Over the last year or so my garage door opener/closer has grown increasingly persnickety to the point where it no longer closes when the sun is out and shining brightly. Instead, it will behave as if something is blocking the pathway of the sensors.

But they are clean and aligned with a good connection because I NEVER have trouble when it is dark, overcast, or relatively early before the sun really gets high.

But if it is anytime between late morning and before dusk, it will not close.

Do I just need to replace the sensors?

I had the same issue - cleaned, checked alignment - no joy. Picked up replacements at the hardware store, installed in 5 minutes and was back in operation.

Yes I had have had to replace the set 2 times over the years. Alignment issues by bumping one was more of an issue versus a bad unit, however.

Yes, the sensors will go bad, but they also get dirty and need to be cleaned every once in awhile. I lived in the Central Valley for many years and know how bad the dust and dirt can get.

My mom's house has a south-facing garage and has this problem in the winter when the sun angle begins to hit the eye. After a few years of having somebody stand outside to shade the eye during closing, I finally rigged up a short toilet paper roll that looks like a rifle scope sun shade. No problems since.

Receiving sensor might be “blinded” by the sun. Try switching them.

1) try cleaning
2) build a sun shade, found this:
"Place a piece of cardboard, like a toilet paper roll, around the sensor to shade the eye. You could also use PVC pipe to do this."

I modified some steel junction boxes in my last home to shield the sensors. Kids kept clipping them with bike tires, balls, toys, etc.

Yes, they can die. Replaced ours a couple years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris42:
Receiving sensor might be “blinded” by the sun. Try switching them.

Try this. I had the same problem and when you mentioned "when the sun is out and shining brightly."

For me, the issue was the hour or so before sunset the sensor would be blinded. I switched the sensors from one side to the other and it solved the issue right away.

Yes. Happened on my first home even though it was 2.5 years old. No amount of cleaning or blocking sunlight did anything. New sensor immediately corrected.

Had to replace one or two on subsequent homes since then.

Mine have lasted forever, but they are taped together and zip-tied to an opener support. I hate those things.

Mine did have the sun issue a few times, garage faces west now that the tree is 30 years older it's solved.

Do like the TP roll concept, paint it camo black n grey... Sniper Sensors...

or you can raise them a little higher off the ground. So long as they are not higher than the trunk or hood of your vehicle.