Smart Troubleshooting Tips for Your LiftMaster Garage Door Opener

If you are experiencing issues with your LiftMaster Garage Door, you're not alone. There are many common issues that homeowners face with their garage door opener. Luckily, most of these problems have simple solutions. This wikiHow article teaches you how to troubleshoot your LiftMaster garage door opener.

Quick Steps

Check that your garage door isn't locked.
Remove anything that could be blocking the safety sensors.
Check the cable tension monitor for flashing LED lights.
Check the door's balance and look for obstructions.
Program the travel distance, overhead LED light, and remote control.

Section 1 of 7:

Troubleshooting the Lock

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Press the push button on the control panel to see if it opens the door. If the green LED on the wall station flashes 5 times, the garage door is locked. To unlock it, press and hold the lock button for 10 seconds. The light should turn steady.^{[1]
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The manual lock is usually installed on the side of the garage door in the middle. If it is engaged, it will prevent your garage door from opening and fully closing. Slide the manual release away from the garage door to disengage the lock.

Section 2 of 7:

Troubleshooting the Safety Sensors

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Check to see if anything is blocking the safety sensors. If the garage door opener light flashes ten times when you try to close your door, it means there is an issue with the safety sensors. These are two safety sensors next to your garage door on both sides, located inside your garage near the bottom of the door. Make sure no objects or obstructions are blocking the line of sight between the two sensors.
- Both sensors have a green LED that indicates a clear line of sight. If the green LED is not on or is flashing, there is an issue with the LED sensors.
If one sensor has an LED that is glowing yellow, and the LED on the other is off or flashing, the sensors need to be aligned. To align the sensors, loosen the wingnuts and rotate it gently until the LED lights on both sensors glow steadily. Then, tighten the wingnuts.
Open the garage door opener and ensure the wires to the safety sensors are connected. Gently tug on them to make sure they are secure.
If the LEDs on the sensors are still flickering or off, try swapping them. To do so, loosen the wingnuts and remove the sensors. Cut the wires 12 inches from the sensors, reattach the sensors on the opposite sides, and reconnect the wires using wire nuts.
If the lights are still flickering, you may need to replace the wires to the garage door opener. Contact your local dealer or repair shop to replace the sensors or their wires.

Section 3 of 7:

Troubleshooting the Cable Tension Monitor

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1
See if the overhead light or up and down arrows are flashing. If you have an LiftMaster 8500 model and the MyQ overhead light flashes 5 times when you try to open or close the door, the problem is with the cable tension monitor. If the MyQ overhead light is not installed, lift the cover for the console and try to open or close the door. If the up arrow flashes 3 times and the down arrow flashes 5 times, the problem is with the cable tension monitor.
- For older LiftMaster models, open the cover to the garage door opener and try to open or close the garage door. If the LED next to the Learn button flashes 9 times, the issue is with the cable tension monitor.
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Check the cable tension monitor.
- Pull the emergency release handle for the garage door. Be careful that the garage door doesn't fall.
- Manually close the garage door. Be aware of any children or pets under the garage door.
- Make sure the cable tension monitor wires are securely connected to the garage door opener.
- Make sure the wires aren't aren't damaged or broken.
- Place the black plastic roller on top of the cable.
- Pull the emergency release handle until it clicks to reconnect the garage door.
- Use the control panel or remote to open and close the garage door.
If the cable tension monitor is in place and the garage door opener LEDs are still flashing the same diagnostic code, it could mean the cable tension monitor is not installed correctly or is malfunctioning. Contact a repair technician to have it properly installed or replaced.

Section 4 of 7:

Checking for Balance and Obstructions

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Check the garage door for obstructions. To do so, pull the emergency release handle. If the garage door is open, be careful that it doesn't fall. Slowly lower and then raise the garage door, and check to see if you feel any resistance.
- If you feel any resistance, check the tracks and rollers to see if anything is obstructing the door. If anything is obstructing the door, carefully remove it.
- Once all obstructions are removed, close the door and pull down on the emergency release handle to reattach the garage door.
- If the garage door is sticking or binding, and there are no obvious obstructions, contact a repair technician.
To do so, pull the emergency release handle. If the door is open, be careful that it doesn't fall. Lower the garage door all the way closed and then open it halfway. Let go of the door and see if it stays in place. If it does, it is properly balanced. If it is not balanced correctly, contact a repair technician.

Section 5 of 7:

Programming the Travel Distance

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1
Make sure the travel distance is properly set. The travel distance is how far the garage door raises and lowers when you open or close it. If the travel distance is off, your garage door may not open or close all the way. The travel distance can also affect the safety reversal system. You can program the travel distance using the buttons in the garage door opener:
- Make sure your garage door is closed.
- Press and hold the Adjustment button until the Up arrow starts flashing.
- Press and hold the Up button until the garage door is all the way open. Be sure to release the Up arrow once the garage door reaches the desired up position.
- Press the Adjustment button.
- Press and hold the Down button until the garage door is fully closed. Be sure to release the Down button once the garage door is fully closed.
- Press the Adjustment button.
- Press and release the Up button (If the opener has a Step Saver label, you can skip the rest of these steps. The garage door opener will open and close automatically).
- Press the Down button.
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Test the safety reversal system. Any time you change the travel distance, you must test the safety reversal system to ensure it works properly. To test the safety reversal system, open the garage door, and place a wooden 2x4 under it. Close the garage door. When the door makes contact with the 2x4, it should reverse and open again.
- If the garage door does not open when it makes contact with the 2x4, reprogram the travel distance and make sure the door lowers a little further.

Section 6 of 7:

Programming the LED Light

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Make sure the MyQ overhead LED light is properly programmed. To use the timer or the MyQ app to open and close the garage door, the MyQ overhead LED light must be installed and programmed to the garage door opener. Make sure the LED light is mounted within 6 feet of an outlet. Do not use extension cords to plug in the LED light. To program the LED light to the garage door:^{[2]
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- Press the Learn button on the LED light.
- Press the Menu button on the control panel.
- Highlight Program and press the right arrow to select.
- Select MyQ Device. The overhead light should blink. It may take up to 5 minutes for the timer or MyQ app to function.

Section 7 of 7:

Programming the Remote

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Make sure the LiftMaster remote is programmed to the garage door opener. If your remote won't open your garage door, it may need to be programmed. To program your garage door remote:^{[3]
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- Open the garage door open and press the yellow learn button.
  - Alternatively, you can use the control panel. If your control panel has a Learn button, press it twice. If you have a doorbell-style button, press and hold the side button while pressing the front button. If your control panel has an LCD screen, press the Menu button and select "Program" followed by "Remote."
- Press the button you want to use to open your garage door. This programs your remote.
  - If your remote has more than one button, it can control more than one garage door. Press the button you want to use to open your garage door.