# Need help with a temperamental garage door opener

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-temperamental-garage-door-opener/937883>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 14, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-temperamental-garage-door-opener/937883 "2021-03-14T15:55:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-temperamental-garage-door-opener/937883/21 "2021-03-16T14:46:23Z")

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There may also be an adjustment to the obstruction sensor (motor current) in the drive. Check your manual.

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**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-temperamental-garage-door-opener/937883/22 "2021-03-17T18:31:34Z")

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When I had this problem the solution was the rollers. I discovered one had lost its bearings. I went ahead and replaced all the rollers, IIRC they were cheap.

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**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-temperamental-garage-door-opener/937883/23 "2021-03-17T21:23:10Z")

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This happens to me occasionally. I discovered that the bolts on the bracket between the track and the door had worked loose, causing the track to twist, triggering a shutdown. Now I check the bolts every few weeks to make sure everything is secure.

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**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-temperamental-garage-door-opener/937883/24 "2021-03-18T04:41:53Z")

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Another thing I’ve seen is the chain on the chain drive too loose - so the door moves in fits and starts, like a car in too high a gear at low speed (remember when, with manual transmissions?) Some of those jerks may convince the motor there’s an obstruction.

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