Home Garden

Fixing the Sensor on Overhead Garage Doors

If the garage door does not go down when you activate the door opener, it is most likely due to a problem with the safety eye sensors at the bottom of the door. The safety sensors emit an infrared beam that goes across the door opening. Broken sensors will tell the motor that something is obstructing the door's path. Fixing the sensor on overhead garage doors is usually a matter of realigning or cleaning the sensors.

Things You'll Need

  • Cotton cloth
  • Hammer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Check the door opening to ensure there are no objects blocking the infrared beam of the garage door sensor. Leaf debris, grass clippings and moisture can block the operation of the safety sensor. Use a clean cotton cloth to clean the lens of each safety sensor.

    • 2

      Loosen the wing nut on the right-hand sensor if the two LED lights are not illuminating. Once the nut is loose, grab the top and bottom of the sensor. Move the sensor up and down until the LED light illuminates. Hold the sensor steady and tighten the wing nut.

    • 3

      Place the claw of a hammer around the safety sensor bracket if the bracket is bent. The handle of the hammer should point away from the wall. Push the hammer handle left or right as necessary to bend the bracket straight until the sensor LED lights illuminate.