Garage Door Won't Open? 7 Most Common Causes (and What to Do)
May 28, 2026 · Updated June 7, 2026 · Heather Window & Door · Local Coppell garage door specialists
A garage door that will not open always seems to happen at the worst time, you are already late, the kids are in the car, or you just got home from a 12-hour day. Before you panic, here are the seven most common culprits ranked by how often we see them, plus which you can safely check yourself.
1. Broken torsion spring (most common)
If you heard a loud bang and the door will not budge, or only lifts an inch or two, a broken spring is the likely cause. About 60% of “will not open” calls we get in Coppell and the DFW area are broken springs.
How to check: Look at the spring above the door. A broken spring will have a visible 2-inch gap in the coil. The door will also feel extremely heavy if you try to lift it by hand.
What to do: Stop using the opener. Don’t force it, running the motor against a broken spring will burn out the opener gear (turning a $400 repair into a $1,000 one). Call a pro. Most DFW spring replacements run $199 to $525 depending on whether one or both are replaced and whether you upgrade to high-cycle springs. More on spring costs here.
2. Dead remote, keypad, or wall-button batteries
The easiest fix on this list, and surprisingly common when fall weather hits and battery voltage drops. Test by trying multiple openers: remote, wall button, keypad. If only one fails, swap the battery.
What to do: Replace CR2032, CR2025, or 9V batteries as needed. Most remotes have a small screw or sliding cover on the back.
3. Misaligned safety photo-eye sensors
The little eyes near the floor on both sides of the door must face each other directly. If one is bumped (kid, lawn mower, wheelbarrow) or dirty (spider webs, dust), the opener will refuse to close the door, or close and then reverse, or simply not engage at all.
How to check: Look for two LED lights at floor height. You want two solid lights (one on each side). One blinking or off means alignment trouble.
What to do: Wipe the lenses with a soft dry cloth. Loosen the wing nuts and gently adjust until both lights are solid. Total fix time: 5 minutes. DIY-friendly.
4. Power, breaker, or outlet issue
Easy to overlook. Check that the opener is plugged in, the outlet has power (test with a phone charger), and the breaker has not tripped. North Texas storms occasionally take out garage circuits.
What to do: Reset the breaker. Plug a lamp into the same outlet to confirm power. If the breaker keeps tripping, the opener itself may have a short, call a pro before plugging it back in.
5. Door off its tracks
If the door looks crooked, jammed, or hanging at an angle, it may have jumped off its rollers/tracks. Common causes: a vehicle bumped the door, a roller failed, or a cable snapped and dropped one side.
What to do: Stop. Do not run the opener, it will bend the panels and tracks. This is one to leave to a pro; we re-rail off-track doors safely and fix the root cause (broken roller, cable, or bracket) in one visit. Typical cost: $189 to $495.
6. Snapped or frayed lift cables
The two cables run from drum to bottom-of-door bracket and work with the springs to lift. If one snaps, the door becomes unbalanced, one side drops, the door binds, or it will not move at all.
What to do: Stop using the door. Cables are under spring tension and replacing them is genuinely a pro job. Typical DFW pair cost: $169 to $295 installed.
7. Disengaged opener trolley
If someone (you, your spouse, a kid, a previous owner) pulled the red emergency release cord, the opener trolley is disconnected from the door. The motor runs, but the carriage moves freely along the rail without pulling the door.
What to do: With the door in the closed position, pull the red cord toward the door, then operate the wall button. The trolley should re-engage with a click on the next cycle. If it does not, the spring inside the trolley may need replacing, quick pro fix.
Bonus: less common but worth checking
- Lockout mode engaged on the opener wall console. Press and hold for 5-10 seconds to disable.
- Force-limit or travel settings need adjustment. Especially after a new spring or door.
- Failed logic board. Older LiftMaster, Chamberlain, and Genie units sometimes need a board swap, usually $90 to $180 in parts.
- Frozen seal. Rare in DFW but possible after a hard freeze, the bottom seal can briefly stick to the concrete.
When to call a pro
| Issue | Safe to DIY |
|---|---|
| Remote / keypad batteries | ✓ |
| Sensor alignment | ✓ |
| Disengaged trolley | ✓ |
| Lockout mode | ✓ |
| Tightening hardware you can reach | ✓ |
| Anything involving springs | ✗ |
| Anything involving cables | ✗ |
| Off-track door | ✗ |
| Opener gear, board, or motor | ✗ |
| Force-limit calibration | ✗ |
Battery and sensor issues are safe to check yourself. Anything involving springs, cables, or tracks should be left to a technician, these are high-tension parts that cause most garage door injuries.
Need help right now?
If you are in Coppell, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Grapevine, Irving, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, or the rest of DFW, we offer same-day service with upfront pricing and a free service call when we complete the repair. Call (469) 281-7750 or request a free quote online and we will get your door working safely again, usually the same day.
For more on the most common cause (broken springs), see How long do garage door springs last? and our spring replacement cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common reason a garage door won't open?
A broken torsion spring. About 60% of 'will not open' calls we get are spring failures. You will usually hear a loud bang from the garage when it happens, and the door will not lift, or lifts only an inch or two before stopping.
Why does my garage door open a few inches and then stop?
Most often this is a broken spring (the opener cannot lift the unsupported weight) or a force-limit issue on the opener safety system. In either case, stop using the opener and call a professional, forcing it will damage the gear and burn out the motor.
Can I open a garage door manually if the spring is broken?
No, and you really should not try. A double-car door weighs 175-225 pounds; with a broken spring, all of that weight is unsupported. Even one person lifting it can be dangerous, and dropping it can damage the door, the cables, your car, or you.
Why does my garage door close and then reverse?
Almost always a photo-eye sensor issue. The little sensors near the floor must see each other to close the door. Wipe them clean with a soft cloth and check alignment, you want two solid LED lights, not blinking ones.
How much does it cost to fix a garage door that won't open?
Sensor or remote issues: $0 to $129. Opener gear or board: $129 to $329. Spring replacement (the most common cause): $199 to $525 depending on whether one or both are replaced and standard vs. high-cycle. See our pricing page for the full DFW breakdown.