button, those things would be unrelated to the issue you asked about.

If you try to clean those optical sensors, need to be VERY careful you don't bump them out of position. If the alignment gets messed up, the door will automatically reverse when you try to close it as part of safety feature to prevent something from being caught under the closing door.

 

[sam_gordon]

If you try to clean those optical sensors, need to be VERY careful you don't bump them out of position. If the alignment gets messed up, the door will automatically reverse when you try to close it as part of safety feature to prevent something from being caught under the closing door.

I have been surprised. The sensors for our garage door (installed 2002) aren't very particular on aim. We just get them close by eye and then let them be.

 

[hertamaniac]

My sensor would jump out of position to become misaligned. It was the age/wear of my metal rollers causing it to vibrate to that point. We now installed Teflon rollers which are much smoother and quieter; no issues with alignment and the sealed bearings don't require a spray lubricant.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Cleaning and occasional lubrication should be part of any regular maintenance. However, if the door operates normally using the wall mounted button, those things would be unrelated to the issue you asked about.

If you try to clean those optical sensors, need to be VERY careful you don't bump them out of position. If the alignment gets messed up, the door will automatically reverse when you try to close it as part of safety feature to prevent something from being caught under the closing door.

We have a different problem -- sunlight. The house we bought in July faces east. If we leave the house in the morning and it's sunny (hello, Florida!), the sensors think there's an obstruction. Total pain in the pitootey. The control by the back door can work to override it, but it means one of us getting out of the car, putting the garage door down, and then leaving through the front door.

 

[sam_gordon]

We have a different problem -- sunlight. The house we bought in July faces east. If we leave the house in the morning and it's sunny (hello, Florida!), the sensors think there's an obstruction. Total pain in the pitootey. The control by the back door can work to override it, but it means one of us getting out of the car, putting the garage door down, and then leaving through the front door.

Can you rig some kind of shade around the sensor maybe?

 

[jo-jo]

ok, Got the new remote, can't seem to make it work.

Had ordered this...https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083JM6PHW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1.

Orange learn button I order this one because it mentions my opener's number 41A5021.

It's suppose to include battery. I don't want to open it to check and damage it. I don't want to spend $20 for nothing. ( I'd rather spend it for mickey pretzels)

Any thoughts?

 

[jo-jo]

Can you rig some kind of shade around the sensor maybe?

Maybe cut a plastic cup down the side, remove bottom, tape to sensor. Like the dog cones.

 

[sam_gordon]

ok, Got the new remote, can't seem to make it work.

Had ordered this...https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083JM6PHW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1.

Orange learn button I order this one because it mentions my opener's number 41A5021.

It's suppose to include battery. I don't want to open it to check and damage it. I don't want to spend $20 for nothing. ( I'd rather spend it for mickey pretzels)

Any thoughts?

Looking at the video on Amazon, it looks like...

1) Press Learn button on opener. small light turns on.
2) Press & Hold large button on remote until small light on opener turns off

I assume that's what you're doing. When you say it doesn't work, do you mean the small light doesn't go off? Or it does go off but the door won't open/close using the remote?

 

[jo-jo]

Looking at the video on Amazon, it looks like...

1) Press Learn button on opener. small light turns on.
2) Press & Hold large button on remote until small light on opener turns off

I assume that's what you're doing. When you say it doesn't work, do you mean the small light doesn't go off? Or it does go off but the door won't open/close using the remote?

Won't open and close.

I get no flicker of lights or anything to show it's connected.

I'll go try another time. Who needs a gym, just climb up and down ladder all day.