Garage door opener recommendations? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MBeige · #1 05-12-2012, 05:07 PM

The house we're buying has a garage door opener but the remote(s) is/are missing. My concern is whoever has them can come by and open the door any time, so we want to proceed with replacing the 8-year-old garage door opener and start fresh.

What recommendations do you have? Is this an easy DIY? Our current plan is to have some fixes done before moving in, so if this is an easy DIY then I can do it myself, or if not then I can just have the contractor do the work.

The current one is chain-driven, and I'm not that particular with the noise if the chain-driven unit will outlast a screw-type or belt-driven unit. But having no experience with these, I'd appreciate your input.

spdrun · #2 05-12-2012, 05:09 PM

Buy a remote and only program the opener for the remotes you buy -- it will cease to work with any old remotes. $20 vs $500 for a new opener. The possibility of a lost remote is accounted for in the opener's design.

rocky raccoon · #3 05-12-2012, 07:06 PM

Inside the opener motor housing and inside the remotes you will find a row of tiny switches. You can set those switches to match (opener remote and opener motor unit) in the code of your choosing.

IRT chain vs screw drive; I have had both and cannot see a difference in operation or life between them. Once a year maintenance of the drive and the rollers on the door and they will outlive you (probably).

spdrun · #4 05-12-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocky raccoon

Inside the opener motor housing and inside the remotes you will find a row of tiny switches. You can set those switches to match (opener remote and opener motor unit) in the code of your choosing.

Not all openers have them. Some just have a "learn" button that you hold down while clicking your openers -- it captures the codes of only your openers.

davidmash · #5 05-12-2012, 07:19 PM

If you do go the route of changing systems I would go with screw/chain as opposed to the belt type.

I have a belt type in my house now and unless I am missing something I cannot lock my door in the open position if the power is off. The door latch only hooks on to the carrier attached to the belt and if the power is off and the carrier is in the closed position, the door has nothing to hold onto when the door is open.

My power went out a few weeks ago and I had to use a broom to prop the door open. Not a big deal but kind of PIA if you do not happen to have something long/strong enough to hold the door open.

Yak · #6 05-12-2012, 07:22 PM

I think code-switching was pretty much a common feature as of 8 years ago, and most openers have a limit as to how many transmitters they can remember. So reprogramming the old one shouldn't be a big deal.

Replacement transmitters aren't cheap, though. Depending on noise, door weight, available height, how many transmitters you need (don't overlook the HomeLink transmitter if you have one in a newer car) you might be best served by putting a new opener in.

If there are bedrooms above the garage or height is an issue or you just want a cleaner ceiling, maybe a direct shaft mount style: 3800 - DC Motor Residential Jackshaft Opener

I think this style mitigates some of the vibration and noise transferred from the common belt or chain style openers.

ah-kay · #7 05-12-2012, 07:27 PM

How handy are you? Are you as handy as your photography skill? Installing a garage opener is a piece of cake if you are pretty handy. Just follow the instructions. It is not easy to replace the remote itself if the existing unit is old. It may be more cost effective to install a new one which costs about $140. Buy one similar to your existing one then it should be a simple 'swap' out.

It is more difficult if it is a new install.

MBeige · #8 05-12-2012, 11:02 PM

Thanks guys. I'm familiar with the dip switches, our apartment complex uses them and I already have two remotes that have this dip switch programming. The Subaru also has Homelink in the rear view mirror which should be adaptable to the dip switch since I've been able to program it that way.

My concern is that there are current problems with the opener in the new house. The guys said the chain may have gotten out of the sprocket. The unit doesn't look that good either, I might as well invest in something newer and more reliable. Worst case I'll just have the contractor install the new unit and have new remotes.

The space above the garage has no bedroom, it's attached to the house but has its own roof. I was also looking into a chain/screw type system to be on the safer side (similar to our old MB's with chain driven timing gear

). I am pretty handy with tools but I have not done something like this, so I'd hate to screw this up. Maybe I can also look into systems w/ back up batteries in case of power loss, but the cost increases.

Maybe I can look into the openers that can learn the remote codes. This way, the only thing I have to program are the remotes. I just have to make sure whatever car I leave outside (190E most likely), will have no remotes left in the car.

Any brand preferences you can recommend, or have used with good reliable service? Or brands that I should avoid?

aklim · #9 05-13-2012, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

The house we're buying has a garage door opener but the remote(s) is/are missing. My concern is whoever has them can come by and open the door any time, so we want to proceed with replacing the 8-year-old garage door opener and start fresh.

What recommendations do you have? Is this an easy DIY? Our current plan is to have some fixes done before moving in, so if this is an easy DIY then I can do it myself, or if not then I can just have the contractor do the work.

The current one is chain-driven, and I'm not that particular with the noise if the chain-driven unit will outlast a screw-type or belt-driven unit. But having no experience with these, I'd appreciate your input.

Not sure what you have. My old house was built in 96 and the Genie screw drive was working till the last time I tried it this year. Yes, the clown didn't wipe the remotes and relearn. Something you should do. I was on the road and hit the button and the door opened. I would have wiped everything and reprogrammed and you will be as safe as with a new unit.

I guess it depends on how handy you are and how much time you have. Seeing as summer is approaching, you might be OK. I wouldn't do it in the dead of winter.

Depends on where the bedroom is. If you are right above the garage, you might want a screw or even a belt since it is quieter. If not, I'd get a screw or belt.

Stretch · #10 05-13-2012, 02:52 AM

Q: Most reliable garage door opener?

A: The wife!

gatorblue92 · #11 05-13-2012, 08:49 AM

I have a craftsman brand that is the chain drive. It was installed when I bought the house six years ago and it has one of the rolling code functions. My Honda and Nissan both have the home link which operates the door so I can keep a remote in each Benz.

Jim H · #12 05-13-2012, 11:25 AM

We have a 20+ year old Craftsman chain drive made by Liftmaster. A few years ago the plastic worm gear teeth eroded and started slipping. I found replacement gears at Pro Door Parts - Garage Door Parts, Springs, Openers, Keyless Remote Controllers for about $30 shipped. Straight forward removed and replaced, lube the teeth well, and I was set to go.

The chain seems to be getting noisier, so I need to make time to take it off, clean and and re-lube it, too.

Except for standing on a ladder, it is no more difficult that working on a car.

To the OP's questions, I found a replacement remote online, re-set all of the DIP switches, and found that the Homelink system in both of our cars had no trouble re-learning the new code.

pj67coll · #13 05-13-2012, 12:38 PM

Given the problems I'm experiencing with garage door openers recently I'm of the opinion that you should rip the whole thing out and start from scratch with expensive high end stuff. The cheap crap that seems to be sold now doesn't seem to be worth the trouble to me.

- Peter.

aklim · #14 05-13-2012, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Given the problems I'm experiencing with garage door openers recently I'm of the opinion that you should rip the whole thing out and start from scratch with expensive high end stuff. The cheap crap that seems to be sold now doesn't seem to be worth the trouble to me.

- Peter.

Absolutely. My Genie still works after 16 years with no issues. I don't like chain drives since they are noisy. Belt oe screw is quieter. Not sure how Craftsmen is. Anyone know?

lutzTD · #15 05-13-2012, 08:42 PM

I have craftsmen screw drives on both my doors. We use one as the entry and the other stores my mustang. the entry door needs to be lubed every once in a while but it is relatively quiet. The other is super quiet and I assume is the sound of new. I like the screw drive better then chain, dont have experience with the belt. newer ones have a battery back upo which is nice if you come home and the power is out, power out is pretty often here in the summer.

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