January 16, 2019

Installing a sensor sun shield on your garage door opener video

Installing a sensor sun shield on a garage door opener.
Installing a sensor sun shield on a garage door opener.

A ray of sunlight can trick the garage door opener sensors into thinking there’s something in the door’s path, preventing the door from closing. Sun shields are an inexpensive solution. Figuring out how the shield folds around the sensor can be somewhat tricky, so we made this video to show you how to install them.

If you need help with another problem with your garage door opener, our DIY repair page has repair guides, troubleshooting videos, error code information and more.

Install a sun shield on each sensor

  1. Open the garage door and remove the wing nut from the sensor.

  2. Push the sun shield mounting tab into the sensor bracket.

  3. Fold the shield against the top and bottom of the sensor.

  4. Fold the shield body outward to expose the sensor lens.

  5. Fold the top flap down and then fold the bottom flap up to make a box around the sensor.

  6. Reinstall the sensor’s wing nut to hold the sun shield in place.

  7. Install a shield on the other sensor.

Align sensors after installing the sun shields

  1. Adjust the sensors until the green light on the receiving sensor glows.

  2. Test sensor alignment by using the remote control to close the garage door

  3. Adjust the alignment until the garage door closes.

Check out the Sears PartsDirect YouTube channel for hundreds of other DIY repair videos on appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools and more. Subscribe and we’ll let you know when we post new ones.

Most common symptoms to help you fix your garage door openers

Choose a symptom to see related garage door opener repairs.

Main causes: neighbor's remote programmed at the same time as yours, faulty wall control wiring, bad wall control unit…

Main causes: faulty logic control board, bad RPM sensor, broken gears in the drive system, bad drive motor…

Main causes: loose fasteners, broken brackets, need preventive maintenance, worn drive gears, loose or worn belt, loose …

Things to do: check garage door travel, tighten brackets and fasteners, test safety sensors, check travel limits and for…

Main causes: garage door opener misaligned, travel limits need adjustment, bad travel limit switches, faulty logic contr…

Main causes: garage door locked, damaged garage door tracks, up-force setting needs adjustment, RPM sensor failure, bad …

Main causes: radio interference, weak remote batteries, sunlight interference with safety sensor beams, safety sensors n…

Main causes: safety sensor beams blocked, safety sensors not aligned, downforce setting needs adjustment, damaged garage…

Most common repair guides to help fix your garage door openers

These step-by-step repair guides will help you safely fix what’s broken on your garage door opener.

How to replace a garage door opener battery

How to replace a garage door opener battery

The garage door won't move during a power outage if the battery is dead. Here’s how to replace it.…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
How to replace a garage door opener wall control

How to replace a garage door opener wall control

If you push the control button on the wall control and the garage door doesn’t move, the control is defective. Replace i…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
How to replace a chain-drive garage door opener RPM sensor

How to replace a chain-drive garage door opener RPM sensor

Learn how to replace the RPM sensor if the door only moves 6 to 8 inches at a time and the LED light flashes 5 times. …

Repair difficulty
Time required
 60 minutes or less

Effective articles & videos to help repair your garage door openers

Use the advice and tips in these articles and videos to get the most out of your garage door opener.

How to enjoy all the online benefits we offer on our Sears PartsDirect website

How to enjoy all the online benefits we offer on our Sears PartsDirect website

Learn about all the convenient features on our Sears PartsDirect website that make your parts purchases easier.…

Top questions about Sears and Sears PartsDirect

Top questions about Sears and Sears PartsDirect

Get answers to frequently asked questions about Sears and Sears PartsDirect.…

How to repair broken or damaged wires video

How to repair broken or damaged wires video

Learn how to repair broken, frayed or damaged wires in your appliances.…