Interesting temperature/weather related electrical conundrum

At least I think it's electrical.

Yesterday, each of my 2 very old Genie 404 screw drive garage door openers exhibited same behavior:  When each door was FIRST opened and closed - normal operation. (Outside temperature 60; high humidity. Interior garage temperature mid 30s; we had prolonged deep freeze until just a few days ago, and temps shot up yesterday.)

SECOND time each opener was activated yesterday: from closed position, garage door would open for only 1-2 seconds, and then stop, when either remote or hard-wired control button was pressed. Pressing either again resulted in door closing for 1-2 seconds, then stopping. 

Each door, when dis-engaged from opener, moved freely w/o problem.

If I depressed either remote or hard-wired button and Held it Down: door would not stop while opening - it would open completely, stopping only when I released button. However, door would still not close for more than 1-2 seconds, even with control button held down. Repeat testing yielded same results.

Problem persisted all day yesterday. Overnight, outside temps dropped to upper 20s, with low humidity. 

This morning, both openers functioned normally, and continue to do so.

I'm thinking condensation, somewhere, was responsible. But where? Could moisture affect limit switches? Why was holding down the control button able to overcome inability of door to open, but not to close?

Any thoughts?

New batterries for the remote?

marylago said:

New batterries for the remote?

That would/should be fairly high up the checklist, I would hope.

Thank you.

What aspect of the description above even remotely suggests a weak remote battery?

Frigid temperature can drain a battery pretty quickly.

I'm skeptical about the remote theory because the behavior was the same with the hard-wired button, right?

I agree that it was probably related to the extremely high humidity levels. I've never seen such heavy condensation on my windows as I did on that day. Really strange. No idea what specific components were affected, though.

I would look at any of the safety switches.  Is a sending unit getting wet and triggering a safety action?  That type of thing.  

FilmCarp said:

I would look at any of the safety switches.  Is a sending unit getting wet and triggering a safety action?  That type of thing.  

Now we're talking; good idea.

No sending unit on this 45 plus year old opener - aka the Green Monster.  The finely tuned clutch safety reverse mechanism works perfectly.

I (above) wondered if limit switch function had been affected by condensation; details/mechanism?