Home and Auto Autpmatic Garage Door Question

**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?

**Skip Towne** · 07-08-2009, 05:16 PM

Call the man.

07-08-2009, 05:16 PM

Align it in the morning when the sun isn't shining straight into the lense.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 07-08-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Align it in the morning when the sun isn't shining straight into the lense.

Yeah! Or when you're not drunk!

**Manila-Chief** · 07-08-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

Call the man.

Thats what I'm trying to avoid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Align it in the morning when the sun isn't shining straight into the lense.

But, it's on the East side of the house. Sun is not the problem????

07-08-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

Thats what I'm trying to avoid.

But, it's on the East side of the house. Sun is not the problem????

Verify your sensor connections. You may have created a short. If the connections are fine and you can't get them aligned...

Call the man.

dtebbe · 07-08-2009, 05:32 PM

If you have one of those cheap laser pointers, they work pretty good. Just lay the laser pointer on top of one side and then aim the dot just above the other side. I've had to do that a couple of times, works like a charm.

DT

**Manila-Chief** · 07-08-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Verify your sensor connections. You may have created a short. If the connections are fine and you can't get them aligned...

Call the man.

Thanks! Maybe be what happened. I moved an axe and didn't realize I had hit it. I'll see if I can check it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtebbe

If you have one of those cheap laser pointers, they work pretty good. Just lay the laser pointer on top of one side and then aim the dot just above the other side. I've had to do that a couple of times, works like a charm.

DT

Good idea! Now why didn't I think of that!!!

07-08-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

Thanks! Maybe be what happened. I moved an axe and didn't realize I had hit it. I'll see if I can check it.

Good idea! Now why didn't I think of that!!!

Because it's incredibly difficult to get the laser pointer aligned with the actual sensor. Most the units I've seen are rounded but if you have one with a flat top it might be a feasible solution.

**Bugeater** · 07-08-2009, 05:49 PM

Is it a Craftsman?

**Manila-Chief** · 07-08-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Because it's incredibly difficult to get the laser pointer aligned with the actual sensor. Most the units I've seen are rounded but if you have one with a flat top it might be a feasible solution.

You are very wise! I just made the discovery. It is rectangle but has a casing which sticks up and no way to get an alignment.

I don't believe it was shorted out???

Seems to me that it is a simple alignment problem but I can't get it in alignment.

Looks like we get to spend money calling the man. Hopefully, he will have a way of getting it going.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Is it a Craftsman?

It's an "Overhead Door" unit.

Thanks guys! I tried. I even unplugged it and replugged it ... no help.

**Skip Towne** · 07-08-2009, 06:41 PM

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

**DaFace** · 07-08-2009, 06:45 PM

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.

Abba-Dabba · 07-08-2009, 06:46 PM

Disconnect it, all present and future problems solved.

**Bugeater** · 07-08-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

It's an "Overhead Door" unit.

Huh, not familiar with that brand. Some Craftsman models are notorious for the wires breaking where they go into the plug, so much so that Sears makes replacements that easily splice on to the existing wire. I suspect that your problem is something similar, but I have no idea if a replacement plug is available, you'll probably get hosed into buying a whole new sensor.

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, 05:16 PM	#2
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	Call the man.
Posts: 69,689

07-08-2009, 05:16 PM	#3
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Align it in the morning when the sun isn't shining straight into the lense.
Posts: n/a

07-08-2009, 05:32 PM	#7
dtebbe 3M TA3 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: SoFlo Casino cash: $9993039	If you have one of those cheap laser pointers, they work pretty good. Just lay the laser pointer on top of one side and then aim the dot just above the other side. I've had to do that a couple of times, works like a charm. DT
Posts: 4,305

07-08-2009, 05:49 PM	#10
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $3992680	Is it a Craftsman?
Posts: 70,546

07-08-2009, 06:41 PM	#12
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	Watch him to see how he fixes it. Then maybe you can do it next time.
Posts: 69,689

07-08-2009, 06:45 PM	#13
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $-1953101	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. Last edited by DaFace; 07-08-2009 at 06:54 PM..
Posts: 53,155

07-08-2009, 06:46 PM	#14
Abba-Dabba MVP Join Date: May 2001 Casino cash: $3582970	Disconnect it, all present and future problems solved.
Posts: 18,278