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helpimstuck · Aug 13, 2007, 02:39 PM

Help,

The previous renters left without returning the remote for the garage door. The problem is the door is closed and there is no other way into the garage. I'm not sure of the brand of garage door, but how would I open the door from the outside if I don't have the remote or how do I program a new one, assuming I can find one that looks like the old one.

Do local fire departments or police departments have remotes that will open the door. It is a roll-up door and I don't want to break the door. Any ideas?

Larry :)

esquire1 · Aug 13, 2007, 03:24 PM

YOu may have to contact a garage door company. I believe the fire a police depts. Will not be able to help. Once you get inside garage you get the brand and go to Lowes/ Home Depot and get replacement. The garager door company will also be able to supply you with one and even program it for you

glavine · Aug 13, 2007, 04:21 PM

It doesn't matter what brand the gargage door is, what matters in what the motor is,
In the motor there are dip switchs probably 4 of them, they'll switch up and down, the remote has the same dip switchs,

All you need to do is go to Lowe's or homedepot and pick up a replacement remote and set the switchs to what the motors switchs are,

esquire1 · Aug 13, 2007, 04:27 PM

Most newer ones do not have the dip switches anymore. There problem is getting in the garage first

glavine · Aug 13, 2007, 04:42 PM

Well If Ya Can't Get In, That Would Be A Problem, Being That Its Rented I Assumed Its An Older Home , Thus Older Garage Motor. There Should Be A Door Going Into The Garage Id Assume, Or A Window, They Could Use

esquire1 · Aug 13, 2007, 04:52 PM

They did say do other way in garage. Never stated age of home. I have not had one with dip switch at any of my homes in many years. All have had the smart button.

helpimstuck · Aug 14, 2007, 08:02 AM

Thanks for your help, the garage is detached and there are on doors or windows. It is owned by a friend of mine who is not sure of the brand of garage door opener. I'm not sure of the age of her place. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

:rolleyes:

beingteri · Aug 14, 2007, 11:38 AM

Walk around the structure and look for a ventilation shaft... like a screened area up near the roof line or a whirlybird on the roof itself. If it is large enough to crawl through, you may be able to gain access into the rafter area then down into the main garage. Then pull the cotter pin and remove the chain pin to enable access by opening the main door.

Since it is not accessible except through this single door, is there a keyhole anywhere on the outside near the door? A lot of garage doors have that "emergency" remote bypass. Is there no way to contact the previous renter? Maybe they didn't take it but placed it somewhere in the house that isn't obvious and you haven't found it yet?

But I have to agree with Esquire1, the easiest and fastest way to gain access would probably be to call a garage door person OR a locksmith. I know there is a machine that exists and I believe it's used by locksmiths... that rolls through all the possible remote combinations and frequencies until it triggers your door... like when you program a universal remote for your TV. (there was a crime spree a few years back, in a very affluent neighborhood in CA. The police were baffled because they couldn't figure out how the thieves were gaining access to so many homes with nothing in common). This would be the way to do it with the least damage to the garage and the door.

ThomasCKeat · Aug 14, 2007, 05:55 PM

When you finally gain access they sell a special lock that has a cable that attaches to the manual lever to release the door when there is a power failure or broken remote switches. So you can unlock the lock pull the cable and release the door.

lostopener · Aug 5, 2008, 12:56 AM

Larry, or anyone else.
I have the same problem like Larry, i.e. I lost my garage remote opener. There is no way to get into the garage, i.e. no door or windows. I can buy a new remote opener but without being able to open the garage, there is no way to program the new opener.

Any suggestion anyone? Thank you in advance for any assistant.

amricca · Aug 5, 2008, 06:52 AM

I would tell your friend to get back the remote from his last renter or take it out of their security deposit and get you a new one.

ballengerb1 · Aug 5, 2008, 08:30 PM

OK here is my suggestion, no windows or doors, so lets make one. You don't want to break the door so a hole in the wall is the next best thing. Plunge cut a circular saw at window height and cut yourself a box opening just slightly smaller than an affordable window casing. You will still have to figure out the dip swicthe/smart button isue but at least you are inside. There may be a doorbell button to open it, if not check the back side of the unit for two small terminals, short across the terminal.

hkstroud · Aug 5, 2008, 10:48 PM

What type of door is it. Many garage door are a frame and panel construction. The panel is a 1/4 " thick panel held in place by molding strips on the inside. Easily burst open then replaced.

jimmy1483 · Aug 6, 2008, 06:08 AM

Are these wood 4 panel sections or alluminum door sections ?

realization · Jul 23, 2012, 05:39 AM

I just helped my friend open his garage door by brute force and ignorance. We were trying to pry it open enough so that we could slip a coat hanger in and catch the release cord from the top of the door, but by using a brick and a 2x4 and some scraps of wood we pryed it open enough so that the screws holding the arm to the door broke free. They were short half inch screws and only three, srewed into mdf. Much weaker than I expected.

realization · Jul 23, 2012, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by realization

I just helped my friend open his garage door by brute force and ignorance. We were trying to pry it open enough so that we could slip a coat hanger in and catch the release cord from the top of the door, but by using a brick and a 2x4 and some scraps of wood we pryed it open enough so that the screws holding the arm to the door broke free. They were short half inch screws and only three, srewed into mdf. Much weaker than I expected.

Try cycling the power first, if we had just flipped the circuit breaker it would have fixed the problem.