Motor runs, door stays put
Garage door opener not working
A motor that runs while the door stays still usually means the drive has failed inside the opener — or that the door has been disconnected from it.
Call 214-733-2371Safe to leave, but check the release cord first
Nothing here is dangerous, but do check the red emergency release cord hanging from the rail — if it's been pulled, reattaching it may be the whole fix. If the door is heavy to lift by hand, that's a spring problem instead, and that one isn't a DIY job.
Likely causes
What’s probably wrong
- 1
Stripped main drive gear
The most common failure in chain-drive openers. A nylon gear wears through and the motor spins without driving the chain. It's a repair, not a replacement.
- 2
Trolley disconnected
If someone pulled the emergency release cord, the door is no longer attached to the opener. Free, thirty-second fix — worth checking before calling.
- 3
Broken chain, belt, or drive sprocket
Less common, and usually audible as a rattle or slap rather than a clean hum.
- 4
Failed capacitor
An opener that hums but won't start under load often has a dead starting capacitor.
Start here
Not quite it?
These are the other five failures we get called out for most.
- It sounded like a gunshot in the garageLoud bang, now it won't openWhat this means
- The door is hanging crooked or jammed in the openingIt came off the trackWhat this means
- It goes down a foot and reverses back upIt closes, then opens againWhat this means
- One side is higher than the otherIt's hanging crookedWhat this means
- Motor runs, door stays putThe opener hums but nothing movesWhat this means
- Daylight, water, or leaves getting inThere's a gap along the bottomWhat this means
Not on the list? That’s what the phone is for — describe it and we’ll tell you what we think before we come out.
Get started
Get help with a garage door opener not working
Tell us what's happening and where, and we'll call you back. If the door is stuck or a car is trapped, phone us — that's always faster.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Shop
- 1912 University Business Dr Suite 403, McKinney, Texas 75071
- Response time
- Same-day service on most repair calls placed before noon
Request service
Four quick questions. We’ll ask the rest when we call.