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DIY & Home Improvement

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Beartracks

(13,998 posts)
Sat Oct 19, 2024, 04:14 PM Oct 2024

Garage door opener: pop & smoke [View all]

So there I was, working my garage door up and down a few times to spread around the white lithium I'd used on all the hinges and along the track, when there's a : OP:: and then smoke whisps out of the motor as it buzzes and tries to keep moving, and liquid drips out of the housing. I thought at first somehow the grease had tracked in, but no -- this sounds the likely scenario:

"When a capacitor goes wrong, it usually makes a loud pop sound like a miniature bang. In such an instance, smoke and acid from the capacitor spill all over the logic board, causing more damage to the circuitry."

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and presume this means I am in the market for a new opener? As opposed to, say, fixing this one...

I just hope I don't have to install a new track. That's kind of a pain.
Edit to add: Oh, crap. Never mind. I remember the track with the whole motor. Dangit. At least holes are already drilled.

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Garage door opener: pop & smoke [View all] Beartracks Oct 2024 OP
The magic smoke got out ?? Oh no, that means it has to be returned to the factory to be refilled ! eppur_se_muova Oct 2024 #1
There was intermittent dripping onto the floor for a couple minutes. Beartracks Oct 2024 #3
Hard to know if that was lubricant or electrolyte. In either case, I'd try to wipe that board. eppur_se_muova Oct 2024 #5
The capacitor blew its top. Beartracks Oct 2024 #13
That may look like good luck, but it could very well be good design. Hope it's as simple a fix as it looks ! eppur_se_muova Oct 2024 #17
Sounds possible. Blown cap on power supply. Sure could be. bullimiami Oct 2024 #2
I installed it in 2008. Genie brand. Beartracks Oct 2024 #4
It's had a long successful life. bullimiami Oct 2024 #6
Yep. Beartracks Oct 2024 #8
Just to follow up... Beartracks Oct 2024 #14
Genie does sell replacement boards, if it's not discontinued. eppur_se_muova Oct 2024 #7
Hey, thanks for this info. Beartracks Oct 2024 #9
It's probably the dielectric material in the capacitor. cloudbase Oct 2024 #10
If so, would it be a solder -type replacement? Beartracks Oct 2024 #11
Maybe. cloudbase Oct 2024 #12
Just to follow up... Beartracks Oct 2024 #15
Glad it's working out for you. cloudbase Oct 2024 #16
Doors alinasloane Dec 2024 #18
Hi. Capacitor replacement was the only needed fix for the motor. BUT... Beartracks Dec 2024 #19
Garage door opener: pop & smoke Alexander Allan Jun 30 #20
Good morning! I did indeed just replace the capacitor. Beartracks Jun 30 #21
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