Garage door won't open with wall switch [Troubleshooting Tips]

The installed hard-wired wall switch opens and closes the garage door without the need for wireless remote control. However, like any mechanical product, issues may arise with the wall switch controlling your garage door opener after years of use. The malfunction often lies with either the wall switch or your remote control when encountered by a garage door won’t open with wall switch problem.

Although solvable, a dead or broken wall switch can cause the garage door not to respond to the command signal. Transferring signal from the wall button to the opener involves the wall button, the wires, and the logic board; thus, when the garage door won’t open with the wall switch, check on the power source, wall button, low voltage wires, or the logic board.

Resolving the issues with the garage door that won’t open with a wall switch involves first testing the power outlet connected to the garage door opener. You then unplug the opener from the outlet and plug in a phone charger. If the charger works, then test the workability of the wall button. Remove the wall button and push the connecting wires by touching them together. If the garage door opener performs by connecting the cables, your wall control is flawed and needs replacement.

However, if the door doesn’t operate, then test the wires. Find some low-voltage wires and wire strippers. Make a little jumper wire and attach it to the wall button. Connect the wall button to the back of the opener using the other end of the jumper wire. If the garage door works, then you have a wiring problem that needs addressing.

For a faulty logic board replacement, google the part number printed on the logic board and the brand model to ensure it is the model you have. Follow the laid down guidelines to replace the logic board.

Garage door won't open with wall switch; an image of a garage door controlled by a wall switch

The garage door won’t open with wall switch

The following process describes a detailed diagnosis of a garage door that cannot open with a wall switch;

Step 1. Test the power outlet

Unplug the opener from the outlet. Take a cellphone charger, plug your phone in, and plug it into the outlet to your garage door opener was connected. If the charger works, move to step 2.

When there is no power in the garage door opener, check the breaker box. If the breaker is not tripped, check to ascertain the outlet is on the same circuit as the GFCI outlet and reset.

Step 2. Test the wall button

Use a screwdriver to remove the wall button and test the wires by touching them together. There is no danger as the wire is a low voltage circuit. The opener will operate if the wires and the circuit board are good. If the garage door opener worked by touching the wires, your wall control is flawed and needs replacement.

Step 3. Test the wires

When you touch the wires together in step 2, and nothing happens, start by ensuring the wire connections on the back of the garage door is secure. If the wiring connection is good, then find some low-voltage wires and wire strippers. Make a little jumper wire and attach it to the wall button. Using the other end of the jumper wire, connect the wall button to the back of the opener. If the garage door works, then you have a wiring problem that needs addressing. Replace the damaged wires using new low voltage wires.

If the garage door is still not working, then maybe you have a bad circuit board. For a yellow learn opener, if the wall control LED lit up when you hook up the jumper wire, but nothing happens, the flawed logic board is the issue. On the other hand, when the LED light on the wall control didn’t light up, there was a problem with the wall control and follow instructions in step 2 for replacement.

Step 4. Replacing the logic board

For a faulty logic board replacement, first, google the part number printed on the logic board. Then google the brand model, and just by looking at the pictures, ensure it is the model you have. Follow the laid down guidelines to replace the logic board. Before taking it apart or replacing ensure you unplug the garage door opener.

The video below shows the process of trouble shooting a garage door opener that won’t open with a wall switch.

How does a garage door wall switch work?

The wall switch should open and close the garage door without the remote control. When the wall switch button is pressed, it sends a command signal to the door opener to raise or lower the door. The signal from the wall button goes to the Logic board, which sends the command to the capacitor. The capacitor jump-starts the motor, which turns the gear and the sprocket. The sprocket turns the chain or the belt that holds the door by pulling the trolley. The travel limit set in the opener will tell the motor when to stop during the opening or closing of the garage door.

Why is my garage door wall switch blinking?

When the LED light in the garage door wall switch blinks continuously, it indicates that the door is in lock mode, even though the lock feature is turned on. The lock feature prevents the remote control from opening and closing the garage door while allowing the door control and the keyless entry to open the door. Turn off the lock feature. Press and hold the lock feature for 2 seconds.

What does a blinking garage light mean?

The constant flashing light wall button suggests that the door is placed in a lock mode using the wall panel control or defaulted into a lock-out mode in error. The lock-out mode disables the transmitter from opening the garage door, but the wall button will still function as usual.

Often, the new garage door openers come with a locking feature. If an individual accidentally presses the lock button, the door will be locked. In such an instance, if you try to open the door using remote control while the lock system is still engaged, the garage door lights will begin to blink.

The locking feature is designed to inhibit the remote control from opening the garage door. At that instance, you can only open the door by using the button on the wall control or utilizing the keypad inputs.
To troubleshoot the problem, press and hold the lock button for between 2 and 5 seconds, and the lock will be disengaged.

Try using the remote control to determine if the flashing lights are still on. If the garage door lights continue to blink and the door is not opening, the problem could be with the wiring system. You will be appropriated to seek for the maintenance check. You can consult with the professionals for the maintenance services to establish whether the problem is with your wiring system.

What is the Role of the Sensors in my Garage Door Opener?

The safety sensors integrated into the garage doors are used to reverse the direction of the door if they detect an object underneath the door. The door reverses its motion not to crush the objects or individuals underneath, providing safety both to the users and their pets or kids.

However, when the sensors cannot detect the objects underneath, the lights in the garage door opener will flash, forcing the garage not to close. Thus, the flashing of the garage door opener lights can also occur when the safety sensors malfunction. In such a case, you will need to check with a professional if the wires to the sensors are disconnected and reconnect them to the opener.

Why won’t my garage door open when I push the button?

With the lock button ON, you can only operate the garage door opener from the wall switch installed in the garage. It is also known as the vacation mode, and the remote control won’t run the door.

To unlock the door, press and hold the lock button for 5 seconds. The wall switch LED light will flash twice. After the double flash, try operating the garage door with the remote control. If the problem persists, then it’s likely the safety-reversing sensors causing the malfunction.

How to determine a flawed logic board?

The logic board relates the signal from the remote to the opener to commence the door opening and closing process. Just like every part of the garage door, the logic board can fail at times, causing the door to malfunction. Some of the signs of a flawed logic board are;

When the warning light is flashing

When despite being plugged in, your photo-eyes aren’t getting power. Test to ascertain the photo-eye workability by placing an object in front of them and see if they detect it.

When the keypad or the remote control is not working as intended, replacing the remote’s batteries doesn’t fix the problem; the problem might be in the logic board.

When the opener is operating unexpectedly, for example, your remote may cause the garage door only to open halfway or open a different door than before.

The garage door opener appears to have no power despite being plugged into an outlet.

The LED lights on your photo eye sensors are not blinking.

The garage door is opening on its own without being switched ON.

How to replace the flawed circuit logic board

Detach the portion of the garage door opener that holds the controls from the garage ceiling. Place it on the workbench and loosen the screws holding it together with a screwdriver. Remove the circuit board and examine for any cracks.
Use the epoxy liquid to glue together the broken or cracked halves together. Thoroughly apply epoxy liquid into the cracks, following the instruction on the epoxy kit. The epoxy liquid adheres well to circuit boards and dries within 30 minutes.

Scrape any traces of debris from the damage left by the crack or break using a utility knife. Scrape along the line where the damage is.
Employ a soldering iron at 400 degrees Fahrenheit to sell it over the previously broken or cracked surface to further seal it. Apply the flux liquid in the soldering areas and the circuit board holding the copper joints. Solder over the liquid to create the seal over the broken area on the circuit board.
Rub alcohol in a cotton rag and use it to clean off excess flux liquid on the circuit board.

Use a tiny bit to drill a hole at the end of the crack in the damaged area. Drill the hole at the centre directly on the break. The holes prevent the gap from increasing across the circuit board.
Place the circuit board into the garage door opener mechanism. Install the tool in your garage and test it to ensure it is back in working order.

Frequently asked questions

Why won’t my garage door open all the way?

When the garage door stops halfway shut or open, the problem might be caused by broken springs or the limit setting. When the limit setting is adjusted and the broken springs replaced, the door will open all the way.

Why is my garage door wall switch not working?

Inspect the LED light to ensure it’s not giving malfunction information. Check the outlet power source as the malfunction may be caused by a wiring or logic board problem.

What causes the garage door motor to run but the door isn’t opening?

A misaligned photo-eye sensor should be aligned. Also, check the cables if they are broken or if the tension is off.

Conclusion

A malfunctioning garage door opener is more than an inconvenience, and it can pose a severe safety risk for you and your family. Moreover, using a garage door with a faulty opener can shorten the life span of other components. Thus, when your garage door won’t open with the wall switch, ensure you take the needed steps to trouble shoot the problem and make the needed changes for smooth operation. A malfunctioning garage door can be costly and can cause serious injuries and damages to the users and objects.

Also, always ensure the safety sensors are in place to help detect the presence of an object underneath the garage door so that they are not crushed accidentally.