Q: My garage door opener stopped working. What might be the problem?

A: Automatic doors have a opener unit with a motor that opens or closes door automatically by remote or wall button.

When you activate an opener and it hums or just clicks than there is an internal part called a capacitor. This part starts and reverses the opener motor. This is a very common malfunction. When the capacitor burns out over time they will start to make smoke come from unit. When you activate opener and you can hear the motor running but the door wont move. This is a internal drive gear made of plastic has been stripped from age and usage. If you push opener button and you can see the trolley going back and forth but door is not moving. This usually means that the opener is not engaged to the door. If door is activated and the lights are flashing then it is telling you there is an obstruction or door itself won’t move.

The only problem the homeowner can do themselves is to make sure that the opener is locked into the door. All other issues should be handled by a technician.

In my experience with a opener not activating I have found that the problems can range from the opener is not getting power from the power outlet. And in most cases where the opener is older than 1994 just needs to be replaced.