Everyone's finally dressed and ready to leave. You back the car out, hit the remote, and you're off. Until you realize the garage isn't closed. You reluctantly pull back into the driveway, brow furrowing in frustration. It happens to everyone. Many homeowners don't even realize they left it open until they return home.
Why didn't it close? Garage doors usually fail to close as a result of the safety sensors being blocked. They're located on each side of the opening, no more than a foot or so off the ground. Typically, each will have a small light that stays lit when everything is going well. If either of the lights are out, simply move whatever is blocking the sensor (sometimes even cobwebs/small debris can cause safety sensors to malfunction) or adjust them so that they are pointing at each other again. You can move these around by hand if they've been knocked out of alignment.
If you're still stuck at home, make sure nothing is blocking the path of the door. This can be a common cause for service calls. Always use caution when operating your garage door, but be extra cautious when it's not working correctly. It's the probably the largest, heaviest, moving piece of machinery in the house. It's counter balance system is under EXTREME pressure, and when it doesn't work properly, it can be dangerous. Many people have been injured or even killed by garage doors, some of them professionals. If yours is sitting crooked in the opening, has come off the tracks, or is not working properly, call a professional repair company immediately.
If you're still stuck in the driveway, there are a couple more things to try before calling a professional. Try using the wall button instead of the remote or keyless entry. It's possible the remote's batteries are dead, or the lock function located on the wall button has been enabled. If the garage door itself is working properly, you can pull the manual release on the motor. This will let you close everything manually, although the opener won't be locking it shut the way it normally would.
Some openers have an indicator light that can help troubleshoot any problems. Again, you'll need the owner's manual for your model. Many can be found online by doing a quick search for your make and model number. You can find the model and manufacturer on the back of the opener.
If all else fails, it may be time to call a pro. Some companies will be able to give an estimate on probable repairs over the phone, so let them know what steps you may have already taken. Call a few different companies to ensure their numbers are competitive. Since openers have an expected life span of about 10 years, it might also be a good idea to check prices for new openers, instead of repairing an older model. Newer models will have more up to date technology, providing better security and safety features.
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It is truly amazing what we can do with technology these days. However, if something goes wrong, technology can seem more like it is getting in our way than it is helping us. If you have been searching the Internet for help with programming your remote control, garage door opener, and Homelink system, you know how difficult this process can be. A lot depends on the kind of car you have, the kind of system you have, and if you have your garage door remote or not. Let us try to untangle this process together.
First of all, you will need to know which brand of garage door opener you have. The following instructions are for Liftmaster and Craftsman doors, as they tend to be the most popular. You want to locate the learn button on your openers logic board. The learn button is usually red and square, but it can be any color and any shape. It will almost always be labelled as a learn button. Start by holding down the learn button for approximately 20 to 30 seconds. By holding down the button, you are clearing the memory of the door so that you can input new information. Grab your garage door remote and push the button, then push and release the learn button one more time. If you hear a clicking sound, it worked. Most openers can hold five remotes total.
Programming your Homelink works essentially the same way. Much of the programming depends on the car that you drive. There are specific instructions on the Homelink website for every make of car, but if you are just looking at programming your garage door remote to your Homelink system, here are the directions. Start by pressing the learn button again on the back of your garage door main box. Push and hold whichever Homelink button that you want the remote to learn. There will either be a beep or possibly a flash on your remote that shows the signal was properly learned. It should only take a moment to do. If you have experience programming a universal remote for your living room, programming your remote for your garage door opener and for your Homelink system is basically the same thing. Do not let these pieces of technology intimidate you, anyone can learn to operate these systems in a very short period of time.
If you are having some issues with programming your garage door remotes, here are a few ideas that may help. First, check the batteries in all your remotes. Many people end up seeking professional help for their openers when it turns out that all they needed was a fresh set of batteries. If you are having trouble getting the two systems to sync up, try standing farther away with your garage door remote. Sometimes, being too close can actually cause a problem. Finally, your garage door and Homelink system often come with a toll free telephone number you can call in case you run into issues. Most problems can be resolved over the phone. Chances are the issues you are having can easily be taken care of.
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During the blazing hot dog-days of summer, or the bone-chilling cold of winter, remote car starters work wonders for making your car comfortable. Without one, in the winter you have to bundle up to rush outside into the arctic blast of a cold-winter day, fumble with your keys as your hands go numb to unlock your door, and try to pry open your frozen door. Your teeth chatter as you start your car, then you rush back inside where it's warm while you wait for the car to warm up. But if you have installed a remote car starter, you push a button from inside where it is warm and cozy, and wait in comfort till you are ready to get into a warm, defrosted vehicle. But how do remote car starters work?
Remote car starters bypass the ignition switch, essentially allowing a control unit to "hotwire" the car to start by remote control. Several components must be installed and work together to make this possible.
The common components in remote car starters are:
Transmitters- the key fobs that have the remote buttons. Receiver- the control unit that is installed in the car, generally under the dashboard. Relay set- controlled by the receiver, to handle the connections to bypass the ignition switch. Hood Safety Switch: If the hood is open, the remote car starter is disabled to prevent injury when someone is working or checking fluids. Wiring Components: Fuses, wiring connectors, antennas, zip ties, and other installation items.
Also, for many modern cars with anti-theft, you must purchase a separate kit specific to your make and model of car to bypass the anti-theft feature that prevents your car from starting if it were "hotwired".
As a safety feature, remote starters cannot be installed in manual transmission vehicles. There's not a reliable way for the control unit to verify the vehicle is not in gear. The last thing you'd want is to try to start your vehicle, and watch it take off with no one driving.
The transmitter is a miniature radio device that transmits an encoded signal telling the car to start. The antenna installed inside the car receives the signal, and carries it to the control unit. The control unit compares the encoded signal and verifies that the signal is from you. You wouldn't want a thief or a neighbor to be able to start your vehicle! Once the signal is verified, the control unit blinks the parking lights on your car so that you can see the command was received.
The control unit activates the relays to bypass the ignition switch to turn on the systems that run the engine, essentially as if you turned the key to the run position. If there's an anti-theft feature, it will activate the installed kit to send the correct "password" to the car to allow it to start. The control unit activates another relay, engaging the starter.
The control unit monitors to see if the engine starts- usually by monitoring the engine RPM signal, or by seeing the alternator charging the vehicle. If it doesn't start in a few seconds, the remote start will stop cranking the starter, wait for a few seconds, and try again.
Once the engine is running, the car turns on the parking lights to show you that the vehicle is running. The remote starter actuates more relays to turn on all your vehicle's accessories such as your wipers and blower motor.
The car will continue to run until either the timer expires which is generally set for 15 minutes, you press the stop button on a transmitter, or until you hit the brake pedal. To keep the car from shutting off when you get in, you put in the key, and turn it to the run position before hitting the brake. The car will drive normally after that, and will shut off when you turn off the key.
Remote car starters also come with several variations and options. There are integrated car alarms, and options for remote locking and unlocking of doors, or to pop your trunk.
Remote car starters generally require only basic hand tools and a general understanding of vehicle wiring to install. If you have the experience and knowledge to install a radio into a vehicle, then installing a remote car starter should only be moderately difficult. For people who don't have the time, knowledge, or tools, a remote car starter can also be installed professionally for a nominal fee.
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Troubleshooting a Chamberlain garage door isn't necessarily an easy task. The first step is always to pin point the faulty area of the door. You first need to decide if the problem is in the installation, opener mechanism, remote control, logic circuit or radio receiver.
Per installation, the door needs to be installed in the smoothest possible manner to assuage any
future problems that can occur.
The opener could be pulling or pushing at the wrong angle if you see any pulling or pushing on
the door.
Disconnect the trolly by pulling the manual releases of the opener and hand move and balance it. If the spring is weak then an opener may be needed to pull the full weight of the door. This will fix the issue but the door can be less safe.
To repair solid state microprocesssing mother boards, the ones manufactures with yellow or blue force adjustment capabilities. A flashing led light can be used to fix some problems. This is located next to the learn button on the unit.
If you see the light flashing once then the protector system wire is completely open or misaligned. If you see two flashes than the protector wire has shorted or there is a black or white wire reversal. If you see three flashes the door control or multifunctional control has shorted out and needs to be repaired.
To repair the opener mechanism, disconnect all of the control wires. Leave the sensor wires alone. Short the red and white terminals together shortly. Use a small jumper wire for this. If the opener doesn't operate then you'll need to go to the troubleshooting chart provided by Chamberlain.
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