Garage door faults cover a wide range of symptoms, and the correct fix depends entirely on what the door is doing. This guide covers the most common problems and their typical causes and solutions.

Door Will Not Open or Opens Only Partially

If the door will not open at all, the most common causes are a broken spring, a broken or derailed cable, a seized lock, or (for electric doors) a failed opener or power fault. A broken spring is identifiable by a loud bang and the door becoming very heavy to lift manually; do not attempt to operate a door with a broken spring. For electric doors, first check the power supply and try the wall button. If the opener runs but the door does not move, the drive carriage or belt may have failed.

Door Is Misaligned or Does Not Close Squarely

An up-and-over door that does not close squarely in the frame, leaving a gap on one side, typically has worn or loose hinges, a bent fixing bracket, or a track that has moved out of position. Check that all fixing bolts and hinge screws are tight. Check the track alignment by measuring from each side of the door to the frame at the top; if these measurements differ significantly, the track needs realigning. For sectional doors, misalignment typically indicates a worn roller or a bent track section.

Door Is Noisy

Squeaking or grinding from a garage door is usually caused by dry bearings, worn rollers, or lack of lubrication on the spring. Apply a PTFE or silicone-based lubricant to all hinges, rollers, and the spring coils. Avoid petroleum-based lubricants on nylon rollers as these degrade the material. If the noise persists after lubrication, the component making the noise, typically a worn roller or a worn bearing, needs replacing.

Door Reverses When Closing (Electric Door)

An electric door that reverses when attempting to close is responding to its obstacle detection sensing. Common causes are a new or recently replaced floor seal creating more resistance, debris on the floor in the door's path, the close force set too low, or the close limit set incorrectly so the motor reverses before the door reaches the floor. Check for obstructions first, then check the close limit and force settings on the opener.

Summary

Door will not open: check for broken spring, broken cable, or power fault on electric doors. Misalignment: tighten hinges and check track alignment. Noise: lubricate all moving parts; replace worn rollers if noise persists. Electric door reversal: check for obstructions, close limit setting, and force adjustment. Do not attempt spring repair; call a qualified engineer for spring faults.