Garage Door Not Working - Light Flashing 5 Times

You roll in after a long day at work, press the garage door opener, and nothing happens. Inside the garage you see the garage door opener flashing five times each time you push the opener button. Now what?

Before you call in the garage repair team, your issue likely requires a little ‘logic’ in the form of a new logic board. But before you make the investment in a new logic board, take additional steps to troubleshoot the solution since there are other minor issues that could be to blame for the malfunction.

Step 1 - Check for Power

One reason a garage door opener may fail to lift and lower is due to lack of power. However, if your light bulb comes on and you can see the warning light flashing five times, lack of power isn’t your issue.

Step 2 - Reset the System

This seems to be the first step with anything electronic. Each model is a bit different, but resetting the system could solve the problem. This is typically done using a reset switch located on the garage door opener unit. Look on the side of the unit for the switch. Make sure you have stable footing when using a ladder.

To find the proper reset process, look at the owner’s manual in print or online. You can likely also find videos on the internet showing you how to complete the task. Typically though, it requires you sync the system with your wall-mounted keypad or handheld garage remote.

Step 3 - Test Door Movement Manually

If the problem persists, evaluate the movement of the door and condition of the rails. Disconnect the door from the automatic garage door opener. Then open and close the door manually, checking for any obstructions or catching spots as the wheels move through the tracks.

Step 4 - Check Obstacle Sensors

Although four (instead of five) flashes typically indicates an issue with the sensors, it’s worth taking a quick look to see if it resolves the issue. Check the sensors located on either side of the door opening, near the bottom. If either one is blinking, that will stop the door from closing and cause it to go back up. Re aim them at each other until you get a steady light from both—then try the door. Be sure no part of your body or other obstacle is in between the two sensors or the light will remain red instead of green.

Step 5 - Evaluate the RPM Sensor Board

The RPM sensor is a likely culprit if you’ve made the evaluations above and the problem persists. RPM stands for revolutions per minute and this sensor can malfunction, especially if the system was taxed with continual work.

If the automatic garage door opener is new and you’ve installed it yourself, but it’s not working, make sure the RPM sensor board is wired correctly. The solid white wire from each sensor goes to terminal #2 and the white wires with the black tracer from each sensor goes to terminal #3. For accuracy, the RPM sensor is a small printed circuit board just in front of the motor with four wires going to it.

Step 6 - Be Patient

Five blinks of the light can also mean the motor has overheated. The system will often reset after 15-30 minutes so take a break and come back to it after a rest. Unplug the opener during this time and try the reset again before moving on to the next step.

Step 7 - Replace the Logic Board

The logic board is the circuit board and main electronic component of your automatic garage door opener. Replacing the logic board will run you around $60-$150 so try other steps before resorting to this.

To replace the circuit board, remove the panel from the back of the opener. Then unplug the wire harnesses. Take a picture or label wires if you are concerned about their placement on the new board. Remove the old circuit board by removing the screws and clips holding it in place. Then reverse the process to install the new logic board.

Note: Avoid touching any circuits when handling your new logic board.