January 10, 2024

Garage Door Opener: Why is my garage door opener noisy?

If the garage door rattles or rumbles as it opens and closes, tighten any loose garage door opener hardware that connects the opener to the ceiling and attaches the opener rail above the door. Replace any broken garage door opener hardware that could allow excessive vibration. Check the alignment of the trolley on the garage door opener or the brackets; if you correct the alignment, tighten the hardware. Performing regular preventive maintenance on the garage door opener can also keep it running smoothly and quietly.

Worn gears inside the garage door opener's motor unit can make grinding or buzzing noises. Replace the gear and sprocket assembly or the drive and worm gears when they're worn and making noises. A worn belt or chain and cable assembly can also make noise-tighten chain or belt tension to correct this problem. Replace the belt if you can't adjust it to the proper tension because the belt is worn and stretched.

garage door opener

THESE REPAIRS MAY HELP SOLVE YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPENER PROBLEM

JC-GDO-Replace-garage-door-opener-gear-and-sprocket-assembly

Replace the garage door opener gear and sprocket assembly

As the drive shaft and sprocket rotate, they drive the trolley that lifts and lowers the garage door. The plastic gear on the drive shaft is designed to fail if the garage door gets stuck in the travel tracks, protecting the expensive drive motor from damage. If the gear is worn or damaged, the door won't move properly. Replace the gear shaft and sprocket assembly if it's damaged or worn out.

Garage door opener gear and sprocket assembly

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RG-GDO-Replace-Chain-Drive-Garage-Door-Opener-Gear-and-Sprocket-Assembly-Intro-Image
June 01, 2016

How to replace a chain-drive garage door opener gear and sprocket assembly

If your garage door opener's motor runs but the chain doesn't move, the gear and sprocket assembly might be broken or worn. This repair guide and video show how to replace a chain-drive garage door opener gear and sprocket assembly.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 60 minutes or less
JC-GDO-Replace-the-garage-door-opener-drive-and-worm-gears

Replace the garage door opener drive and worm gears

The worm gear attaches to the motor shaft and rotates the drive gear to spin the sprocket which drives the chain to move the door. Made of plastic, the worm and drive gears strip out to protect the motor from damage if the door suddenly hits an object in its travel path. Replace the drive and worm gears if they're worn or stripped.

Garage door opener drive and worm gears

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RG-GDO-Replace-Chain-Drive-Garage-Door-Opener-Drive-and-Worm-Gears-Intro-Image
June 01, 2013

How to replace a chain-drive garage door opener drive and worm gears

If your chain-drive garage door opener motor runs but the garage door won't move, the drive and worm gears might be stripped or worn. This repair guide and video show step by step how to replace the drive and worm gears in a chain-drive garage door opener.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 60 minutes or less
JC-GDO-Replace-the-garage-door-opener-belt

Replace the garage door opener belt

The motor pulley drives the belt to move the trolley along the rail to lift and lower the garage door. If the belt frays or breaks, replace it.

Garage door opener belt

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RG-GDO-Replace-Garage-Door-Opener-Drive-Belt-Intro-Image
January 06, 2016

How to replace a garage door opener drive belt

If your belt-drive garage door opener won't open or close, the belt might be broken. This repair guide and video show how to replace a garage door opener drive belt.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 60 minutes or less
JC-GDO-Replace-garage-door-opener-brackets

Replace garage door opener brackets

Brackets fasten the garage door opener to the garage door. The brackets can wear out, break or be damaged. Physically inspect the brackets and other door hardware to see whether the components need to be replaced.

Replace garage door opener brackets

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JC-GDO-Replace-the-garage-door-opener-cable-pulley

Replace the garage door opener cable pulley

The cable pulley at the front of the rail of the garage door opener must rotate freely for the door to open and close smoothly. If the cable pulley is worn, bent, or damaged, replace it.

Garage door opener cable pulley

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JC-GDO-Do-garage-door-opener-preventive-maintenance

Do garage door opener preventive maintenance

To keep the garage door operating smoothly, periodically check the garage door opener for proper alignment and settings, following instructions in the owner's manual. Inspect hardware and lubricate moving components. Check the safety sensor for proper operation.

Do garage door opener preventive maintenance

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JC-GDO-Adjust-and-align-the-garage-door-opener

Adjust and align the garage door opener

When the garage door opener doesn't work operate properly, check the alignment of the motor unit and/or the rail and realign if necessary. If necessary, adjust the settings for travel limits and force limits, following the instructions in the owner's manual. make sure that the photoelectric eyes of the safety sensor are aligned.

Adjust and align the garage door opener

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Most common symptoms to help you fix your garage door openers

Choose a symptom to see related garage door opener repairs.

Things to do: check garage door travel, tighten brackets and fasteners, test safety sensors, check travel limits and for…

Main causes: neighbor's remote programmed at the same time as yours, faulty wall control wiring, bad wall control unit…

Main causes: safety sensor beams blocked, safety sensors not aligned, downforce setting needs adjustment, damaged garage…

Main causes: garage door locked, damaged garage door tracks, up-force setting needs adjustment, RPM sensor failure, bad …

Main causes: garage door opener misaligned, travel limits need adjustment, bad travel limit switches, faulty logic contr…

Main causes: radio interference, weak remote batteries, sunlight interference with safety sensor beams, safety sensors n…

Main causes: faulty logic control board, bad RPM sensor, broken gears in the drive system, bad drive motor…

Main causes: loose fasteners, broken brackets, need preventive maintenance, worn drive gears, loose or worn belt, loose …

Most common repair guides to help fix your garage door openers

These step-by-step repair guides will help you safely fix what’s broken on your garage door opener.

How to replace a chain-drive garage door opener RPM sensor

How to replace a chain-drive garage door opener RPM sensor

Learn how to replace the RPM sensor if the door only moves 6 to 8 inches at a time and the LED light flashes 5 times. …

Repair difficulty
Time required
 60 minutes or less
How to replace a chain-drive garage door opener gear and sprocket assembly

How to replace a chain-drive garage door opener gear and sprocket assembly

Learn how to replace the gear and sprocket assembly on your garage door opener if the drive motor runs but the door won'…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 60 minutes or less
How to replace a garage door opener drive belt

How to replace a garage door opener drive belt

A damaged or broken belt on your garage door opener could be the reason it won’t move the door. Here’s how to fix it.…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 60 minutes or less

Effective articles & videos to help repair your garage door openers

Use the advice and tips in these articles and videos to get the most out of your garage door opener.

How to repair broken or damaged wires video

How to repair broken or damaged wires video

Learn how to repair broken, frayed or damaged wires in your appliances.…

Garage door opener remotes won't work video

Garage door opener remotes won't work video

If your remotes don't work, you might need to disable the lock feature, eliminate RF interference or check the batteries…

How to use a multimeter to test electrical parts video

How to use a multimeter to test electrical parts video

Learn how to use a multimeter to check for wiring problems in an appliance that's not working…