As a long-time owner of a Liftmaster garage door opener, I’ve experienced the frustrating issue of the door opening partially and stopping on more than one occasion.
If you’re facing this problem, you’re not alone. There are a few common causes of this issue, and I’ll walk you through the steps to troubleshoot and resolve it in this article.
Understanding the Problem
Your Liftmaster garage door opener is equipped with safety mechanisms designed to prevent accidents and damage.
If the door senses resistance or an obstruction while opening, it’s programmed to stop automatically. This is a crucial safety feature that protects both your property and anyone around the garage door.
However, sometimes the door may stop opening even when there is no obstruction present. This can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Binding or sticking: If the door’s track or rollers are binding, it can prevent the door from opening fully.
- Incorrect travel limits: The travel limits are the settings that tell the opener how far to open and close the door. If the travel limits are set incorrectly, the door may stop opening before it reaches its full height.
- Weak motor: If the motor is weak, it may not have enough power to open the door fully.
- Damaged components: If any of the components of the garage door opener are damaged, it can prevent the door from opening properly.
You need to know this too:
Why Is My Garage Door Only Opening A Foot
Why Does My Garage Door Open 6 inches Then Stop?
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
To troubleshoot the issue of your Liftmaster garage door opening partially and stopping, follow these steps:
- Close the door completely. Using your remote control or the door control itself, close the door completely. This will ensure that you’re starting the troubleshooting process with a fully closed door.
- Disconnect the opener. To begin the troubleshooting process, you’ll need to disconnect the garage door from the opener. Locate the emergency release handle and pull it straight down. This disengages the door from the opener carriage.
- Open the door manually. After disconnecting the opener, slowly open the garage door by hand. Pay close attention to any points of resistance or obstructions along the track and rollers.\
- Inspect for issues. Examine the track, rollers, and other components of the door’s mechanism. Focus particularly on the area where the door is stopping. If you notice any sticking or binding, address the issue. This might involve lubrication or minor adjustments.
- Correct sticking or binding. If you find that the door is sticking or binding, it’s important to correct the issue. You can attempt to address the problem yourself if it’s minor, or you can reach out to a trained door technician for assistance.
- Reconnect the opener. Once you’ve addressed any sticking or binding issues, it’s time to reconnect the garage door to the opener. Pull the emergency release handle back towards the opener, and the trolley should reconnect.
- Test the door with the remote. Using your remote control, attempt to open the door. If the door now opens fully without any problems, you’ve likely resolved the issue. If not, proceed to the next steps.
- Adjust the open force. If your garage door opener has manual force adjustments, you can try increasing the open force slightly. This might help the door to open fully. Test the door again using your remote control.
- Adjust the travel limits. If the door still doesn’t open fully but opens at least five feet, you might need to adjust the travel limits. This will involve adjusting the settings on the opener unit. Refer to your owner’s manual for guidance.
- Test the safety reversal system. After making any adjustments, it’s crucial to test the safety reversal system. This system ensures that the door reverses if it encounters an obstruction while closing. Place a one and a half inch board or a two by four flat on the floor under the open door. Close the door using the remote control, and it should reverse upon contact with the object.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting Liftmaster garage door when it opens partially and stops can be a frustrating process, but it’s important to follow the steps outlined in this article to identify and resolve the issue.
By following these steps and consulting your owner’s manual, you can often address the problem and enjoy the full functionality of your garage door opener.
Additional Tips
If you’re not comfortable troubleshooting the issue yourself, you can always reach out to a trained door technician for assistance.
It’s important to regularly inspect your garage door and opener for signs of wear and tear. This will help you identify potential problems before they cause your door to stop opening. Here are some things to look for:
- Binding or sticking in the track or rollers
- Loose or damaged screws
- Rust or corrosion
- Damaged or missing weatherstripping
- Misaligned door panels
If you live in an area with extreme weather conditions, it’s especially important to inspect your garage door and opener regularly. Harsh weather can put a lot of stress on your garage door system, and it can lead to premature wear and tear.
Keep your garage door opener clean and lubricated. This will help it operate smoothly and efficiently.
Never use your garage door opener to open or close the door if there is anything blocking the path of the door. This could damage the opener or cause the door to malfunction.
If you have any questions or concerns about your garage door or opener, it’s always best to consult with a qualified professional.
I hope this article has been helpful. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask.
