Problems with remote control for garage door opener

[WVBrady]

I have a Craftsman garage door opener that stopped working with the remotes today. Because I have had it for a few (10???) years and never replaced the batteries in the remotes I thought that was the problem, but it wasn't. After I reprogrammed the remotes, they would only work if I held them within a couple of feet from the opener. The hardwired control on the wall still works fine, but the keypad outside the door does not, leading me to believe that something in the opener is the problem. I can get a new electronics card for around $60, but I am not sure that will solve the problem. Also, because of the age of the unit, I am not sure that it would be worth it or whether I should just buy a whole new unit.

Any experience or advice?

TIA,
Brady

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I lost the garage opener many years ago and they wanted lots for a new one. got his one Sky-Link garage door remote control g6m this will go accross the two wires the manual switch is closing and I got it with a new remote and just bought 2 new remotes on ebay for $18 most remote cost about $25 I paid less for 1 remote and the switching box and has worked fine . Only issue was my old system did not have the power to run the electronics and had to add a 12 volt power to the reciever 20 min. install. yours may or may not need the power supply and you can actually call and talk to a real person to help you from the company. ED

 

[nehog]

I've found that the terminals in the Sears units often are weak, check to be sure they are clean, free of corrorsion, and the batteries you put in are actually good (I've had some bad experiences with some brands/stores batteries).

 

[WVBrady]

I lost the garage opener many years ago and they wanted lots for a new one. got his one Sky-Link garage door remote control g6m this will go accross the two wires the manual switch is closing and I got it with a new remote and just bought 2 new remotes on ebay for $18 most remote cost about $25 I paid less for 1 remote and the switching box and has worked fine . Only issue was my old system did not have the power to run the electronics and had to add a 12 volt power to the reciever 20 min. install. yours may or may not need the power supply and you can actually call and talk to a real person to help you from the company. ED

Thanks for the response! As I understand it from looking at their site, I would have to buy the wall unit, the keyless entry, and two remote controls. Considering the age of my unit, I don't know if it would be worth it.

 

[PassnThru]

My 15 year old Craftsman unit died a few weeks ago. In my case, tightening the chain killed the main drive - the bearing broke and it was leaning. I just bought a new one - got a few upgrades with it so it was worth it to me. The part to fix it was about $35 but I really didn't want to put that into an old opener. Of course, having said that, I haven't thrown it away yet. Knowing that I can fix it for $35 I'm trying to come up with an alternate use for it that would justify the cost. But that is another thread. I probably wouldn't spend $60 to fix a 10 year old opener because so many other things are waiting to go wrong. Just my opinion.

 

[WVBrady]

I've found that the terminals in the Sears units often are weak, check to be sure they are clean, free of corrorsion, and the batteries you put in are actually good (I've had some bad experiences with some brands/stores batteries).

Thanks for the response! Which terminals are you talking about? The only *** three external ones that I see are where the wall control and the safety electric eye are connected, and they work ok.

 

[ymerej]

I've found that the terminals in the Sears units often are weak, check to be sure they are clean, free of corrorsion, and the batteries you put in are actually good (I've had some bad experiences with some brands/stores batteries).

I would specifically look at the antenna wire and connection. You said that the remotes worked at very close range, and that sounds like the antenna is disconnected somehow, possibly by corrosion.

 

[WVBrady]

I would specifically look at the antenna wire and connection. You said that the remotes worked at very close range, and that sounds like the antenna is disconnected somehow, possibly by corrosion.

Thanks for the response. I couldn't see anything wrong with the antenna wire. I even resoldered it to the board. The keypad wouldn't work, even with the wooden door open and I had replaced the battery in it also, so I don't think that it was a case of bad batteries. The reception has always been a little weak; when using the keypad, I would usually have to enter the code several times to get the door open. Given the age of the opener, I am beginning to think that, given the age of the unit, it would be better to replace it.

 

[nehog]

Thanks for the response! Which terminals are you talking about? The only *** three external ones that I see are where the wall control and the safety electric eye are connected, and they work ok.

Battery terminals in the remote... Mine always are green when I replace batteries...

 

[sixtnut]

Make sure there is a reset button on the right side of the unit where the track is going towards the door. If so, you can hold the button in at the unit and at the same time hold the button in on the remote for 3-5 seconds to reset. If not equipped, or does not work, time to replace. Just seen a recent ad for a Sears 1/2 horsepower unit with 2 remotes for $159.95. That's what I paid for mine over 10 years ago. It even comes with "electric eyes" so the door doesn't close on kids or cars.

With seven 1960 Chevys, my door gets a work out. (in profile)

 

[WVBrady]

Good news! It seems that when the girl where I bought my new batteries replaced them they were not making good contact (I'll blame her, anyway ) Where the little metal tab was to make contact with the battery, I bent it out to make better contact and now everything seems to be working. I did order a new outside keypad; I hope it has a little more power than the old one. It almost never worked the first time.

Thanks all,
Brady

 

[jkherd]

check the logic control circuit board, I had a similar problem with my liftmaster last year and had to change the board on the opener and reprogram the opener.