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Troubleshooting guide
Common garage door problems
Safety first. Torsion springs, lift cables and bottom brackets are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury. Never adjust, loosen or replace springs, cables or bottom brackets yourself. Unplug the opener before inspecting any hardware, keep clear of a moving door, and only use the emergency release when the door is fully closed.
Door stuck down or won’t open?
1. Broken spring
2. Gap by the opener
Photos: ZS Overhead Doors
What to look for
A visible gap in the spring on the bar above the door
A loud bang from the garage, often when nobody was using it
The opener hums or the door lifts a few inches, then stops
Loose or hanging cables on the sides
Safe quick fixes
Stop pressing the button. Repeated tries can damage the opener.
Don’t force the door. With a broken spring it’s extremely heavy and can drop.
Only pull the emergency release when the door is fully closed, never when it’s open or partly open.
If you must get a car out, lift slowly with a helper and never leave the door unsupported. Or just call us.
When to call ZS: Broken springs are always a job for a pro. We only use 100% made-in-USA torsion springs. No eBay or Amazon imports.
Cause 1: release disconnected. If someone pulled the red emergency cord (often after a power outage), the trolley is unhooked from the opener
Check whether the trolley on the rail is latched or loose
Cause 2: belt or chain problem. The motor hums or runs but the belt or chain sits still, slips, or hangs loose
Look for a snapped, stripped or skipping belt or chain, or chewed-up plastic bits under the opener
Safe quick fixes
For Cause 1: with the door fully closed, reconnect the trolley. On most openers, pull the cord toward the door, then run the opener and it will re-latch. Check your opener’s manual.
For Cause 2: stop running the opener and unplug it.
Don’t try to re-tension, re-thread or splice a broken or stripped belt or chain yourself. It takes the right parts, and the door has to be secured first.
If the door is open, leave it there and keep clear until we arrive.
When to call ZS: A stripped, broken or slipping belt or chain is a repair for ZS. Text a photo of the opener and rail.
The safety sensors sit 4–6 inches above the floor on each side of the door
Each sensor has a small light. Depending on the brand it can be green, red or amber. What matters is that the lights are on and solid. If a light is blinking or off, the beam is blocked or the sensors are out of line
Check for anything in the beam: boxes, a broom, leaves, cobwebs
Bright low sun hitting a sensor can also cause trouble
Safe quick fixes
Wipe both lenses and clear the area.
Gently adjust the bracket until both sensor lights are steady, and check for loose wires.
To close it for now, press and hold the wall button until the door is fully down. This works on most openers. Keep people, pets and cars clear, and let go to stop.
When to call ZS: If the sensors won’t stay lined up, or the wiring is damaged, we’ll sort it out.
This guide is general information. Every door and opener is different, so check your opener’s manual, and if in doubt, leave it to a licensed technician.
Zach, owner
About ZS Overhead Doors
Local, owner-operated, island-wide
ZS Overhead Doors is a Honolulu garage door company run by owner Zach, with over two decades of hands-on experience in construction and garage doors. We do service, parts and repairs for most makes and models of garage doors and openers, all across Oahu, 7 days a week.
We’re never commission-based, and we never push products or services you don’t need. As licensed contractors, we work directly with homeowners and with many property management companies and Realtors on Oahu.
Spring replacement
Cable repair
Opener install & repair
Motor, belt & chain
Rollers & tune-ups
Off-track doors
Sensors & wiring
✔ Licensed: HI Garage Door & Window Shutters Contractor CT-34895✔ Bonded✔ Insured✔ Background checked
1. Broken spring
2. Gap by the opener
