A blackout, a flat remote battery or a motor fault can leave your car stuck in the garage. Every automatic garage door can be opened by hand, as long as you know where the release is and follow a few safety steps.

Before you start

  • Make sure the door is fully closed if you can. A door that's half open can drop suddenly once the motor is released, especially if a spring or cable is damaged.
  • Keep children, pets and cars clear of the doorway.
  • Look at the door first. If a spring looks broken, a cable has come off its drum, or the door is hanging crooked, stop. Don't try to lift it. Call us on 03 9791 4933.
  • If the power is on, turn the motor off at the wall so it can't start while you're working.

Roller doors

Most automatic roller doors have a manual release on the motor unit, mounted on the side of the door drum inside the garage. Depending on the motor brand it will be one of these:

  • a pull cord or chain hanging from the motor (often with a red or orange handle)
  • a lever or knob on the motor housing
  • a key-operated release on the motor or on an external release box.
  1. Pull the cord, flip the lever or turn the key to disengage the motor.
  2. Hold the bottom rail and lift the door slowly and evenly using both hands. A well-balanced roller door should lift with moderate effort.
  3. Don't let it fly up or slam down. Guide it the whole way.
  4. Lock it in place using the door's manual lock if you need to leave it open.

Sectional (panel lift) doors

Sectional doors run on a motor mounted on the garage ceiling. The release is almost always a red cord with a handle, hanging from the trolley that runs along the motor rail.

  1. With the door closed, pull the red cord down firmly (some models need a pull towards the motor).
  2. The trolley disconnects from the drive, and the door can now move freely.
  3. Lift the door from the handle or the bottom panel. The springs do most of the work, so a balanced sectional door should feel fairly light.
  4. Lower it gently. Don't drop it.

Reconnecting the motor

Once power is back, re-engage the motor by resetting the cord, lever or key to its original position. On most sectional doors you then run the motor once and the trolley clicks back onto the drive. Test the door through a full open and close cycle, and check that the safety beams and auto-reverse are working before you rely on it again.

Our Instructional Videos page has step-by-step videos for common roller door and motor models, including manual operation of the ATA GDO-9 motor.

When to call a professional

  • The door is very heavy, won't stay up, or drops when you let go. This usually means the springs need tensioning or replacing.
  • The release won't disengage, or the motor won't re-engage.
  • You hear grinding, see frayed cables, or the door runs unevenly.

Springs and cables are under high tension and can cause serious injury. Leave adjustments to a qualified technician.