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1/2 HP Craftsman GDO remotes won't work

17 years ago

I have a Craftsman GDO (the back of the remotes says: 139.53681 - to be honest, I don't know if that is the model number or not). I recently changed the batteries in one of my remotes, and it quit working. When I decided to check and see if the batteries were bad, and put those batteries in the other remote, it quit working, too. Now, I have two remotes that won't work. The wall mounted button that is wired into the back works, but I can't seem to get the remotes programmed (the remotes are the "security +" variety).

I have tried resetting all remotes and then reprogramming them, but can't seem to get the remotes to reprogram. I hold down the button on the remote, and then press the "SRT (learn)" button on the back of the opener. The manual says that the light on the panel will begin to blink and the opener light will flash once, but none of that happens. The light on the back of the panel turns on and stays on for about 30 seconds or until I let go of the button on the remote (whichever comes first). Then when I test the remote...nothing.

Anybody have any ideas - I'd really like to avoid spending the $75 or $80 for new remotes if I can.

Chris Spotts

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Comments (7)

mike_kaiser_gw
17 years ago
Chris,

I could be wrong here but the sequence I seem to recall is to push the "learn" button on the opener and then the button the remote.

Mike
cspottrun
Original Author
17 years ago
I tried that, too, but no luck. The light never flashes, and the remotes don't work. Any other ideas?

Chris
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jasper_60103
17 years ago
Seems you tried what the poster on the other thread did, except he mentioned the garage door should be CLOSED first.
Check it out...

Here is a link that might be useful: post about prog sears GDO remote
lsenator
17 years ago
has power to unit,door will not close.light does work,if you hit button & walk under door sensors will make light blink so that feature is working,wondering if it is a bad starter/capasitor
cspottrun
Original Author
17 years ago
Jasper,

I've tried that now, too. NO luck. It's still the same thing. I can't get the receiver to recognize either of my remotes.

Any other ideas?
jasper_60103
17 years ago
cspottrun,
have you tried cycling power on the GDO?
Just unplug the GDO for a minute.
Also, remove the battery from the remotes as well.
Power both up and give it another try.

Sometimes a hard reset solves problems.

-jasper
kscob
17 years ago
I have the exact same problem! The battery died in my remote so I changed the battery. The other remote had a dead battery for a while, so I changed that one at the same time.

Neither remote will work outside of a 3 foot range now. Really doesn't help when I'm outside the garage in the pouring rain. We tried everything here and nothing worked at all.

We did call Sears since I seemed not to be the only one with the problem, thinking they may have a work around for it. All the operator wanted to do was send a repairman.

My husband finally wired up an antenna to the GDO and ran it across the ceiling and barely stuck the ends outside of the garage door. I have to pull right up to the door before I can open it, as the range is still very short, but it's better than having to get out of the car and use the keypad - which never worked well either!

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