We've had a problem with our garage door opener for a few months now,
and since winter is coming we are using it a lot more. I can't really
afford to call someone out right now, so I've been trying to figure out
what I can do to try to troubleshoot the problem myself. Here is what
I've come up with so far. Does anyone have any suggestions? Might I
be barking up the totally wrong tree? Thanks! -Bob


The problem:

The garage door will not close normally with a single push of the
operation button, or through use of the remote control. To close the
door, we need to hold down the button until the door is completely
closed, otherwise, the door closes a couple of inches and immediately
"bounces" back open.

This situation is unacceptable both because of its inconvenience and
because it's potentially unsafe for our three cats and one two year
old.

The parts:

There is an Allister Access 3000 automatic garage door opener. There
are two screw terminals on the opener have a two-conductor wire
attached that leads to the left side (standing in the garage facing
out) entrapment photo sensor. There is another two conductor wire that
leads to the right side entrapment sensor from the left sensor.

Troubleshooting technique:

1) Using my digital multi-meter, touch one lead against each of the
screw down terminals of the closer and check for any voltage when the
door is attempt to be closed. TODO: see if I can find out what the
expected voltage should be.

2) If I get a voltage measurement on step 1, then check the conductors
going to the left-side sensor for voltage and see if it's similar.
If it's not then I can assume that there is a problem with the cable
run from the closer to the left sensor. If there is, then go to step
3.

3) Check for voltage at the left sensor terminals that lead to the
right sensor. TODO: see if I can find out what the expected voltage
should be here. If I get voltage here, then go to 4.

4) Check the conductors at the right side sensor for voltage. It
should be the same as 3. If it isn't then I can assume the there is
a problem with the cable run from the left sensor to the right sensor.
If it is the same, then go to 5.

5) Assume the problem is either faulty sensors or misaligned sensors.
Is there any way to test the sensors? Perhaps with short speaker cable
runs and holding them directly across from each other?

6) Buy new sensors.

Bob the Brewer wrote:
The garage door will not close normally with a single push of the
operation button, or through use of the remote control. To close the
door, we need to hold down the button until the door is completely
closed, otherwise, the door closes a couple of inches and immediately
"bounces" back open.


Typically, you can override a safety sensor reversal by holding the
manual button down.

Does the light bulb on the motor unit flash when the door is trying to
close and bouncing? Not sure if all units operate this way, but some
units will flash the light if the door is reversed because of the
safety sensors.

Look at the safety sensors themselves. One is a light source, and the
LED indicator on it should be lit all the time. The other is the
receiver, and if everything is OK, the LED indicator on it should also
be lit. If there's a problem, the LED could either be flashing, or
totally out.

If you think it's the sensors, there's a couple of possibilities:
- Dirty lenses, clean them.
- Sensors knocked out of alignment, align them.
- Broken wire to sensor, fix it.
- Too much direct sun on receiver sensor, shade it or reverse source
and receiver

I would check the above possibilities before I bought new sensors. I
actually had the 3rd problem at one time. New house, builder-installed
opener, worked fine January through June. Then we started having
problems with the door not closing, but only in late afternoon.
Conclusion - summer sun in late afternoon was blinding the receiver.
Solution - positioning a plant near the garage to shade the offending
sunbeam.

Hope this helps,
Jerry

"Bob the Brewer" wrote in message
oups.com...
We've had a problem with our garage door opener for a few months now,
and since winter is coming we are using it a lot more. I can't really
afford to call someone out right now, so I've been trying to figure out
what I can do to try to troubleshoot the problem myself. Here is what
I've come up with so far. Does anyone have any suggestions? Might I
be barking up the totally wrong tree? Thanks! -Bob


The problem:

The garage door will not close normally with a single push of the
operation button, or through use of the remote control. To close the
door, we need to hold down the button until the door is completely
closed, otherwise, the door closes a couple of inches and immediately
"bounces" back open.

Sounds like the auto-reverse adjustment is too sensitive. It's supposed to
reverse when it senses some resistance, like that of a car roof, but if it
is automatically reversing without hitting anything, either the adjustment
is out of whack (that you can fix), or the door and springs are way out of
balance (that requires a pro to fix).

To see if the door is out of balance, disconnect it from the opener and pull
it halfway down, then let go. Does it stay there? If so, it's ok. If it
goes up more than a few inches(as I'm guessing it will), the springs need to
be adjusted or replaced. Look at the size of those springs - do you want to
mess with them?

"Bob M." wrote in message
. ..

"Bob the Brewer" wrote in message
oups.com...
We've had a problem with our garage door opener for a few months now,
and since winter is coming we are using it a lot more. I can't really
afford to call someone out right now, so I've been trying to figure out
what I can do to try to troubleshoot the problem myself. Here is what
I've come up with so far. Does anyone have any suggestions? Might I
be barking up the totally wrong tree? Thanks! -Bob


The problem:

The garage door will not close normally with a single push of the
operation button, or through use of the remote control. To close the
door, we need to hold down the button until the door is completely
closed, otherwise, the door closes a couple of inches and immediately
"bounces" back open.


The Solution:

The photoelectric eyes should have LEDs which supposed be lit, if one is out
or flickering
Check the electric eye's for alignment, dust, dirt or other obstruction.
Check the eye's wires to see if it may be disconnected or damaged, reconnect
or replace as needed.

Rich
http://www.garagedoorsupply.com

Rich wrote:
"Bob M." wrote in message
. ..

"Bob the Brewer" wrote in message
oups.com...
We've had a problem with our garage door opener for a few months now,
and since winter is coming we are using it a lot more. I can't really
afford to call someone out right now, so I've been trying to figure out
what I can do to try to troubleshoot the problem myself. Here is what
I've come up with so far. Does anyone have any suggestions? Might I
be barking up the totally wrong tree? Thanks! -Bob


The problem:

The garage door will not close normally with a single push of the
operation button, or through use of the remote control. To close the
door, we need to hold down the button until the door is completely
closed, otherwise, the door closes a couple of inches and immediately
"bounces" back open.


The Solution:

The photoelectric eyes should have LEDs which supposed be lit, if one is out
or flickering
Check the electric eye's for alignment, dust, dirt or other obstruction.
Check the eye's wires to see if it may be disconnected or damaged, reconnect
or replace as needed.

Rich
http://www.garagedoorsupply.com



I agree with Bob. This sounds like a down force setting problem. The
doors are typically set up to reverse if either the force becomes too
great, or the sensing beam is interrupted. If the door starts down,
then reverses, it's not likely a photo sensor issue, because if that
were the problem, it should not start to move. There should be an
adjustment on the opener for both down and up force limits. Also, make
sure the door is nearly balanced and moves up and down with little
force.

The stop adjustment for the closed state of the door
is out of adjustment. Make your door stop earlier.

Thanks for the replies so far!

wrote:
The stop adjustment for the closed state of the door
is out of adjustment. Make your door stop earlier.

I might not have described what it does very well.

If I push the button on the remote control or on the wall control, it
starts going down, then immedaitely stops and goes right back up. It
doesn't go down more than an inch or two before stopping and coming
back up.

Bob the Brewer wrote:

If I push the button on the remote control or on the wall control, it
starts going down, then immedaitely stops and goes right back up. It
doesn't go down more than an inch or two before stopping and coming
back up.

Might or might not move at all if it's the safety sensors. Worth a
look.

If it moves an inch or 2 and reverses, other posters could be right,
could be down force sensor, may need adjustment, or door could be
binding, or springs could need adjustment. Springs, I wouldn't touch
them myself, too dangerous.

Jerry

On 16 Nov 2006 13:47:27 -0800, "Bob the Brewer"
wrote:

Thanks for the replies so far!

wrote:
The stop adjustment for the closed state of the door
is out of adjustment. Make your door stop earlier.

I might not have described what it does very well.

If I push the button on the remote control or on the wall control, it
starts going down, then immedaitely stops and goes right back up. It
doesn't go down more than an inch or two before stopping and coming
back up.

So it reverses at a mid way point ?..................If so then unhook
the drive and open the door by hand. See if you feel any out of
the ordinary drag on the door. See if it seems to be counterbalance
properly.