Sometimes your garage door opener starts acting up – maybe it won’t open or close properly, or it stops halfway for no clear reason. If that sounds familiar, the issue might be with the opener’s sensitivity settings. Luckily, it’s a simple fix.
Let’s walk through it.
Why Does Sensitivity Matter?
Your opener keeps track of how hard it has to push or pull your door each time it opens or closes. After about 60 uses, it sets itself to an average effort level. But sometimes it gets that calculation wrong and sets itself too soft – meaning the door doesn’t get pushed or pulled with enough force.
That’s when you’ll see it struggling or not fully opening or closing. By resetting the sensitivity, you teach the opener how much effort it actually needs to use.
Step 1: Check The Door Movement First
Start with the door closed:
- Disengage the opener using the manual release cord.
- Merlin Sectional & Tilt Door Openers (MS105MYQ): Pull the red cord to disengage. You’ll hear it click. Press the green button to reengage. You’ll hear it click again.
- Merlin Roller Door Openers (MR655MYQ): Pull the disengage cord once to disconnect. You’ll hear it click. Pull it again to reengage. You’ll hear it click again.
- Lift the door by hand. Open it all the way, then close it again. (image)
If it moves smoothly and evenly without any sticking or resistance, you’re good to go. If it doesn’t don’t proceed to step 2 as your door may need a service or repair.
Step 2: Resetting The Sensitivity
For sectional and tilt door openers like the Merlin Commander Elite MS105MYQ.
- Re-engage the opener and make sure the door is in the closed position. (image)
- Go to the back of the garage door opener motor housing box and remove the rear access panel. Locate the yellow Learn button.
- Push the yellow Learn button twice to enter unit into force adjustment mode. The LED (indicator light) will flash quickly.
- Push the programmed transmitter or push the UP/DOWN arrow at the programming display bar. The door will travel to the DOWN (close) position. Push the transmitter again, the door will travel to the UP (open) position.
- Press and release the DOWN Arrow Button to test the DOWN limit. The door will travel to the programmed DOWN limit.
- The LED (indicator light) will stop flashing when the force has been set. The door must travel through a complete cycle, UP and DOWN, in order for the force to be set properly. If the unit cannot open and close your door fully, inspect your door to insure that it is not sticking or binding.
For roller door openers like the Merlin SilentDrive Essential MR655MYQ.
- Re-engage the opener and make sure the door is in the closed position. (image)
- Go to the front of the garage door opener motor housing box and remove the small panel at the bottom by opening it upwards. Locate the yellow “S” button.
- Press the “S” button twice to enter into force learn mode. The courtesy light will go to half strength, and LED 2 will flash quickly.
- Press and release the “UP” button. The door will travel to the
OPEN position, then LED 1 will flash quickly. - Press and release the “DN” button. The door will travel to the CLOSED position, then LED 1 will stop and the courtesy light will change to full power. This process is now complete.
- The LED (indicator light) will stop flashing when the force has been set. The door must travel through a complete cycle, UP and DOWN, in order for the force to be set properly. If the unit cannot open and close your door fully, inspect your door to insure that it is not sticking or binding
Still Not Working Right?
If resetting the sensitivity doesn’t fix the give me (Callum) a call at Lightning Garage Door Solutions.
We’ve been helping Brisbane locals with garage doors and openers for over 10 years. We’re fully licensed, insured, and everything we do is backed by our Lightning Warranty.
