06-02-2008, 07:19 PM
Hey, I just fixed my door last night! (Sears, vintage 1994, "green light" for learning remote codes.) Same symptoms -- there is definitely hope for you.
I had unknowingly spilled some detergent (carpet shampoo, if you must know) on my sensor and over six months it corroded the contacts that supplied power from the motor unit to the sensors. Lights out on the sensors, and a sticky green mess from the corroded copper within.
I replaced the sensors (from Sears - stock item, about $35 for the sender and receiver, sold as a pair) and it still didn't work. I assumed that some fuse had blown out on the motor unit and had delayed tearing it apart for MONTHS. Until yesterday.
There was no fuse whatsoever in there! And nothing that looked burnt or worn.
I have the benefit of having two identical openers on both garage doors so I used my multimeter to establish that the three output terminals had the same voltages across them on both motor units. Conclusion: some sort of power is available to get to the sensors.
This led me to check the connectors that came with the new sensor designed to "help" splice the sensors into the power lines from the motor unit. Handy looking little things -- round circles with a little compressible insert. Put the source and destination wires into two channels pre-filled with a little dielectric goop, squeeze with a pair of pliers, and Bob's your uncle but with no way to check continuity.
I cut the connectors out and twisted the wires together instead. Voila. Lights on the sensors back on again.
I suggest you:
(1) Examine sensor with the light out for misalignment with the other sensor (or excessive dirt/cobwebs), or signs of liquid intrusion from the recent storm
(2) Trace wiring with your eye and/or finger to ensure a clear unfettered path from the motor unit to the sensor
(3) Check the continuity of each wire from motor unit to sensor
(4) Buy a new sensor from Sears and do your own splicing.
I had unknowingly spilled some detergent (carpet shampoo, if you must know) on my sensor and over six months it corroded the contacts that supplied power from the motor unit to the sensors. Lights out on the sensors, and a sticky green mess from the corroded copper within.
I replaced the sensors (from Sears - stock item, about $35 for the sender and receiver, sold as a pair) and it still didn't work. I assumed that some fuse had blown out on the motor unit and had delayed tearing it apart for MONTHS. Until yesterday.
There was no fuse whatsoever in there! And nothing that looked burnt or worn.
I have the benefit of having two identical openers on both garage doors so I used my multimeter to establish that the three output terminals had the same voltages across them on both motor units. Conclusion: some sort of power is available to get to the sensors.
This led me to check the connectors that came with the new sensor designed to "help" splice the sensors into the power lines from the motor unit. Handy looking little things -- round circles with a little compressible insert. Put the source and destination wires into two channels pre-filled with a little dielectric goop, squeeze with a pair of pliers, and Bob's your uncle but with no way to check continuity.
I cut the connectors out and twisted the wires together instead. Voila. Lights on the sensors back on again.
I suggest you:
(1) Examine sensor with the light out for misalignment with the other sensor (or excessive dirt/cobwebs), or signs of liquid intrusion from the recent storm
(2) Trace wiring with your eye and/or finger to ensure a clear unfettered path from the motor unit to the sensor
(3) Check the continuity of each wire from motor unit to sensor
(4) Buy a new sensor from Sears and do your own splicing.