Garage Door Troubleshooting Guide: Causes & Solutions

This page should help you troubleshoot your garage door problems. While many problems that keep the door from opening are caused by broken springs, a lot of other parts could be keeping your door from functioning properly. One of the more difficult problems for Do-It-Yourselfers to diagnose is a worn cable pulley on an extension spring door. There are, of course, many other problems that can keep your garage door from functioning properly.

Click on a problem below to see the possible causes and solutions.

1. Bottom of the door is up on one side


Cause

Frayed torsion spring cable

Frayed extension spring cable

Worn extension spring cable pulleys

Solution

Replace torsion spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace extension spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace the worn pulleys (See: pulley prices)



Back to Top



2. Door closes only if you hold in the push button


Cause

Misaligned, dirty or defective photo eyes

Solution

Align, clean or replace as needed (See: photo eye prices)



Back to Top

3. Door closes part way and then reverses


Cause

Broken torsion spring cable

Broken extension spring cable

Close force not properly adjusted

Dry rollers, bearings

Misaligned, dirty or defective photo eyes

Track is bent

Worn extension spring cable pulleys

Solution

Replace torsion spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace extension spring cable (See: cable prices)

Adjust the force

Lubricate as needed with 3 in 1 motor oil

Align, clean or replace as needed (See: photo eye prices)

Straighten, adjust or replace track (See: track prices)

Replace the worn pulleys (See: pulley prices)



Back to Top

4. Door is cocked


Cause

Broken torsion spring cable

Broken extension spring cable

Worn extension spring cable pulleys

Solution

Replace torsion spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace extension spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace the worn pulleys (See: pulley prices)



Back to Top

5. Door is jammed


Cause

Broken torsion spring cable

Broken extension spring cable

Track is bent

Worn extension spring cable pulleys

Solution

Replace torsion spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace extension spring cable (See: cable prices)

Straighten, adjust or replace track (See: track prices)

Replace the worn pulleys (See: pulley prices)



Back to Top

6. Door is uneven


Cause

Broken torsion spring cable

Broken extension spring cable

Broken extension spring

Worn extension spring pulleys

Solution

Replace torsion spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace extension spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace the broken spring (See: extension spring prices)

Replace the worn pulleys (See: pulley prices)



Back to Top

7. Door opens slowly


Cause

Broken torsion spring

Solution

Replace the broken spring (See: torsion spring prices)



Back to Top

8. Door won't close all the way - it is uneven


Cause

Broken torsion spring cable

Broken extension spring cable

Worn extension spring cable pulleys

Solution

Replace torsion spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace extension spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace the worn pulleys (See: pulley prices)



Back to Top

9. Door won't close all the way


Cause

Door binds in tracks

Track is bent

Worn extension spring cable pulleys

Solution

Adjust track spacing or trim molding. Replace any bent hinges.

Straighten, adjust or replace track (See: track prices)

Replace the worn pulleys (See: pulley prices)



Back to Top

10. Door won't open


Cause

Broken torsion spring

Broken extension spring

Track is bent

Solution

Replace the broken torsion spring (See: torsion spring prices)

Replace the broken extension spring (See: extension spring prices)

Straighten, adjust or replace track (See: track prices)



Back to Top

11. Door won't stay open


Cause

Spring has taken a set

Solution

Adjust spring or springs



Back to Top

12. Loud bang before the door quit working


Cause

Broken torsion spring

Broken extension spring

Solution

Replace the broken torsion spring (See: torsion spring prices)

Replace the broken extension spring (See: extension spring prices)



Back to Top

13. Opener is straining as the door opens


Cause

Broken torsion spring

Broken extension spring

Solution

Replace the broken torsion spring (See: torsion spring prices)

Replace the broken extension spring (See: extension spring prices)



Back to Top

14. Popping sound as the door operates


Cause

Worn rollers

Solution

Replace the worn rollers (See: roller prices)



Back to Top

15. Radio controls will open but not close the door


Cause

Misaligned, dirty or defective photo eyes

Solution

Align, clean or replace as needed (See: photo eye prices)



Back to Top

16. Rear support for the upper track is broken


Cause

Broken extension spring

Broken extension spring cable

Solution

Replace the broken extension spring (See: extension spring prices)

Replace the extension spring cable (See: cable prices)



Back to Top

17. Scraping sounds


Cause

End bearing plate is tilted

Frayed torsion spring cable

Frayed extension spring cable

Misaligned reinforcing strut

Worn extension spring cable pulleys

Solution

Straighten or reinforce the bearing plate as needed. File the shaft and replace the bearing as needed (See: bearing prices)

Replace torsion spring cable (See: cable prices)

Replace extension spring cable (See: cable prices)

Space the strut evenly on the sections

Replace the worn pulleys (See: pulley prices)



Back to Top

18. Squeaks


Cause

Dry rollers, bearings or hinges

Solution

Lubricate as needed with 3 in 1 motor oil