Hello I have a craftsman 1/2 HP garage door opener. It was manufactured in 1998. It no longer is opening or closing. It's stuck open right now. When you try to close it there is just a short click or hum type sound from the unit but nothing else. There is an LED flashing on the circuit board next to an orange button. If I push the orange button the light stops flashing and stays on steadily. I try again and the opener fails to work and the light starts flashing again. It seems to flash 5 times then pause and flash 5 times again.

1. Is this light a troubleshooting aid? If so what does the 5 flashes indicate?

2. Can anyone tell me why there are 3 wires going into the motor? I wanted to just jump power to the motor to see if the motor was the issue.

3. Which wires would I have to apply power to test just the motor?

Thanks for any help in advance.

DO NOT APPLY POWER DIRECTLY TO THE MOTOR!

Typically the motors have external starting capactors and they need to be part of the circuit.

Get the manual for details of the error codes. And based on the age you can probably get one from Sears.

Sears GDO are made by Chamberlain and have the same basic design and characteristics although the appearance will be a little different (for example the light on different end).

You did not indicate if this is a chain, belt, or screw drive.

Here are links to the current Chamberlain models and you can get the instruction manuals from this page.

https://www.chamberlain-diy.com/diy04/products/buy_online_gdo/0,3818,uid-d2h8b2FnZGxoaA==_1749,00.html

Good possibility that the control board works the same.

Here is a source of replacement parts and it has a link for a cross references between Sears models and Chamberlian.

http://www.aaaremotes.com/liftmaster.html

I suspect the RPM sensor, but it might be binding of the chain/screw/belt and trolley or the motor cap.

Here is what the manuals for the CURRENT models say about the 5 flash code.

"Sympton" motor has over heated; the motor unit does not operate; rpm sesnor = short travel 6-8".

* Unplug unti to reset. Try to operate motor unit, check diagnostic doe.

* If it still flashing 5 times and motor unit moves 6-8", replace RPM sensor.

* If motor does not operate, motro unit is overheated. Wait 30 minutes and retry. If motor unit still will not operate replace logic board."

Chamberlain also has some FAQ and other information under Support.

And the aaaremote place says that it will help, I know with selecting remotes, don't know about diagnostics.

Hey Billhart thanks for taking the time to make your post. After I made my post I continued scouring the internet for possible solutions. I came upon a tech support number for Craftsmen openers and called them. The tech knew exactly what it was and how to fix it.

It was indeed a stuck trolley. After performing the steps the tech gave me a little while ago I got it working perfectly. This was my first experience working on an opener and, I feel it was a good learning experience.

If anyone else encounters this problem with a 5 light flash check for the trolley to be stuck against a bolt going vertically through the track.
Thanks again Bill

P.S. It is a chain drive.

Hey guys, I had exactly the same problem (5 consecutive blinks,pause, repeat blinking, low motor hum, but no movement).
After reading your thread, I loosened the chain a bit, and then retightened.
Worked fine immediately thereafter.
It apprears that the trolley had travelled a bit too far back from the normal stop position, and it had jammed up against the housing.
Great advice, thanks so much.
Saved me from buying a new unit.