I have 3800 liftmasters installed. They are 12 yrs old. One of them is reversing when about 2-3 ft down. It acts like it runs into something and reverses. I find nothing that it hits. This has been intermittent over a couple years, now every time. I unhooked the opener from the door and the door goes past that spot very smoothly by hand. I decided to set the closing tension with the purple button. After i did that, it only closes a couple inches and then reverses. Now i am convinced it is the opener and the door is fine. Any ideas?
Liftmaster 3800 is reversing
- Thread starter Jonwick
- Start date
jmiller_2308
Well-known member
Start by Reading the "Fine" Manual. I think this is a link to your manual and if so, go to page 24 to start. LiftMaster 3800 manual
The diagnostic leds are really useful. I had an issue where my opener kept acting like yours and could not figure it out. I finally dug out the manual and learned about what the diagnostic leds were telling me. For me, the issue was all related to sun hitting one of the safety sensors so the issue came and went depending upon the time of day.
Good luck.
The diagnostic leds are really useful. I had an issue where my opener kept acting like yours and could not figure it out. I finally dug out the manual and learned about what the diagnostic leds were telling me. For me, the issue was all related to sun hitting one of the safety sensors so the issue came and went depending upon the time of day.
Good luck.
ludakris04
Well-known member
I would start with the remote batteries.
Mine starts to do weird things when the batteries start to get low.
Next is remotes, third is it's the control board.
I bought a 3800 in 2013. I had it warrantied in 2015 or 16 (I think) it would do similar things as yours. It was replaced with an 8500 under warranty.
I agree with "read the manual", this is how I figure out mine was the board, and had it warrantied.
Mine starts to do weird things when the batteries start to get low.
Next is remotes, third is it's the control board.
I bought a 3800 in 2013. I had it warrantied in 2015 or 16 (I think) it would do similar things as yours. It was replaced with an 8500 under warranty.
I agree with "read the manual", this is how I figure out mine was the board, and had it warrantied.
pattenp
Well-known member
I posted this a long time ago....
www.garagejournal.com
Fix Tip: LiftMaster 3800 loose position sensor gear
Fix Tip: LiftMaster 3800 loose position sensor gear loosing travel limits Just an FYI. I spent about half a day trying to figure out what the heck went wrong with my Liftmaster 3800 opener. When I tried to open my garage door it went up a couple of feet then stopped. I tried to close it and...
www.garagejournal.com
metschers
Well-known member
I had one do that and it was a spider web build up on one of the sensors.
kj_mustang
Well-known member
Yes, verify door safety sensors have the proper alignment and led light colors on them.
ITGuy1998
Well-known member
Mine is very susceptible to cable issues. I've had the issue you describe several times. Had to manually close the door. A couple of times the cables come off while doing this. The last time it did this, I said screw it and learned to fix it myself. I was tired of paying 150 bucks a pop to have it fixed. I released the tension on the spring, took off the cables and put on new ones. I then re-tensioned the spring. I had taken the lift off and was going to get a traditional opener, but cheeped out and put the liftmaster back on. It seems to do better now with the new cables. At least I know how to fix it now, and will be much quicker the next time.
All of that to say that while they work great, they are very finicky in my experience. If you can't do a relearn on the up/down travel limits (after checking the safety sensors), I'd look at the cables.
All of that to say that while they work great, they are very finicky in my experience. If you can't do a relearn on the up/down travel limits (after checking the safety sensors), I'd look at the cables.
jstroede
Well-known member
These openers rely on gravity to allow the door to come down. If the door is very well balanced for manual operation, it is probably too much spring to work well with this opener. Often taking about half a turn off the spring will help a lot. The geometry of the cable tension monitor is important as well. They are finicky openers, but work well when they are setup correctly.
John
John
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Cairo94507
Well-known member
I agree with the above comment re spider webs, etc. that block the light beam for the child sensors- I hate those things.
Had a GDO that would do that certain times of the day, it turned out to be sunlight shining on one of the sensors. I put a cardboard toilet paper roll tube over it to shade it and worked fine ever since. If there is something up with the beam sensors it is supposed to flash the overhead light a certain number of times.
Hub
Hub
nadogail
Well-known member
I made a blinder from ABS pipe for a garage door opener that was in professionally installed with the receiving eye facing the sun. After that GDO needed replacement the installer got it right.
I am trying everything you guys mention. I adjusted/reset the downforce and the next time i opened the door the reversal happened almost immediately after pushing the button while trying to close.
i cleaned and checked the safety lights after i saw 4 blinks of the status light. Can the safety beam be bypassed to see if it is the problem?
i cleaned and checked the safety lights after i saw 4 blinks of the status light. Can the safety beam be bypassed to see if it is the problem?