Garage Door Won't Open
or Close? We'll Find Out Why.
Full diagnosis for a garage door that's stuck, reversing, or unresponsive — sensors, travel limits, springs, and tracks. Same-day emergency service across Metro Vancouver.
A garage door that won't open or close can mean several different things, and the symptom alone doesn't tell you the cause. The opener might run but the garage door doesn't move. It might open partway and reverse. It might close to within an inch of the floor and pop back up every time. Each pattern points to a different system — and a different fix.
The most common culprits are the safety sensors near the floor on each side of the garage door (even a spot of dirt or a knocked-out-of-alignment sensor will stop the garage door cold), the opener's travel limit settings, a broken or weakening spring, or a track that's bent or off its rail. A proper diagnosis checks all four before any part gets replaced.
Why a Garage Door Stops Responding.
These four account for the large majority of "won't open or close" calls we get across Metro Vancouver.
Misaligned Safety Sensors
The two sensors near the floor must see each other in a straight line. A bumped sensor, a spider web, or a stray bit of dirt on the lens is enough to stop the garage door from closing at all.
Travel Limit Drift
Openers learn how far to travel when first installed. Over time those settings can drift, causing the garage door to stop short, reverse near the floor, or strain against the limit before fully seating.
Broken or Weak Spring
If the garage door opens a few inches and stalls, or the opener strains noticeably, a failing spring is the most likely cause — see our dedicated broken spring page for details.
Bent or Off-Track Rail
A track knocked out of alignment — often from an impact — creates resistance the opener reads as an obstruction, triggering an automatic reverse or refusal to move.
If Your Garage Door Won't Move, Don't Do This.
Don't keep pressing the remote repeatedly. Repeated cycling against a fault can burn out the motor or worsen track damage.
Don't force a garage door that's stuck partway. If it stopped because of a spring or track problem, forcing it can cause a sudden, dangerous drop.
Don't ignore a garage door that reverses unexpectedly. That's the safety system or a sensor reacting to something real — it's a diagnostic clue, not a glitch to work around.
Do check the sensors first. Wipe the lenses and confirm nothing is blocking the beam between them — it's the single most common fix, and it's free.
How We Fix It.
Every visit starts with a full diagnosis — sensors, limits, springs, and tracks — before we quote the job.
Sensor Realignment
Clean, realign, and re-test the safety sensors so the garage door reliably recognizes a clear path. Often resolved in minutes.
Travel Limit & Force Calibration
Reset the opener's open and close travel limits and force settings to match the garage door's actual weight and balance.
Track & Spring Repair
When the cause is mechanical — a bent track or a failing spring — we repair or replace the part and rebalance the full system before testing.
Stuck Garage Door Repair Across Metro Vancouver.
Same-day dispatch across the region — select your city for local repair details.
Request a Garage Door Diagnosis.
Tell us what's happening and send a photo if you can. We'll confirm a same-day window — written quote before any work begins.