Garage Door Problem Guide
Garage Door Only Opens a Few Inches
If the door lifts a few inches, stops and maybe reverses, the opener is probably trying to lift more weight than it should.
Quick answer
The most common cause is a broken torsion or extension spring. The opener’s safety logic senses that the door is far too heavy and stops after a few inches. Other causes include a broken cable, the opener’s force or limit settings, or a manual lock still engaged.
Safety first: Don’t try to lift the door by hand or keep running the opener. With a broken spring, the door can be extremely heavy and could drop.
Likely causes
- Broken spring — by far the most common reason.
- Broken or slack lift cable on one or both sides.
- Manual lock engaged on a door with an opener.
- Open force set too low for the door.
- Opener drive failure — stripped gear or slipping belt.
Safe checks you can do
- From a safe distance, look at the torsion spring above the door for a visible gap in the coils.
- On extension spring doors, look along the horizontal tracks for a spring that is stretched, hanging or missing.
- Check whether a manual lock handle on the door is in the locked position.
- Look at both bottom corners — is a cable hanging loose?
A broken spring often announces itself with a loud bang, sometimes when no one is using the door. If you heard one recently, that’s a strong clue.
What not to do
- Don’t pull the emergency release and try to lift the door.
- Don’t keep pressing the opener button.
- Don’t try to wind, unwind or replace the spring yourself.
Not comfortable checking this yourself?
Call and a technician can diagnose the door safely and explain the repair options.
Signs it needs a technician
- Any visible spring gap, stretched spring or loose cable.
- The door is closed and won’t open, and you need your car.
- The opener strains or hums when trying to lift.
The fix is usually spring replacement, sometimes with cable repair. If the car is trapped, see emergency repair.
Repair Services for This Problem
When a basic check doesn’t solve it, these are the services that usually do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my garage door open about six inches and stop?
This is a classic sign of a broken spring. The opener’s safety system stops when the load is far heavier than normal.
Can I open the door manually to get my car out?
Not safely with a broken spring. The door can weigh well over 100 pounds and drop without warning. Call for help.
Could it be the opener instead of the spring?
Possibly, but check the springs first. Replacing an opener when the spring is broken won’t fix the problem.
I don’t see a gap in the spring. What else could it be?
A broken cable, a lock engaged, low force settings, or an opener drive problem. A technician can diagnose it safely.
How do I know if I have torsion or extension springs?
Torsion springs are on a bar above the door opening. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side.
Is this an emergency?
It’s urgent if your car is trapped or the door is stuck open. Otherwise, leave the door closed and schedule repair.
Still Having Trouble
With Your Garage Door?
Call to describe what the door is doing. We serve Augusta, Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, Hephzibah, North Augusta and Aiken.