Garage Door Motor Replacement in California | 911 Garage Door CA
from $279
Garage Door Motor Replacement in California
Opener motor and gear-assembly replacement when the unit can be salvaged, or full opener swap when it can't. We size the new motor to your door weight (1/2, 3/4, or 1.25 HP).
Garage Door Motor Replacement is one part of our garage door opener coverage in California. For the full picture — symptoms, costs, and when to repair vs. replace — start with the complete Garage Door Opener Repair guide, or browse every garage door opener service we offer.
Motor replacement is the right move when the opener's motor or gear assembly has failed but the rest of the unit (logic board, rail, sensors, remotes, wall console) is still in good shape. On a 6–9 year old LiftMaster or Genie, motor or gear replacement is typically 40–60% the cost of a full opener swap and gives you another 8–10 years of life. We carry motor and gear assemblies for the major brands and most models from the last 12 years.
Sizing matters. A motor sized for a light non-insulated 8x7 door will burn out fast on a heavy insulated 16x7. We size replacements by measured door weight: 1/2 HP for light residential, 3/4 HP for standard insulated, 1.25 HPS for heavy insulated or oversized doors. If the original opener was under-sized, we recommend an upgrade rather than matching the underspec original.
After motor replacement, we re-program travel limits, re-calibrate force settings, and verify auto-reverse on an obstruction test. The full visit takes 90–120 minutes including these checks. We include a 2-year parts and labor warranty on the motor replacement.
Signs you need garage door motor replacement
Motor hums, door doesn't move
Capacitor failure (cheaper fix) or motor windings (full motor needed). Diagnostic determines which.
Burning smell during operation
Stop using the opener — motor is overheating, possibly due to gear strip or under-sized motor on heavy door.
MyQ, HomeKit, Alexa — control your door from anywhere.
Gear assembly stripping or bearing failure. Continued use destroys the gear; immediate service preserves a $149 gear swap vs. a $349 motor replacement.
Door moves slower than it used to
Worn motor windings can deliver less torque, causing slow travel. Diagnostic confirms motor vs. unrelated issues.
Smoke from motor housing
Severe motor failure or wiring fault — unplug immediately and call for emergency service.
Common causes & what we fix
Capacitor age
Start capacitors dry out over 7–10 years and stop providing torque to the motor. Often misdiagnosed as motor failure. $25–$89 capacitor swap usually fixes.
Gear assembly wear
Nylon worm gears strip after years of cycles. The gear, not the motor, is failing — gear replacement is much cheaper than motor replacement.
Motor winding burnout
Genuine motor failure from over-load on heavy doors or sustained operation against an obstructed door. Replacement is the fix.
Power surges
Grid events damage motor electronics. Surge protection prevents the most common failures.
Bearing failure
Motor bearings fail at 12–15 years on average. Replacement is possible but often makes more sense as full motor swap.
Our process
1
Call or schedule online. Book your garage door motor replacement in California online or by phone and pick a 2-hour window. We confirm in under five minutes with the assigned tech's name and photo.
2
On-site diagnosis. On arrival we diagnose the garage door motor replacement on-site — free for most repairs, $39 on minor service calls (waived if you proceed). You see the issue and the fix before we start.
3
Flat-rate quote. You get a flat-rate garage door motor replacement quote in writing, good for 30 days — no hourly creep and no add-ons after the fact.
4
Same-visit fix. Most garage door motor replacement work finishes the same visit: our trucks carry the common springs, cables, rollers, and opener boards, so a second trip is rare.
How much does garage door motor replacement cost in California?
Garage Door Motor Replacement the United States starts at from $279, every garage door motor replacement quote is flat-rate and presented in writing before work begins — no surprise add-ons, no hourly creep. Seniors (65+) and military save 10% on labor, and financing covers projects over $1,500 at 0% APR for 12 months, with no prepayment penalty.
Why homeowners in California choose us for garage door motor replacement
We've been a trusted choice since 1974 — over 50 years of family-owned garage door service across California. Our techs are CSLB-licensed (#1098234), background-checked, and complete an internal 12-week training program before rolling on calls alone.
Our garage door motor replacement carries a 10-year workmanship guarantee — separate from any manufacturer warranty on the parts themselves. If the garage door motor replacement we performed fails because of how we did it, we come back and fix it free for a full decade. Springs rated for 30,000 cycles carry a lifetime warranty for the original homeowner, and parts and accessories carry standard 1–5 year warranties by item.
We quote garage door motor replacement on honest scope: no unnecessary up-sell, salaried (never commissioned) technicians, and a transparent diagnostic so you see exactly what we see — including the parts still in good shape. If a repair is the right call we say so; if replacement is the better long-term economics, we say that. The flat-rate garage door motor replacement quote is written and good for 30 days.
Areas we serve for garage door motor replacement
We provide garage door motor replacement throughout California, with fast coverage in every major California metro.
Reach times for garage door motor replacement vary by traffic and time of day, so we quote an accurate ETA when you call — and the dispatch line routes straight to an on-call technician, no voicemail in between.
Frequently asked about garage door motor replacement
Top questions homeowners searching for Garage Door Motor Replacement near me ask us:
Motor vs. full opener — which makes sense?
Under 8 years old: motor swap almost always. 8–12 years: depends on overall condition. 12+ years: full opener replacement usually better long-term.
Can you confirm if the capacitor is the issue first?
Yes — capacitor test is part of the diagnostic. If it's just the cap, you save the motor replacement cost.
What size motor do I need?
Light non-insulated: 1/2 HP. Standard insulated: 3/4 HP. Heavy insulated or oversized: 1.25 HPS. We size by measured door weight, not assumptions.
How long does motor replacement take?
90–120 minutes including diagnostic, motor swap, travel and force programming, and obstruction test.
What's the coverage?
2 years parts and labor on motor replacement. Manufacturer coverage on the motor itself varies (LiftMaster 5–10 years, Genie 5 years).