garage door openers

surfnsnow · 02-27-2012, 01:50 PM

my remote garage door openers are no longer working, i have tried new batteries to no avail. they are approx 20 yrs old. the doors open with the switch in the garage. can they be replaced?
thanks for input

fpartri497 · 02-27-2012, 02:09 PM

I know they are not exactly cheap but at 20 years old, I would definately replace them. the technology In garage door operners has changed dramaticlly. as has the safety of operation

ishoot308 · 02-27-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfnsnow

my remote garage door openers are no longer working, i have tried new batteries to no avail. they are approx 20 yrs old. the doors open with the switch in the garage. can they be replaced?
thanks for input

Heck, if it's just the remotes that are not working I would look to simply replace / repair those. It could be something as simple as reprogramming the remotes. Can you locate an owners manual on line for the brand of opener you have??

Good Luck!

Dan

Belmont Resident · 02-27-2012, 02:51 PM

I believe you can buy a generic brand and just program it via dip switches to your door, more like your remote working for your TV, VCR, receiver etc.
My wife rents a slip with ancient door openers, she went on line and found one and programmed it to the motor control and it worked great.
Good luck

welchislandman · 02-28-2012, 07:00 AM

there are lots of online store for replacements. Here is one I found that may be of assistance.

http://www.gatehousesupplies.com/rem...FUQb6wodhA0yDw

As Dan says, might just need to be reprogrammed. I had this happen a while back and was a quick fit by hitting the program button on the motor and then the remote.

sears also sells them and may be worth looking into.

hope that helps !

jeff

surfnsnow · 02-28-2012, 08:51 AM

thank you for the input friends, i am going to try one from wally world this p.m. i'll post a report about my success or failure

bigdog · 03-09-2012, 07:56 AM

Had same issue with my garage remote control not working. Wasn't the batteries, so suspected that the 15 yr old remote finally died !

A trip to Lowe's, and about $35 less in my pocket, and I have a new generic remote that's working flawlessly. You'll have to program the remote yourself. Like Belmont Resident stated, you'll have to program using dip switches, on the inside of remote, but that took me all of five minutes.

Good luck !

BD

bclaker · 03-09-2012, 10:02 AM

I had a failure of my garage door opener after about 2 years. After a lot of wasted time trying to reprogram, I checked the wiring to the garage switch and whoever installed it apparently didn't get all the insulation removed under the screws. I don't know why it took so long to fail. Cleaning off the insulation under the screws solved the problem. Last night I opened the door with the switch in my truck. When I hit the garage switch to close it, all I got was two buzz sounds from the motor. I hit the light switch on the opener and then hit the door switch. Sometimes that works. If the light at the opener is on by the light switch, the opener won't work. I gave up and closed it manually. I noticed that one of the two lights at the motor wasn't on. Don't know if that could cause the problem. I'll try and track down the problem today.

bclaker · 03-09-2012, 12:22 PM

My wife suggested the remotes were out of sync. with the door receiver due to recent solar flares. If so, possibly reprograming might be the fix. My project for this afternoon.

BroadHopper · 03-09-2012, 01:20 PM

I have an old Craftsman, almost 30 years old. The remote died and the garage door unit is strong! I bought the generic remote from WallyWorld and the remote's instruction says to keep programming the sequences until you can activate the unit. I took the cover off the garage unit remembering there were switches inside. I jot the numbers down and program the numbers combination into the remote. It works! I would like to complain to the remote manufacturer why this method was not mentioned in the manual. Or was it a fluke?

surfnsnow · 03-09-2012, 03:43 PM

thanks people, i did as belmont said and did indeed have to re-program dip switches. although it took me 30 mins.
but again thanks for all your suggestions

bclaker · 03-12-2012, 02:56 PM

I tried the tel no for the outfit that installed my garage door opener and it was no longer in service, so I called Laurent Overhead Door. Don came right after lunch today and found that the nylon drive gear on the motor was worn out. He was here about an hour and removed the housing and replaced the gear. He also lubricated the door rollers and hinges. He said that the nylon gear served as a safety feature to prevent damaging the motor. Now I understand how they can offer a lifetime warranty on the motor.

02-27-2012, 01:50 PM	#1
surfnsnow Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 173 Thanks: 133 Thanked 52 Times in 29 Posts	garage door openers my remote garage door openers are no longer working, i have tried new batteries to no avail. they are approx 20 yrs old. the doors open with the switch in the garage. can they be replaced? thanks for input

02-27-2012, 02:09 PM	#2
fpartri497 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Concord NH Posts: 681 Thanks: 97 Thanked 48 Times in 39 Posts	I know they are not exactly cheap but at 20 years old, I would definately replace them. the technology In garage door operners has changed dramaticlly. as has the safety of operation __________________ dont worry be happy

02-27-2012, 02:51 PM	#4
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 410 Times in 251 Posts	Google the brand name I believe you can buy a generic brand and just program it via dip switches to your door, more like your remote working for your TV, VCR, receiver etc. My wife rents a slip with ancient door openers, she went on line and found one and programmed it to the motor control and it worked great. Good luck __________________ "better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, then a long life spent in a miserable way.."

03-09-2012, 07:56 AM	#7
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,446 Thanks: 340 Thanked 119 Times in 96 Posts	garage door openers Had same issue with my garage remote control not working. Wasn't the batteries, so suspected that the 15 yr old remote finally died ! A trip to Lowe's, and about $35 less in my pocket, and I have a new generic remote that's working flawlessly. You'll have to program the remote yourself. Like Belmont Resident stated, you'll have to program using dip switches, on the inside of remote, but that took me all of five minutes. Good luck ! BD

03-09-2012, 01:20 PM	#10
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,576 Thanks: 3,212 Thanked 1,103 Times in 794 Posts	Old garage door opener I have an old Craftsman, almost 30 years old. The remote died and the garage door unit is strong! I bought the generic remote from WallyWorld and the remote's instruction says to keep programming the sequences until you can activate the unit. I took the cover off the garage unit remembering there were switches inside. I jot the numbers down and program the numbers combination into the remote. It works! I would like to complain to the remote manufacturer why this method was not mentioned in the manual. Or was it a fluke? __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

02-28-2012, 07:00 AM	#5
welchislandman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Welch Is, Gilford Posts: 79 Thanks: 91 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	there are lots of online store for replacements. Here is one I found that may be of assistance. http://www.gatehousesupplies.com/rem...FUQb6wodhA0yDw As Dan says, might just need to be reprogrammed. I had this happen a while back and was a quick fit by hitting the program button on the motor and then the remote. sears also sells them and may be worth looking into. hope that helps ! jeff

02-28-2012, 08:51 AM	#6
surfnsnow Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 173 Thanks: 133 Thanked 52 Times in 29 Posts	thank you for the input friends, i am going to try one from wally world this p.m. i'll post a report about my success or failure

03-09-2012, 10:02 AM	#8
bclaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Laconia Posts: 479 Thanks: 545 Thanked 147 Times in 66 Posts	I had a failure of my garage door opener after about 2 years. After a lot of wasted time trying to reprogram, I checked the wiring to the garage switch and whoever installed it apparently didn't get all the insulation removed under the screws. I don't know why it took so long to fail. Cleaning off the insulation under the screws solved the problem. Last night I opened the door with the switch in my truck. When I hit the garage switch to close it, all I got was two buzz sounds from the motor. I hit the light switch on the opener and then hit the door switch. Sometimes that works. If the light at the opener is on by the light switch, the opener won't work. I gave up and closed it manually. I noticed that one of the two lights at the motor wasn't on. Don't know if that could cause the problem. I'll try and track down the problem today.

03-09-2012, 12:22 PM	#9
bclaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Laconia Posts: 479 Thanks: 545 Thanked 147 Times in 66 Posts	My wife suggested the remotes were out of sync. with the door receiver due to recent solar flares. If so, possibly reprograming might be the fix. My project for this afternoon.

03-09-2012, 03:43 PM	#11
surfnsnow Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 173 Thanks: 133 Thanked 52 Times in 29 Posts	thanks people, i did as belmont said and did indeed have to re-program dip switches. although it took me 30 mins. but again thanks for all your suggestions

03-12-2012, 02:56 PM	#12
bclaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Laconia Posts: 479 Thanks: 545 Thanked 147 Times in 66 Posts	I tried the tel no for the outfit that installed my garage door opener and it was no longer in service, so I called Laurent Overhead Door. Don came right after lunch today and found that the nylon drive gear on the motor was worn out. He was here about an hour and removed the housing and replaced the gear. He also lubricated the door rollers and hinges. He said that the nylon gear served as a safety feature to prevent damaging the motor. Now I understand how they can offer a lifetime warranty on the motor.