Garage Door Lights Won’t Turn Off (Causes & Solutions)

Do you own a garage in your home? If so, then having door lights is highly important for security and safety. Of course, you only use this pivotal home component during nighttime or when there is restricted brightness in the area. But the problem is, what if your garage door lights won’t turn off?

First and foremost, garage door openers come with one or more light bulbs, which then encompass a logic receiver panel. This logic board is tasked to manage the light features, including a light timer that often lasts up to 4 minutes.

And if the light continues to turn on for more than 4 minutes, it means there is an issue with the light feature. To resolve this, it’s important that you are able to identify the source of the problem.

Reasons (resolutions) on why garage door lights won’t turn off

Although the problem itself does not pose significant harm to the entire garage door system, solving this immediately is highly recommended to maximize the light’s battery life. So, we’ve gathered all the possible reasons why your garage door lights stay on.

1. There is an issue with the motion sensor.

The very common underlying issue is related to the motion sensor, which is generally included in most garage door openers. The motion sensor, typically a LED light, is a core feature that detects movement within its scope. So, if someone walks in front of the motion sensor beams, then it lights up.

Moreover, if there is constant movement, perhaps walking in and out of the garage, then the sensor does its responsibility. It stays activated to keep you updated with the activities as well as to provide light when you have to work in the garage at night. There are even motion sensors that can detect heat.

So, if there’s someone or something triggering the sensors, then there’s a great possibility that the lights won’t shut off.

Resolution: 

To solve the problem, you need to distinguish the cause of the triggers.

• Carefully check if there’s something messing up the sensors. It could be an object that was accidentally stuck near the LED light or a person trying to sneak into the garage.
• Therefore, you should thoroughly identify the element that activates the sensor to work and turn the light on. Once you have identified the cause, make sure to remove them accordingly.

2. The panel switch is turned on.

When the panel light feature is activated, the motion sensor will be tasked to do its job. Moreover, if the light feature is working, then it stimulates the automatic light through the photo eye sensor. So, the next time you step into your dark garage, the light switches on automatically.

And more often than not, most safety sensors are controlled via remote control. With remote control, you can easily handle the key functions of a garage door opener.

And if the light feature in the remote control is turned on, then the garage door lights will definitely not turn off whenever there are movements around the area. While this is remarkable security and safety feature, especially during nighttime, and if you’re not at home, you have the option to turn this off.

Resolution:

If not in use or if you prefer not to be bothered by the lights while working, simply switch this feature off. Here are the simple steps for turning off the panel light via your remote control:

• Choose the menu button.
• Click the light settings.
• Pick the automatic light button.
• Switch off the sensory feature.
• Go back to the menu panel.
• Test if the lights won’t turn on even with some movements.

Meanwhile, some remote controls have limited functions, making it difficult to maneuver the sensory options of the door opener. In this case, you need to refer to the manual. Here, you get detailed information about the product, from the model number to the core components.

Follow through with the instructions set by the manufacturer to ensure that everything goes well. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to the retailer for additional assistance.

3. There is a loose wire connection.

If you have been using your garage door opener for many years, there is a possibility of ground wires getting loose. As a result, this impacts the wall receptacle and even the door opener motor. And if there’s an issue with the motor, then the motion sensors are also affected.

Resolution:

As much as possible, you need to act on the problem immediately to avoid significant damage to your equipment. Below are some troubleshooting steps for your reference:

• Find the yellow wire that is located between the motor and the wall control unit.
• Make sure the that connection is not loose. And, there should be no unnecessary elements settled within the section of the screw terminal. If there are, carefully clean and remove them.
• If you think that there are no external elements that hamper the connection, the problem could be the yellow wire itself. So, try to replace it with a new one.

4. There is damage in the light feature or the door wiring itself.

When the garage door’s motion sensor or door wiring has underlying issues, then the lights would certainly be affected. And the inability of the light to switch off is the most typical outcome. Thus, if you’ve turned off the panel switch but the light still works, it means you need to do a thorough check-up.

Resolution:

If the cause of the problem is the wiring or the motion sensor, then a detailed evaluation is a must. And for your convenience, we’ve created a troubleshooting guide that you can use as a reference to solve the problem.

• Start by resetting the light timer. Turn it to the lowest setting and disconnect the unit from the power as well as the wiring from the door opener.
• Reconnect all the connections after a couple of minutes.
• Check if the light turns on automatically. If it turns on but then switches off after a minute or so, then there is definitely a problem with the wiring.

Unfortunately, issues with the wiring can be very technical. It may also be dangerous if you do it on your own without proper guidance. It may cause accidents like fire, so it’s highly suggested that you contact a professional to solve the problem seamlessly.

You may consider it as an added expense, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. In addition, the professional technicians are highly knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the wire connection. So, it’s best that you leave the complex work to the experts.

5. It could be from a faulty wall switch connection.

Sometimes, the problem occurs because of a defective switch-wall connection. Just like door wirings, this may be a very complex problem, but there are simple steps that can help you diagnose, and that is to check if wall switch replacement is possible to solve the issue at hand.

Resolution:

• Kick-off by removing the wall switch.
• Disconnect the main sensor wires and assess if the light continues to stay on. If it does, then the problem lies on the logic board. On the other hand, if the light turns off upon wire disconnection, then the issue stems from the wall switch. So, try to replace it with a new and reliable one.

6. It is because of a broken logic board.

Aside from having a wiring issue or faulty connection, another possible reason could be related to the main circuit board or the logic board. The circuit board is a core component of the garage door opener. In fact, it controls all major functions associated with the equipment.

Thus, if there are impediments obstructing the works of the logic board, it affects everything. And of course, these include a light that doesn’t turn off, among others.

Resolution:

• Try to disconnect the wall switch. If the light continues to turn on, then it could be a stuck relay. The cause of a stuck relay may be due to incorrect micro-welding or too many current flows that the contacts melt and fuses together.
• If you see a stuck relay on the logic board, it’s best that you let a professional technician handle the problem. DIY repairs may not be the most suitable option, especially with the intricate setup.

7. The garage door opener is defective.

Lastly, there are rare cases in which the garage door opener itself is the problem. It could be due to old age or issues with manufacturing.

Resolution:

• If it’s still under warranty, reach out to the retailer or the manufacturer for help.
• If it’s already beyond the warranty scope or it’s already past its prime years, then maybe it’s time to buy a new one!

Conclusion

It’s very important to identify first the cause of the problem. From there, you’d be able to choose the right resolution and eventually solve the issue. And if you can’t handle it on your own, call the professionals and let them do the job. This is the best choice if you do not want to add further damage to your item.