My Garage Door Won't Open All the Way

What to Do When Your Garage Door Won't Open All the Way

Your garage door opener features adjustable travel and force settings. Travel adjustment allows you to set where the door stops in the up and down position. Force adjustments allow you to compensate for changes in weather and door conditions to accommodate the change in resistance. Some models can be adjusted by turning screws located on either side of the garage door opener motor, while others are programmed using two colored buttons.

Your door must be properly balanced in order to set your limit and force settings correctly. If your door does not open all the way you may need to make an adjustment, either to the door or to your travel and force settings.
 

NOTE: 

Your Security+ 2.0 garage door opener has self-diagnostic capabilities.

• On a Security+ 2.0 garage door opener the up arrow will flash 4 times followed by the down arrow flashing 2 times. This indicates that an obstruction, binding, or a sticking door was detected.
• On a Security+ 2.0 garage door opener with an LCD display, the LCD display will show "Error code 4-2 excessive opening force detected" to indicate that an obstruction, binding, or a sticking door was detected.
• Security+ 2.0 Garage Door Openers are designed to provide obstruction notifications if the garage door meets an obstruction.
  • If the door makes contact with an obstruction while opening, the door will stop, the opener will beep and the lights will flash 5 times.
  • When the door is in any position other than closed and the garage door opener is activated, the door will close.
  • If the garage door makes contact with an obstruction while closing, the door will reverse, the opener will beep and the lights will flash 5 times.
• On other garage door openers, the learn button will flash 5 times every 10 seconds in addition to the door not opening all the way to indicate that an obstruction, binding, or a sticking door was detected.

Test the Balance and Alignment of the Door

To test the balance and alignment of your door, see How to test the balance of a garage door.

If the door is in good working order but still will not open all the way, increase the UP force. If the door opens at least 5 feet, you may need to increase your travel limits.

For information on adjusting your travel and force limits, please see the utilize the following resources.

• How to adjust the travel and force limits
• How do I program the travel and force limits using black and purple or black and yellow buttons
• How To Program The Travel On A Security + 2.0 and MyQ Enabled Garage Door Opener 

Please keep in mind that improper adjustment of the travel limits will interfere with the proper operation of the safety reversal system. The door might not reverse properly when required and could seriously injure or kill someone. Please remember to perform the safety reversal test after any travel adjustment. For more help, see How to Test the Safety Reversal System