Why would my garage door opener occasionally runs past the limit settings?

expert EXPERT March 12, 2008

It is possible for wear in the limit switch to allow the metal contacts to miss each other and, when that happens, the electrical trigger to stop the door never happens so the door will bypass its limit setting. It is also possible one of the metal tabs themselves is bent and this is adding to the problem or that the wiring for the switch is not making a consistent connection. The best solution would be a replacement limit switch or, if needed, wiring. You can check the pricing on those, and even order direct if you want, through the Sears Parts site using the model number and the information in the link below.

Another possibility is play in the worm gear assembly that connects the drive from the motor to the gear and sprocket assembly. The limit switches work off that gear so play there can be enough to occasionally alter the setting and then the force settings might engage and reverse the door before the limit setting is reached. When play is bad enough, the gears can actually jump and the limit setting will then be out of sync altogether, though typically that would not be an intermittent issue. The other link below has more information that might help if you have an issue with the worm gear.