How to Repair a Garage Door Opener Keypad

Many homeowners have a garage door opener keypad to help them with the opening and closing of their garage door. The keypad is used for locking the garage door to keep their car, and other items, secure. As wonderful as the garage door opener keypad is, there are times when it is a great hindrance. If you have your car locked in the garage and the keypad is not working, you will have a hard time getting to work that day. Repairing a garage door opener keypad is something that can be done easily by a do-it-yourselfer.

Step 1 - Read Manual for Troubleshooting

One of the best ways to determine what is wrong with the garage door opener keypad is to read the operator's manual. This manual will have listed some of the more common problems with the keypad like no power, not reading your personal code, and having to reset the code after each use. Becoming well acquainted with the manual will help you with many of the problems that can occur.

Step 2 - Check for Wiring Connection

The keypad operates through either being wired directly into the electrical system of the garage or through batteries. While the batteries have quite a long life, they will eventually run out of juice. Check the power of the keypad for continuous current. If the batteries are dead, replace them. If the wiring of the keypad does not have any current running through it, you will need to check the breaker, the junction box, or the wire terminals.

Step 3 - Connect Wires

In the event that the keypad has loose wires, then tighten them up with a screwdriver. If you notice that there is a problem in the junction box, you will need to shut the circuit off to make more solid connections with wire nuts.

Step 4 - Reset Keypad

In the event of a prolonged power outage, the garage door opener keypad may lose your personal code. If this happens you will need to reset it. This is done by pressing the "Learn" button or whatever your manufacturer labeled the entry button. Hold it until the LED light blinks and key in your digits. Once the digits have been pressed, the LED will stop flashing and it is set.

Step 5 - Replace Keypad

There are times when the garage door opener keypad does not hold your personal code. This is most likely a result of the "brain" of the keypad being faulty. You can send the unit away to be fixed, but it is less expensive to just purchase a universal garage door opener keypad instead. Replace the keypad and enter your code for the unit to work.

Step 6 - Replace Corroded Terminals

If the garage door opener keypad is installed on the outside of the door it will start to corrode on the inside. Remove the cover of the keypad and check out the terminals. If they are corroded you can try to sand them down to the bare metal. However, if they break, you can replace them with new terminals. Solder them onto their attaching points and connect the wiring to them.