Yellow Light On Garage Door Sensor: How to Fix? (9 Ways!)

How to troubleshoot Yellow Light On Garage Door Sensor? These days, garage doors are known for being technologically advanced, especially if they are automated. If you have one, you may have noticed that one door sensor is golden yellow and the other is green.

The yellow light may occasionally go out. Other times, it will be the green one. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably wondering what the yellow light is and what it’s supposed to be doing?

Don’t be alarmed if your garage door won’t close and your garage door sensor is flashing yellow; this is a very common problem. Fortunately, there is a simple solution that should only take a minute or two.

WHAT DOES YELLOW LIGHT MEAN ON GARAGE DOOR SENSOR?

Each garage door opener has two sensors: the transmitter (which has a green light) and the receiver (with yellow light). It is critical that these sensors are installed at the same height and that nothing interferes with their ability to function properly.

We will explain the major issues that may arise as a result of them in the sections that follow. When the yellow (amber) light on the garage door sensor illuminates, it indicates that the sending sensor is operational.

Garage door openers include two sensors, one with a green LED light and the other with a yellow LED light. The yellow light indicates that there is no obstacle between these two sensors.

Garage Door Safety Eye Sensors

Since January 1993, all garage door openers have been required to include built-in safety eye sensors. The primary goal of these sensors is to protect children, but also adults, from avoidable injuries.

Typically, garage door sensors are placed 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) above the ground. This system is made up of two sensors. One is a transmitter that sends an infrared beam of light, and the other is a receiver that receives and reads that same infrared beam of light.

If the infrared beam is obstructed by an object or a person, the yellow light on the transmitter will not illuminate, and the garage door will stop working immediately.

HOW TO FIX YELLOW LIGHT ON GARAGE DOOR SENSOR?

The presence of a yellow light on your garage door sensor indicates that your safety reverse sensors are misaligned. Until they are repaired, your garage door will not close. Begin by cleaning the lenses on both sensors, then adjust each sensor so that they perfectly line up with one another.

Garage door sensors are typically located a few inches above the ground, one on each side of your garage door. These sensors make use of a system known as a “photo-eye.” Simply put, they fire an infrared beam from one side of your garage door to the other.

A signal is sent to these sensors when you press the remote control that closes your garage door. Their main function is to keep your garage door from closing on something or someone. Your garage door will only open if the invisible infrared beam that runs across it remains uninterrupted.

However, these sensors do occasionally fail. The key indicators of a faulty sensor are, of course, the yellow sensor light and the garage door failing to close or attempting to close and then quickly opening again. Then you’ll notice a flashing light from your overhead control box.

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1. CLEAN DIRTY LENSES

When you see a yellow light on your garage door sensor, the first thing you should do is clean the lens. Because these sensors are so close to the ground in your garage, they are subjected to dirt, grime, and cobwebs.

The simplest method is to dampen a paper towel with water and thoroughly wash the lens directly. You can even use a gentle cleaner that won’t leave streaks, such as Windex or something similar. Just be careful not to get the lens too wet. While you’re at it, clean the sensor on the opposite side of the garage door for good measure.

2. REALIGN SENSORS

Misaligned garage door sensors are the most likely culprit for why you’re seeing the yellow LED light and why your garage door won’t close. Both sensors must be pointing in the same direction and at the same exact angle at one another.

A screwdriver can be used to loosen the bracket that holds the sensor in place. Once you’ve got it loose, go ahead and position it exactly how you want it. When the sensor is in the proper position, tighten the bracket again and lock it in place.

If you don’t have a screwdriver, you may be able to slightly adjust the sensor by applying some force to it. To begin, you’ll need a wrench and a tape measure. Once you have these tools, proceed as follows:

• To begin, ensure that your garage door sensors are at least 6 inches above the ground. Take precise measurements and make a note of the exact height at which this garage sensor is located. 6.55 inches, for example.

• Then, proceed to the second sensor and precisely measure its height. You’ll need to adjust it if the height isn’t exactly the same as the other sensor.

• Finally, to adjust the second sensor, simply loosen the wing nut with the wrench and set the sensor to the same height as the first. 6.55 inches, for example.

Once these steps are completed, the garage door opener should work normally, and an infrared beam of light should appear. If the problem persists and the green light blinks while the yellow light remains illuminated, you should seek alternative solutions.

One possible cause is a spiderweb or dirt that has clogged the sensor’s lens. Simply clean any dirt that has accumulated on the lens, and you should be good to go.

In some models, each sensor is held in place by a wing-nut. In that case, simply loosen and tighten the nut with your hands. When you believe you have both sensors perfectly aligned with one another, try closing the garage door. Continue reading if it still doesn’t work.

3. RECONNECT OR REPLACE SENSOR WIRES

If cleaning and realigning the lenses on each garage door sensor doesn’t work, you should inspect each individual sensor wire. You’re looking for fraying or damage to the wires. Also, double-check that they are all securely connected.

These wires can occasionally be pulled out or worn down over time, resulting in a short in your garage door system. If you see these signs of wiring damage, unless you’re a handyman, I’d hire a professional to handle the repair.

Working with electricity and wiring can be extremely hazardous. Some things are worthwhile to pay for. A professional will have all the right tools for the job and be able to evaluate exactly what the problem is and how to fix it much quicker and safer than you could.

4. MOVE OBJECTS OUT OF THE WAY

Another possibility for your garage door sensor malfunction is that something is getting in the way. As previously stated, anything that obstructs the infrared beam that runs between the two sensors will cause the garage door to malfunction.

This is sometimes obvious, such as when a ball or a bike is clearly blocking the path. Sometimes it’s more obvious than others. It could be a bookshelf or tool box next to the sensor that appears to be out of the way but isn’t.

If you’re still having problems with your sensors, I’d recommend moving anything and everything remotely near each sensor. Simply move anything within one foot of each sensor and try closing your garage door again. Check to see if that resolves the issue.

Alternative Video: How To Align Safety Sensors?

5. PROBLEM WITH BROKEN OR DAMAGED SENSOR WIRES

Now that you’ve leveled the garage door sensors and cleaned the dirt from the lenses, the garage door sensors should work normally. However, if the yellow light problem persists, the issue could be in the wiring.

You won’t be able to see all of the wiring that is routed through the walls, but you can inspect the wires that are visible.

Examine both wires that enter the two sensors to ensure that they are not disconnected or damaged. If you notice that the wires are broken, simply reconnect them, but first turn off your garage door opener. You will need to replace the wires if they are damaged or worn out.

6. REPLACE YOUR OLD SENSORS

If you still see the yellow light on your garage door sensor after cleaning the lenses, realigning them, reconnecting/replacing sensor wiring, moving objects out of the way, and contacting support, it’s time to replace the sensors.

There are numerous reasons why your old sensors stopped working – time, overuse, exposure to harsh weather, and so on. Whatever the reason, your old sensors must be replaced.

To begin, go online or to your local home improvement store and purchase a replacement pair. Check that the new sensors are compatible with your garage door opener model. You’ll need to install your new, compatible garage door sensors once you’ve received them.

These sensors are not expensive and can be found in any home improvement store, including here on Amazon. The following is the procedure for replacing the sensors:

1. Simply disconnect your garage door opener.
2. Using a wrench, loosen the wing nuts on your garage door sensors.
3. Simply disconnect the sensors and remove them.
4. You must now affix the new sensors to the same location. Check that they are both the same height.
5. Finally, tighten the wing nuts on both sensors and connect them to the garage door with the wrench.

Your garage door opener should now function normally, as you have replaced the old sensors with new ones. Here’s another great video to help you understand garage sensors and how to detect problems.

7. CHECK THE WIRING

Your garage door opener should now function properly after you have ensured that there are no obstructions and that both sensors are properly aligned. If it still doesn’t work, the issue could be with the wiring. Begin by inspecting the wires that connect to both sensors.

Check to see if any of the wires have become disconnected or if they have withered with age. If you notice any disconnected wires, make sure to turn off your garage door opener before reconnecting them. This prevents you from being electrocuted. If, on the other hand, these wires are worn out, they must be replaced.

DOOR TRACK INSTALLATION:

1. Slide the curved arms of the sensor bracket around the edge of the door track. Snap into place so that the sensor bracket is flush against the track.
2. Slide the carriage blot into the slot on each sensor.
3. Insert the bolt through the hold in the sensor bracket and attach with the wing nut. The lenses on both sensors should point toward each other. Make sure the lens is not obstructed by the sensor bracket.

INSTALLATION WITHOUT PRE-WIRING:

1. Connect the garage door opener to the wires from both sensors. Using staples, secure the wire to the wall and ceiling.
2. Each set of wires should have 7/16 inch (11mm) of insulation removed. Disconnect the wires. Connect the white wires by twisting them together. Connect the white and black wires by twisting them together.
3. Connect the white wires to the garage door opener’s white terminal. Connect the white/black wires to the garage door opener’s grey terminal. To insert or remove the wires from the terminal, use a screwdriver tip to push in the tab.

PRE-WIRED INSTALLATION:

• Remove the safety reversing sensor wire. Check that there is enough wire to reach the pre-installed wires on the wall.

• Strip 7/16 inch (11mm) of insulation from each end of the safety reversing sensor wires. Strip 7/16inch (11mm) of insulation from each end of two of the pre-installed wires. Make certain that the pre-installed wires for each sensor are the same color.

• Connect the pre-installed wires to the sensor wires using wire nuts, ensuring that the colors match for each sensor. The white wire, for example, would connect to the yellow wire, and the white/black wire would connect to the purple wire.

• Strip 7/16 inch (11mm) of insulation from each end of the wires previously chosen for the safety reversing sensors at the garage door opener. Twist the wires of the same color together.

• Connect the wires from the white safety sensor to the white terminal on the garage door opener. Connect the wires from the white/black safety sensor wires to the garage door opener’s grey terminal.

8. UNEVEN/POORLY MAINTAINED GARAGE DOOR SENSORS

A common issue with your yellow light could be due to uneven garage door sensors, or sensors that are poorly maintained. This is a quick fix.

1. Begin by measuring the distance between your receiver and the floor. It should be six inches in length. If it isn’t, take note of the measurement. Then, calculate the distance between your transmitter and the floor. It should be the same as the distance between you and your receiver.

2. Realign your receiver and transmitter if they are not aligned. You can usually accomplish this by taking a wrench, loosening the nuts, and then tightening them evenly. It may take a few tries, but it will work fairly well. This should ensure that you see the beam and that your yellow light remains turned on.

3. Remove any dust or spiderwebs that may be obstructing the lights. If you don’t see a beam yet, a quick dusting will help you see one.

9. CALL SUPPORT

Obviously, this will depend on the garage door open brand you own, but if you’ve come to a halt and your garage door is still broken, I would contact the professionals.

The support number for your opener is almost always printed on the overhead control box. You may need to open it to see the number. Alternatively, you can simply type the brand name of your opener followed by “support” into Google and find the number that way.

CONCLUSION Garage Door Yellow Light Sensor

To avoid accidents, all garage door openers must have safety sensors, as previously stated. As a result, it is critical that they function properly. There are two sensors, one of which is a transmitter and one of which is a receiver.

One of the sensors is equipped with a green LED light, while the other is equipped with a yellow LED light. If the green LED light flashes, it indicates that there is an issue with the garage door sensor that must be resolved.

This article explained why this problem occurs, what it represents, and how to fix it. I hope this article was helpful, and if you have any further questions, please contact us or leave a comment below.

FAQs About Yellow Light On Garage Door