Last nights storm was a real light show. The lightning was non-stop for a while. One struck right next to the house and knocked out the phones, tv and apparently the garage door opener. The girl friend wants to call a repairman (expert) and pay someone big bucks because I don't know anything about it?
If anyone has experience replacing one of them, how difficult can it be. It looks like two bolts hold it up and a couple of wires go in the back. Do I need to stick with the same brand or do they all fit the same? Am I out of my league here? I admit that I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn last nite.

__________________
Dennis
He's got a gun!

Have the blown fuses/circuit breakers been replaced? If so, grab some tools and get edjamacated........ Good luck

__________________
Go big or stay home

Did you check the clicker Fluid?

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

That is the strange thing, no circuit breakers shut off, in fact, the light bulb won't go off, it stayed on all night. I checked the fluid but it's up to the top of the dip stick.

__________________
Dennis
He's got a gun!

The circuit board may have gotten confused, it can happen with a close strike and with the light staying on it looks like it doesn't know where it is in the cycle.

Try what the "experts" call a power reset. Unplug the opener from the ceiling, wait a few minutes and plug it back in. May well reset it and it's cheap to try.

Good luck!

Ours died a slow death after almost 20 years of service. I do most things myself and could have replaced it, but for what the door opener place charged for a new opener with installation it was nice to watch someone else sweat, plus it's guaranteed.

It would have taken me twice as long and my back would be killing me. It was worth it IMHO.

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

Now thats my kind of a fix, I will try it.

__________________
Dennis
He's got a gun!

You just don't know what a cheapskate I am.

__________________
Dennis
He's got a gun!

The last time mine got hit by lightning. I went and bought the same sears brand and just replaced the motor unit instead of the bar and chain and all the other parts.
Now I have spare parts if anything else goes wrong

Vic3620

You fix it yourself and the garage door opener repairman doesn't have anything to do and gets laid off. He is not working so he can't afford to buy what you do at your job and then you get laid off. Both of you end up on welfare and the rest of us have to pay more taxes. Please just pay the repairman to fix your door. Larry

I usually replace ours because I'm also cheap - especially with this kind of stuff. I have Sears units - like Vic said, if you stick with the same brand you can usually just replace the main unit. If you get a different brand you will probably need to remove everything and install from scratch because nothing will match up.

I have to say tho that I get older and my back never stops complaining, hiring out the odd job seems cheaper and cheaper.

__________________
Lou

Sure I do. I am probably cheaper!But I am not easy.

It's not just hanging the new unit, You have to assemble the new one from parts in a box with yes, instructions!

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

If somebody's skill set is so limited that the only thing they can do is fix garage door openers, don't you think they need to expand their horizons a bit?

__________________
Even older, even crankier....

That's what happens to mine a couple times a year during storms. Just unplug it and it will reset itself. By the way, I have been on the road for awhile and I have stayed in at least TWO Holiday Inn Express hotels this week.

__________________
Recycled Bricklayer

A storm knocked out our control box on the rear of the opener motor housing. Sears had the box and two remotes for less than a labor charge. Simple replacement. I had to reset the remote codes, but in the process, I hit on one code that opened the garage door across the street. I haven't had as much fun in years!!

If your opener has a wired in remote key pad, try unplugging that. I've had two of those destroyed by lightning over the years. Easy fix if that's what it is.

after you get to the root of the problem and get it back in working order.........go get a good "surge protector" for that garage door opener and avoid future problems.