A garage door that opens fine but refuses to close is one of the most common problems we get called about — and often one of the simplest to fix. Check these in order.
1. Blocked or Misaligned Safety Sensors
The #1 cause by far. Look at the two sensors near the floor: both indicator lights should be solid. Clean the lenses, clear any obstruction (even a leaf counts), and gently realign until the lights are steady.
2. Sunlight Hitting a Sensor
Low autumn sun can overpower the receiving sensor at certain times of day. If the door only misbehaves in the late afternoon, this is likely.
3. Travel Limit Settings
If the door closes fully, touches the floor, then reverses back up, the close-limit is set too far — the opener thinks the floor is an obstruction. This is an adjustment on the opener unit.
4. Something in the Tracks
Inspect both tracks for debris, dents, or a roller that's jumped out.
5. Broken Springs or Cables
If the door starts closing then slams or hangs crooked, stop — this is a tension hardware failure and it's dangerous.
6. Remote vs. Wall Button
If the wall button closes the door but the remote won't, it's the remote (battery or programming), not the door.
Still stuck? Straight Up Garage Doors troubleshoots and repairs across the St. Louis metro, usually same-day. Call (314) 788-1106.