Sears garage door opener troubleshooting

Although garage door openers can often be repaired without special training, it is necessary to use up-to-date and reliable information on Sears garage door troubleshooting. This is exactly what you will find below. We have a Sears garage door opener manual for the following models: 53479, 139.53973SRT, and 39.18205SR – 1/2 HP. Consulting these charts should be the first step in Sears garage door repair.

Sears 53479 garage door opener troubleshooting

Sears 53479 is a residential garage door opener provided with a 1/2 HP motor, which is a standard choice for most homeowners. It can be used both on sectional doors and one-piece door. For quick and easy troubleshooting tips for the 53479 garage door opener system refer to the chart below.

Situation	Probable Cause & Solution
The opener doesn’t operate from either the wall control or the remote control:	1. Does the opener have electric power? Plug a lamp into the outlet. If it doesn't light, check the fuse box or the circuit breaker. (Some outlets are controlled by a wall switch.) 2. Have you disabled all door locks? 3. Is there a build-up of ice or snow under the door? The door may be frozen to the ground. Remove any restriction. 4. The garage door spring may be broken. Have it replaced. 5. Repeated operation may have tripped the overload protector in the motor. Wait 15 minutes. Try again.
Opener operates from the remote control, hut not from the wall control:	1. Is the wall control push bar lit? If not, Remove the bell wire from the opener terminal screws. Short the red and white terminals by touching both terminals at the same time with a piece of wire. If the opener runs, check for a faulty wire connection at the wall control, a short under the staples, or a broken w ire. 2. Are the wiring connections correct? Review Installation
The door operates from the wall control, hut not from the remote control:	1. If your model has the Lock feature, turn it off. 2. Is the wall push button flashing? Your opener needs to re-learn a remote control code. 3. Does the battery test light glow w hen the remote control push button is pressed ? If not, replace the battery. 4. Program the receiver to match the remote control code. 5. Repeat the receiver programming procedure with all remote controls.
The remote control has short range:	1. Check the batter)' test light. If the light is dim, replace the battery. 2. Change the location of the remote control in your car. 3. Check to be sure the antenna on the right side panel of opener extends fully. 4. Some installations may have shorter range due to a metal door, foil backed insulation, or metal garage siding.
Opener noise is disturbing in living quarters of home:	If operational noise is a problem because of proximity of the opener to the living quarters, the Vibration Isolator Kit 41A3263 can be installed. This kit was designed to minimize vibration to the house and is easy to install.
The garage door opens and closes by itself:	1. Be sure that all remote control push buttons and battery indicator lights are off. 2. Remove the bell wire from the wall control terminals and operate from the remote control only. If this solves the problem, the wall control is faulty (replace), or there is an intermittent short on the wire between the wall control and the opener.
The door doesn’t open completely:	1. If the door has been working properly but now doesn't open all the way, increase the up force. 2. Is something obstructing the door? Remove the obstruction or repair the door. 3. If door opens at least 5 feet, the travel limits may need to be increased. One turn equals 2 inches of travel. Repeat the safety reverse test after the adjustment is complete.
The door stops but doesn’t close completely:	Review the travel limits adjustment procedures Repeat the safety reverse test after any adjustment of door arm length, close force or down limit.
The door opens but won 7 close:	1. If the opener lights blink, check the safety reversing sensor. 2. If the opener lights do not blink and it is a new installation, check the down force. Repeat the safety reverse test after the adjustment is complete.
The door reverses for no apparent reason and opener lights don 7 blink:	1. Is something obstructing the door? Pull the emergency release handle. Operate the door manually. If it is unbalanced or binding, call for professional garage door service. 2. Clear any ice or snow from the garage floor area where the door closes. 3. Review the force adjustment procedures. 4. If door reverses in the fully closed position, decrease the travel limits. Repeat the safety reverse test after adjustments to force or travel limits. The need for occasional adjustment of the force and limit settings is normal. Weather conditions in particular can affect door travel.
The door reverses for no apparent reason and opener lights blink for 5 seconds after reversing:	Check the safety reversing sensor. Remove any obstruction or align the receiving eye.
The opener lights...	Don’t turn on: Replace the light bulb(s) (100 watts maximum). Use a standard neck garage door opener bulb if regular bulb bums out. Don’t turn off: Is the Light feature on? Turn it off.
The opener strains or maximum force is needed to operate door:	The door may be out of balance or the springs are broken. Close the door and use the emergency release handle to disconnect the trolley. Open and close the door manually. A properly balanced door will stay in any point of travel while being supported entirely by its springs. If it does not, disconnect the opener and call for professional garage door service. Do not increase the force to operate the opener.
The opener motor hums briefly, then won't work:	1. The garage door springs are broken. 2. If the problem occurs on the first operation of the opener, door may be locked. Disable the door lock. Repeat the safety reverse test after the adjustment is complete.
The opener won't operate due to power failure:	1. Use the emergency release handle to disconnect the trolley. The door can be opened and closed manually. When power is restored, press the Wall Control push bar and trolley will automatically reconnect (unless trolley is in lockout position.) 2. The Emergency Key Release accessory (for use on garages with no service door) disconnects the trolley from outside the garage in case of power failure.

Sears 39.18205SR – 1/2 HP garage door opener troubleshooting

Sears 39.18205SR is a residential garage door opener provided with a standard 1/2 HP motor. The model has a chain and cable drive with two-piece trolley. Some of the safety features include automatic reversal and automatic stop, force adjustment (two different screws for the UP and DOWN adjustment), and a motor overload protector.

Situation	Probable cause & solution
Opener doesn’t operate from wall push button or transmitter	1. Have you disengaged all door locks? 2. Does the opener have electric power? Plug a lamp into the outlet. If it doesn’t light, check fuse box or circuit breaker. (Some outlets are controlled by a wall switch.) 3. Repeated operation may have tripped the overload protector in the motor. Wait 15 minutes. Try again. 4. Is there a build-up of ice or snow under door? Door may be frozen to ground. Remove any obstruction. 5. Remove bell wire from opener terminals. Short red and white terminals by touching both terminals at same time with a piece of metal (screwdriver or coin). If opener runs, check for a faulty wire connection at Wall Push Button or a short under staples.
Opener operates from transmitter but not from wall push button	1. Is Wall Push Button lit? If not, refer to No. 5 above. 2. Are wiring connections correct?
Door operates from wall push button but not from the transmitter	1. Does the battery test light glow when transmitter push button is pressed? If not, replace the battery. 2. If you have two transmitters and only one operates, review the code setting procedures. ALL transmitters must be set to same code. 3. Is transmitters) operating any other remote control devices? 4. Did you press the transmitter button designated to operate garage door opener?
Transmitter has short range	1. Check battery test light. If the light is dim. change the battery. 2. Change the location of the transmitter in the car. 3. A metal garage door, foil-backed insulation or metal siding will reduce the transmission range. An antenna extender kit is available from any Sears store or service center. 4. Check to be sure antenna on the rear panel of opener extends fully downward.
The garage door opens and closes by itself	1. Is there a neighbor with a garage door opener using the same frequency code? Change your code. 2. Make sure that none of the transmitter push buttons is stuck in the "down" position. 3. Remove bell wire from opener terminals and operate from transmitter only. If this solves the problem, the Wall Push Button is faulty (replace), or there is a short or broken wire between Wall Push Button and opener.
Door doesn't open completely	1. Is something obstructing the door? 2. If door opens at least 5 feet, travel limits may need to be increased. One turn equals 2 inches of travel. REPEAT SAFETY REVERSE TEST after the adjustment is complete. 3. If door has been working properly but now doesn't open all the way, increase the UP FORCE. REPEAT SAFETY REVERSE TEST after the adjustment is complete.
Door reverses for no apparent reason	1. Is something obstructing the door? Pull red emergency release handle. Operate door manually. If it is unbalanced or binding, call for professional garage door service. 2. Clear any ice or snow from garage floor area where garage door closes. 3. Review the Force Adjustment Chart. REPEAT SAFETY REVERSE TEST after adjustment is complete. 4. If door reverses in FULLY CLOSED position, decrease travel limits. REPEAT SAFETY REVERSE TEST after the adjustment is complete. THE NEED FOR OCCASIONAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE FORCE AND LIMIT SETTINGS IS NORMAL. WEATHER CONDITIONS IN PARTICULAR CAN AFFECT DOOR TRAVEL.
Opener light	Does not turn on 1. Replace the light bulb (75 watts maximum). Use a "garage door opener bulb" if standard bulb bums out prematurely due to vibration. Vibration may be caused by loose end panel. Retighten screws. Does not turn off 1. There may be a defective ground at ceiling or wall receptacle. UNIT MUST BE GROUNDED.
Opener strains or maximum force is needed to operate door	1. Door may be out of balance or springs are broken. Close door and use emergency release rope and handle to disconnect trolley. Open and dose door manually. A properly balanced door will stay in any point of travel while being supported entirely by its springs. If it does not, call for professional garage door service.
Opener motor hums briefly, then wont work	1. Garage door springs are broken. 2. The trolley may be jammed into stop bolts. Pull or push on door while motor is humming to release jammed condition. Re-adjust door limits to prevent over-travel. REPEAT SAFETY REVERSE TEST after adjustment is complete. 3. If the problem occurs on first operation of the opener, door is locked. DISABLE DOOR LOCK. If chain was removed and reinstalled, motor may be out of phase. Remove chain; cyde motor to the down position. Observe drive sprocket. When it turns in dockwise direction and stops in down position, reinstall chain. REPEAT SAFETY REVERSE TEST after adjustment is complete.
Opener wont operate due to power failure	1. Use emergency release rope and handle to disconnect trolley. Door can be opened and closed manually. When the power is restored, press the Wall Push Button and trolley will automatically reconnect. 2. The emergency release Key Lock accessory (for use on garages with no service door) disconnects the trolley from outside the garage in case of power failure.
Chain droops or sags	1. It is normal for chain to droop slightly in the closed door position. Use emergency release rope and handle to disconnect trolley. If chain returns to normal height when the trolley is disengaged and door reverses on a one-inch obstruction, no adjustments are needed.
Opener noise is disturbing in living quarters of home	1. If operational noise is a problem because of proximity of the opener to the living quarters. Vibration Isolator Kit 41A3263 can be ordered from any Sears Service Center and most Sears Stores. This kit was designed to eliminate the "sounding board effect" and is easy to install.

Sears Holdings Corporation is a US chain of department stores that has a number of subsidiaries. One of them sells garage doors and garage door openers. The corporation founded in 1886 is currently based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.