3 Way Switch Not Working

[TX63CONV]

I have a 3 way switch(?) in my garage. At one end, flip the switch up and it turns the lights on. Walk across the garage and flip the switch down and it turns them off. Since I am **** retentive, I leave one switch in the on position and mainly use the one by the back door to turn the lights off and on.

Recently things have gone a little haywire. If I leave one by the backdoor ON, I can use the one by the garage door to turn the lights off and on. If I turn the one OFF by the back door, I can no longer use the switch by the garage door.

If I reverse everything, in other words turn the lights OFF while they are on from the garage door, then I can no longer use the switch at the backdoor.

These are cheap contractor grade switches. Do I need to replace both? One is grounding on something? Not insulated correctly?

Thoughts?

TIA

 

[Mustang51js]

Your wires are mixed up,and can't really tell you how to fix unless you say how many and what color wires you have at each switch. There are multiple ways you can wire a 3 way switch set up. Just remember the odd color screw on a 3 way will be the wire going to light on one side of a 3way,then the odd color screw on the other side is where the feed wire connects.

 

[n8n]

might as well buy at least one spec grade switch as well so you don't have to run back to the store if one is in fact bad.

If it worked correctly before and nothing's been touched, it's a bad switch. If you aren't the original owner of the house and it hasn't worked since you moved in, it's anyone's guess... I've had fun puzzling out well meaning but clueless previous owners' handling of 3-ways before...

 

[Mustang51js]

might as well buy at least one spec grade switch as well so you don't have to run back to the store if one is in fact bad.

If it worked correctly before and nothing's been touched, it's a bad switch. If you aren't the original owner of the house and it hasn't worked since you moved in, it's anyone's guess... I've had fun puzzling out well meaning but clueless previous owners' handling of 3-ways before...

Yeah lol,the biggest thing I get is from the homeowner that I replaced it exactly how the old one was,but they don't realize all 3 way switches are set up with the screws in same spots

 

[landyacht]

If you haven't changed any wiring then you probably have one of three problems -
A - one of your switches broke (internal contact). Replace both as they aren't expensive and you'll go nuts figuring which one is broken, just make sure you pay attention to the location of the common wire on each switch and make sure it doesn't get put onto the wrong screw.
B - a wire fell off one of the switches. Should be easy to find and fix.
C - less likely, but somewhere there is a 4 way switch that is part of the circuit that has an issue, and you hit it without realizing what is does (what does this switch do anyway?????). Could be in your house as a way to turn off the garage lights if you forgot them on.
Good luck

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Your wires are mixed up,and can't really tell you how to fix unless you say how many and what color wires you have at each switch. There are multiple ways you can wire a 3 way switch set up. Just remember the odd color screw on a 3 way will be the wire going to light on one side of a 3way,then the odd color screw on the other side is where the feed wire connects.

 

[TX63CONV]

Thanks Landyacht and N8N! You were the only one that read the post! No where did I mention that I changed the switch and THEN things stopped working.

I will try replacing both. There isnt a 4 way setup anywhere....

 

[ard]

Is one switch 'the one you use all the time'? Replace that one first, see if that was it.

or both.

 

[dw1]

remember when changing the 3 way switches out to keep track of the wire on the black screw (on both switches) the brass screws have the travelers on them and doesnt matter which wire is on which terminal.