Garage Door Opener



Question:
I am a lurker who posted many months ago regarding any ideas on how to purchase a new home...and what kind of tools to get my husband. Okay...so far so good. We bought the house and in April (brand new) and haven't had any problems so far. That is until my husband installed the garage door opener a couple of weeks ago. It is a Genie Intellicode. Here are the symptoms. In the morning when I hit the button in the garage it opens fine. When I go to use the remote as I am pulling out of the driveway, it won't work. I hit it, jiggle the batteries, put it in different directions...it won't work. So....I get out of the car, go in the garage and hit the wall button. It only closes if I hold the button and it won't close all the way. If I let go of the button it starts to open. I have left my garage 1/2 open for the last week (I won't give you my address :) When I come back...the freakin thing works. I hit the remote, it goes to close completely and I hit it and it opens fine. I park in the garage, hit the button on the wall and it closes fine (without me holding it). I keep telling my husband about it, and he hits the button and remote and all works well. That is until the next morning (and he is already at work) and he misses the whole show. At least my 5 year old is a witness. She gets to sit in the car each morning watching Mommy trying to get the darn thing shut. Is this nuts or what? Any ideas?

Answer:
I used to work for a Gar. Dr. company. I would diagnose your problem a few different ways. First: Start with the most obvious. Does your intellicode in your car use a battery? They usually last 3++ years, but often when you get it in your hand it may have already been sitting for a while. Second. Sounds like you have a radio reception problem. Hanging down from the underside of your opener is a black wire... It is the antenne'. Yes, It requires good reception just like your TV or radio. Ever notice how AM stations come in better at certain times of the day/night? Same principle here. Make sure the wire is pointing down, and then curving where the free end is pointing at your garage door. Sometimes this helps the Opener pick up the signal better. This is a big problem when there is a lot of metal blockage in the garage, such as a steel beam in the garage ceiling. Third: These "newfangled" garage door openers use "Rolling code" technology. Which means, That it reads a signal when you push your remote button, and the processor on the operator unit says " A HA! I recognize that one! It then lets you in/out, and simultaeneously resets a secondary (password) code which it constantly "Rolls" through. Thus, no two openers should open the same unit unless they are programmed by you to do it! These units typically hold 4 codes, Or to put it differently it can read up to four devices. Like three separate car remotes and a wireless keypad entry device. What you might want to do is gather together ALL of your opening devices at the same time, unplug your opener from the ceiling for 10 minutes (allows it to reset) then reprogram the remotes including your intellicode. Reprogramming is EASY... Don't pay someone to do it for you, a call to a local dealer and a cordless phone can do the trick in two minutes! Fourth. If all else fails, call a local dealer. Ask if a SALESMAN could stop by sometime (THEY usually do it for free (I know i did it a lot!! if they are in the area anyway)....Most operators have a five year warranty. five years on the motor, 1 year on the electronics, and 90 days on the installation. Your builder can track down the installer to stand behind their workmanship. Usually this is no big deal, and no fuss from a builder!





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