Residential electric garage door openers: emergency troubleshooting guide

If you experience a malfunction of your garage door opener, it’s frustrating. Luckily, openers from LiftMaster, Chamberlain and Craftsman manufactured after 2012 can help you pinpoint the problem using flashing indicator lights. These more recent openers come with the Security+ 2.0 system and MyQTM technology. To make sure this is what you have, there is a round yellow LEARN button on the back or side of the motor housing.

Warning

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Wall control panel

Some of these door openers also come with the 880LM or 880LMW wall control panel with a large, easy-to-read, multipurpose screen that can display the error code.

Most of the abnormal situations shown in the following table are related to the photo eye reversal system. Either the photo eye units have gone out of alignment from an inadvertent knock, or the wires connecting the garage door opener to the units were cut or poorly installed.

Indicator arrows

On the garage door opener housing, there are indicator arrows, one pointing up and the other down. Count the number times these arrows blink and refer to the following table. This will help you identify the cause and make the necessary corrections.

Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
1 1
Problems
The opener does not close and the opener’s lights are flashing.
Solutions
Photocells (safety sensors) are not installed, not connected or wires may be cut. Inspect sensor wires to see if they are disconnected or cut.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
1 2
Problems
The opener does not close and the opener’s lights are flashing.
Solutions
Safety sensors wires are shorted or are reversed. Inspect them and correct if needed.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
1 3
Problems
The door control does not work.
Solutions
Check the door control wires for a short or a reversed wire. Inspect wires, correct the situation, or replace wires if needed. Door control may also be faulty, replace if needed.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
1 4
Problems
The opener does not close and the opener’s lights are flashing.
Solutions
Photocells are misaligned or obstructed. Realign sensor boxes so that the LED lights are steady and not flashing. If there’s an obstruction in the sensors’ path, clear it.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
1 5
Problems
The garage door moves 6 – 8 inches, stops and reverses.
Solutions
Open and close the door manually. Check for binding, obstructions, or a broken spring. If equipped with a door lock system, check it. Check wiring connections from the travel module to the logic board. Replace travel module if necessary.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
1 5
Problems
No movement, only a single click.
Solutions
Open and close the door manually. Check for binding, obstructions, or a broken spring. If equipped with a door lock system, check it. Replace logic board if necessary.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
1 5
Problems
The opener hums for 1 to 2 seconds without any movement.
Solutions
Open and close the door manually. Check for binding, obstructions, or a broken spring. If equipped with a door lock system, check it. Contact LiftMaster technical support at 1-800-528-9131
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
1 6
Problems
The door slides after it has opened and come to a complete stop.
Solutions
Reprogram travels to the right position or have a professional adjust the balance of the garage door.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
2 1 to 5
Problems
No movement or no sound.
Solutions
The logic board must be replaced.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
3 2
Problems
Unable to set or keep the settings.
Solutions
Check the travel module for a proper assembly. Replace if needed.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
3 3
Problems
The battery status LED is constantly flashing.
Solutions
Battery not charging, replace battery and/or logic board.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
4 1 to 4
Problems
The door is moving, stops and / or reverses for no apparent reason. Opener beeps and lights flash.
Solutions
Open and close the door manually. Check for binding or obstructions. If the door is not binding or sticking, reprogram the travel.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
4 5
Problems
The garage door moves approximately 6 – 8 inches, stops and reverses.
Solutions
There’s a communication error on the travel module. Check the travel module connections. Replace the module if necessary.
Number of blinks
UP ARROW DOWN ARROW
4 6
Problems
The opener does not close and the opener’s lights are flashing.
Solutions
Photocell (safety beams) are misaligned or obstructed. Realign sensor boxes so that the LED lights are steady and not flashing. If there’s an obstruction in the sensors’ path, clear it.
Number of blinks Problems Solutions
UP ARROW DOWN
ARROW
1 1 The opener does not close and the opener’s lights are flashing. Photocells (safety sensors) are not installed, not connected or wires may be cut. Inspect sensor wires to see if they are disconnected or cut.
1 2 The opener does not close and the opener’s lights are flashing. Safety sensors wires are shorted or are reversed. Inspect them and correct if needed.
1 3 The door control does not work. Check the door control wires for a short or a reversed wire. Inspect wires, correct the situation, or replace wires if needed. Door control may also be faulty, replace if needed.
1 4 The opener does not close and the opener’s lights are flashing. Photocells are misaligned or obstructed. Realign sensor boxes so that the LED lights are steady and not flashing. If there’s an obstruction in the sensors’ path, clear it.
1 5 The garage door moves 6 – 8 inches, stops and reverses. Open and close the door manually. Check for binding, obstructions, or a broken spring. If equipped with a door lock system, check it. Check wiring connections from the travel module to the logic board. Replace travel module if necessary.
No movement, only a single click. Open and close the door manually. Check for binding, obstructions, or a broken spring. If equipped with a door lock system, check it. Replace logic board if necessary.
The opener hums for 1 to 2 seconds without any movement. Open and close the door manually. Check for binding, obstructions, or a broken spring. If equipped with a door lock system, check it. Contact LiftMaster technical support at 1-800-528-9131
1 6 The door slides after it has opened and come to a complete stop. Reprogram travels to the right position or have a professional adjust the balance of the garage door.
2 1 to 5 No movement or no sound. The logic board must be replaced.
3 2 Unable to set or keep the settings. Check the travel module for a proper assembly. Replace if needed.
3 3 The battery status LED is constantly flashing. Battery not charging, replace battery and/or logic board.
4 1 to 4 The door is moving, stops and / or reverses for no apparent reason. Opener beeps and lights flash. Open and close the door manually. Check for binding or obstructions. If the door is not binding or sticking, reprogram the travel.
4 5 The garage door moves approximately 6 – 8 inches, stops and reverses. There’s a communication error on the travel module. Check the travel module connections. Replace the module if necessary.
4 6 The opener does not close and the opener’s lights are flashing. Photocell (safety beams) are misaligned or obstructed. Realign sensor boxes so that the LED lights are steady and not flashing. If there’s an obstruction in the sensors’ path, clear it.

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