It’s the most annoying thing in the world. You press the button to leave for work, the door starts to go down, and then Click-Clack—it reverses right back up and the lights blink 10 times.

This isn’t a demon in your garage opener. It’s a safety feature.

Since 1993, federal law requires all garage doors to have “Photo Eye” safety sensors. These are the two little black boxes at the bottom of your tracks, about 6 inches off the ground. They shoot an invisible beam across the opening. If that beam is broken, the door will not close.

How to Fix It (The 3-Step Check)

1. The “Sunlight Blindness” Check

If this only happens in the morning or late afternoon, check if the sun is shining directly into the “Receiving” eye (usually the one with the green light). Direct sunlight can blind the sensor.

The Fix: Create a small cardboard toilet paper tube “shade” and tape it over the sensor lens to block the glare.

2. The “Spider Web” Check

Spiders love garage door corners. A single thick web or a stuck leaf across the lens is enough to break the beam.

The Fix: Wipe both lenses gently with a microfiber cloth.

3. The “Kick” Check

Did someone accidentally kick the bracket? Look at the LEDs on the sensors.

Green Light (Solid): The sensor is aligned.
Green Light (Flickering/Off): The sensor is misaligned.
Amber Light (Solid): This is the sending unit (it’s always on).
The Fix: Loosen the wing nut on the bracket and gently wiggle the sensor until the Green LED turns solid and bright. Then tighten it back up.

Still Not Closing?

If the lights are solid but the door still won’t close, you might have a logic board failure or a wiring short. That requires a multimeter to diagnose.

Call Ez2Fix and we’ll troubleshoot your electrical system today.