What does it mean when the opener motor runs but the garage door does not move?

The other causes sit outside the motor. The door may have been disconnected from the opener with the release cord, or a broken spring may have made the door too heavy for the opener to lift. An opener is not a lift, so it cannot make up for a door that is heavy because of its springs.

Why it happens

What you can check yourself

• Watch the trolleyPress the wall button once and watch the rail. If the trolley travels but the door does not, the door is disconnected. If nothing on the rail moves while the motor runs, a stripped gear is likely.
• Look at the release cordSee whether the red release cord or handle hangs differently than usual, or the trolley arm looks separated from the carriage. Just look and note what you see. Do not force anything.
• Look under the openerFine metal shavings or bits of plastic on the floor or on top of the unit often point to a worn gear.
• Look at the springs and cablesFrom a safe distance, check for a visible gap in the spring above the door, or a cable hanging loose. If you see either, leave the door alone.
• Stop pressing the buttonRepeated presses with a stripped gear or a heavy door can burn out the motor. Once you have looked, leave the opener alone until a technician has seen it.

What the technician will do

• Find the actual causeThe technician checks whether the problem is the gear, a disconnected door or the door's own balance and springs, so you are not paying to fix the wrong part.
• Repair a stripped gearWhere a gear and sprocket kit is available for your opener, the technician can replace the worn parts and test the travel and limits.
• Replace the opener when repair is not sensibleIf the opener is old, parts are no longer made, or other parts have failed, replacement may make more sense. Older units without rolling-code security are a security concern as well as a reliability one.
• Deal with the springs if they are the causeIf the door is heavy because of a spring, that gets repaired first. A new opener will not fix it.
• Set up remotes, keypads and phone controlAfter the repair, the technician can program remotes and keypads and set up phone control if your opener supports it.

Related questions

Is it worth replacing the gear or should I buy a new opener?

It depends on the opener's age, whether the parts are still made and what else the technician finds. The technician looks at the unit and the door and gives you the price for each option before any work starts.

Can a power surge or lightning cause this?

Surges and lightning storms usually damage the logic board, which tends to cause an opener that is dead or erratic, not one that runs without moving the door. A technician can tell the two apart quickly.

Can I just lift the door by hand and keep using it?

Not safely until someone knows why it is not moving. If a spring has broken, the door is much heavier than it should be and can be hard to control. Leave it closed and have it checked.

Does replacing an opener need a permit?

Opener work almost never does. Permit rules are set locally, so if you are unsure, ask your local building department.

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