When the door leaves its normal path
Cables transfer force through the lifting system while rollers follow the tracks. If a cable loses tension, a roller leaves the track, or a track is badly distorted, the door can sit crooked or bind.
Stop operating the door if
- One side is visibly higher than the other.
- A cable is loose, frayed, or off its drum.
- A roller has left the track.
- A track is bent enough to block the roller path.
- The door is partially open and unstable.
Do not cut, pull, or re-tension a garage-door cable. Cable behavior is tied to the counterbalance system and can change suddenly.
For a displaced door, see what to do when a garage door is off track.