Home and Auto Autpmatic Garage Door Question - Page 2

**Manila-Chief** · 07-08-2009, 05:13 PM

We have an "Overhead" automatic garage door opener that was here when we purchased the house 3 years ago. It has a small black box on either side at the bottom. I think it has a laser or something that checks to see if everything is all clear before the door will operate. If there is an obstruction the red light on top on one side will blink ... if everything is clear the light stays on. Somehow today I managed to knock one end out of alignment. Now, I can't get it back into alignment. A few months ago it was out of alignment and I stuck something on one side that acted as a wedge and it worked fine. I've tried moving it a tad at a time, but can't get it working. Any words of wisdom for getting it aligned?

**Bugeater** · 07-08-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saggysack

Disconnect it, all present and future problems solved.

Unless it's a really old model, it won't operate without the sensors connected.

**Manila-Chief** · 07-08-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

The sensor at our new place was out of whack when we moved in, and I was able to get it back working again using a string tied between the two sensors. There's one that is a "sender" and another that is a "receiver." If yours happens to be like mine, the light on the sender will be on all the time, and the light on the receiver will only be green if it's properly aligned and nothing's in the way. Get the sender pointed in the right direction first, then work on getting the other one aligned.

If your lights are off on both, I'd bet it's an electrical issue of some sort.

If you don't have any lights or something, then I have no idea.

Mine is similar, except the light is only on one side. It is red and blinks when out of alignment and stays lite when working properly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

Watch him to see how he fixes it. Then maybe you can do it next time.

Yeah, I always do that.

Except when that fat guy tried to install my DTV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Unless it's a really old model, it won't operate without the sensors connected.

I wouldn't want it operating without the safety feature.

I saw some universal sensors for sale ... about $77 each. Wonder if they would work? ... but, probably have a problem getting them aligned?

**Bugeater** · 07-08-2009, 07:27 PM

M-C, it turns out your opener is manufactured by Genie, I'd bet dollars to donuts this will fix your problem IF yours has the plug-ins on the sensor:

http://www.geniedoor.com/products/in...ug-in-cord.htm

Check yours and see if they look like this one.

**Bwana** · 07-08-2009, 08:20 PM

I had that problem once. If I remember correctly, my solution involved a cutting torch and and a welder.

Chief Pote · 07-08-2009, 08:50 PM

I had a similar problem. The red light flashed and no matter what I did I could not get the laser to align and the door would not close. It opened just fine if I manually closed the door.. I ended up buying a set of sensors from a opener dealer. I paid around 55.00 bucks for the five dollar items, got robbed. I installed just the red sensor and it's worked fine since. My opener is made by Genie.

**Manila-Chief** · 07-08-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

M-C, it turns out your opener is manufactured by Genie, I'd bet dollars to donuts this will fix your problem IF yours has the plug-ins on the sensor:

http://www.geniedoor.com/products/in...ug-in-cord.htm

Check yours and see if they look like this one.

Thanks Bug! You helped solve the problem. No, mine is not like that ... but, as I was feeling around on the bottom I discovered a loose wire. I guess the axe knocked it off. When I hold it on the screw, the light stays on. I'll fix it tomorrow when I have more light.

Thanks to all of you guys. Saved me maybe a $100 bucks or more. So, this place is profitable as well as informative/entertaining.

PastorMikH · 07-08-2009, 10:02 PM

Nobody's suggested taking the two small boxes off, moving them to one side, and taping them together lense to lense with duct tape?

JOhn · 07-08-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

Nobody's suggested taking the two small boxes off, moving them to one side, and taping them together lense to lense with duct tape?

Damn, I forgot the basic redneck cure to all problems....Duct Tape

**Bugeater** · 07-08-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

Nobody's suggested taking the two small boxes off, moving them to one side, and taping them together lense to lense with duct tape?

He still would've had to re-attach the wire, plus he mentioned he was into the whole "safety" thing.

I did do exactly that on one I installed for my brother, saved me about an hour of installation time.

**Bugeater** · 07-08-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOhn

Damn, I forgot the basic redneck cure to all problems....Duct Tape

JOhn · 07-08-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

That is just wrong.

But then again, no Duct tape is even more wrong.

**Manila-Chief** · 07-08-2009, 11:10 PM

Good idea P. Mike ... except I don't think the wires would not reach to each other.

I did discover I can open/close it by holding the button on the wall down until it opens/closes ... while the Highlander was inside, I was able to open it with the remote in the vehicle. But, I was looking at backing the vehicle outside, closing the garage door, going out the front door and locking it with a key. I was hoping when we arrived at home, it would have opened with the remote ... because of the safety issue of it opening up. Hopefully, reattaching the wires will solve the problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOhn

Damn, I forgot the basic redneck cure to all problems....Duct Tape

Maybe I can use it to reconnect the wire to the box.

JOhn · 07-08-2009, 11:12 PM

07-08-2009, 05:13 PM
Manila-Chief Supporter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Memphis/Miss Casino cash: $10006883	Autpmatic Garage Door Question We have an "Overhead" automatic garage door opener that was here when we purchased the house 3 years ago. It has a small black box on either side at the bottom. I think it has a laser or something that checks to see if everything is all clear before the door will operate. If there is an obstruction the red light on top on one side will blink ... if everything is clear the light stays on. Somehow today I managed to knock one end out of alignment. Now, I can't get it back into alignment. A few months ago it was out of alignment and I stuck something on one side that acted as a wedge and it worked fine. I've tried moving it a tad at a time, but can't get it working. Any words of wisdom for getting it aligned?
Posts: 2,152

07-08-2009, 07:27 PM	#18
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $3992680	M-C, it turns out your opener is manufactured by Genie, I'd bet dollars to donuts this will fix your problem IF yours has the plug-ins on the sensor: http://www.geniedoor.com/products/in...ug-in-cord.htm Check yours and see if they look like this one.
Posts: 70,546

07-08-2009, 08:20 PM	#19
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2135740532	I had that problem once. If I remember correctly, my solution involved a cutting torch and and a welder. __________________ Adventure is dangerous....but monotony can kill you. Last edited by Bwana; 07-08-2009 at 09:03 PM..
Posts: 70,505

07-08-2009, 08:50 PM	#20
Chief Pote Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Undercover..... Casino cash: $6852638	I had a similar problem. The red light flashed and no matter what I did I could not get the laser to align and the door would not close. It opened just fine if I manually closed the door.. I ended up buying a set of sensors from a opener dealer. I paid around 55.00 bucks for the five dollar items, got robbed. I installed just the red sensor and it's worked fine since. My opener is made by Genie.
Posts: 3,649

07-08-2009, 10:02 PM	#22
PastorMikH Will KC ever be better? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Land of Red Dirt & Necks Casino cash: $9905087	Nobody's suggested taking the two small boxes off, moving them to one side, and taping them together lense to lense with duct tape? __________________
Posts: 20,454

07-08-2009, 11:12 PM	#28
JOhn El' Barto Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Cody, WY / Tucson AZ Casino cash: $9964900
Posts: 25,529