Garage door acting up

OK Collective. Our damn garage door acting up

Who knows about garage doors? We got a new door and Lift master elite opener about 3-4 years ago. It’s worked perfectly up until the last month. Suddenly we are coming home to find it open. At first we thought we had just forgotten, but we’ve become paranoid about it and double, triple check before leaving and it does keep opening. I figure there could be two reasons that could be causing it. First someone has a clicker for their garage that also opens ours. Second, there could be a fault with something on the unit that’s at fault. I’ve reprogramed our keypad with a new # so it can’t be someone knows the # and is berkeleying with us. Also it never happens overnight so I assume it’s not the unit. This all leads to it being someone else’s door opener is working on ours.

So, Q’s

1. Can it be something on the unit that only goes wrong during the day
2. How can I reprogram the unit? Good le only leads to how to reprogram remote openers not the unit itself?
3. Anything else?

Thanks

If you open the cover on the motor assembly, there should be a roller-type number scroll that will allow you to change the code at the opener. Just don't forget to change the one in the remote to the new code!

I've heard rumors of an electronic device that can scan the radio signals and allow activation of your garage door. The receiver on the garage doors typically have a very short range. Are you in an uban area? We have to be within 50 feet of ours for the remotes to work.

I think if you consult the manual, you should be able to change the frequency the remote operates at. The remotes would need to have their frequencies changed to match.

Some of the newer door openers use a specific, encrypted signal to open/close, which is more secure than the older type that just monitor for any signal on a specific signal. The reason for this is that there are thieves that can send random frequencies as they drive down the road until a door opens, then they can go inside, close the door and have plenty of time to work on getting in the house. Makes getting new remotes and in-car remotes configured a huge PITA.

Given the amount of tools, etc in my garage, I had a door sensor installed for our monitored alarm in the garage. To be honest, our neighbors are so good at watching each other's homes that I'm not that concerned about it, but it gives SWMBO piece of mind when we go away on trips, etc.

Don't most door openers have a rolling code ? Mine does as did the one before. The safety eyes may have something to do with it. Your manual should have a series of checks. Also try adjusting the closing force. check the tracks for broken rollers etc.

I had my door fail to close a couple times after some of the wheels and tracks lost their lubricant. The door would bind slightly and the safety mechanism would sense that it was striking something and would open the door back up.

I also had the pin that holds the opening bracket at the door slide to one side and also was binding the door on close.

mightymike wrote: We have to be within 50 feet of ours for the remotes to work.

Mine is off the roadway by about 100ft and I can open it nearly 1/8th mile away from my driveway......I'll assume someone in your area has the same frequency. Otherwise get a new opener/remote......there always could be a short in the system.

My Liftmaster has a cable tension monitor. A stretched cable on one side can cause it to change direction at the top.

Hopefully you're not near a military base. I've heard stories of them testing gear with unintended consequences like nearby alarm systems and garage door openers going crazy. It seems they're not too worried about how their black boxes effect consumer electronics.

Maybe time for a switch to downpower the whole thing? Inconvenient, but if you are going to be away for a while, might be worth it. Peace of mind and all that.

Thanks guys, go away for lunch and there are lots of replies.

First, it's one of the newer rolling code type so not as easy and changing the frequency with dip switches. Our driveway is 60' long, but the way the sub is shaped we get the minimum of traffic directly past out house. It's for sure nothing to do with the mechanical side. It opens and closes fine, the whole door is only 3-4 years old and professionally installed. New rollers, cables, door, tracks everything, all in 100% condition. Also it's not all the time and never overnight.

Cruise your neighborhood and see if your opener can open someone else's door?

True story that doesn't apply anymore: When openers first came on the market, our neighbor had one installed, and shortly thereafter it started opening every 90 minutes (late 1950s). Yep, satellites. Company changed a lot of frequencies for a lot of customers, problem solved - but it took them a while to figure it out.

Any CB/amateur radio operators in your area? Some irresponsible shiny happy person with a massively over powered setup might do that.

Or its just typical consumer electronics going stupid.

This is the cable tension monitor. Do you have one?