Garage Door Opener: Making noise
If the garage door rattles or rumbles as it opens and closes, tighten any loose hardware 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.
These repairs may help solve your garage door opener problem
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Symptoms common to all garage door openers
Repair guides common to all garage door openers
The garage door won't move during a power outage if the battery is dead. Here’s how to replace it.
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.
If your garage door won’t move, the drive and worm gears could be broken. This guide will help you replace the gears.
Articles and videos common to all garage door openers
Use the advice and tips in these articles and videos to get the most out of your garage door opener.
Diagnose and repair problems if your garage door won’t move and the motor unit indicator light flashes 5 times.
Learn how to repair broken, frayed or damaged wires in your appliances.
Learn what maintenance a garage door opener needs, and when to perform the maintenance.