Somfy roller shutter no longer goes down, what should I do?

Somfy is now considered to be one of the world leaders in home automation. The reputation of this French company is essentially built on the design of motors for rolling shutters that are ever more efficient and reliable, making our daily lives easier. That is why, when a problem arises, it is disappointment.

Fortunately, Somfy also relies on a quality after-sales service that provides many spare parts and complete tutorials so that you can be as independent as possible. Thanks to this, most repairs are accessible to everyone. So find out today how to fix a problem with a Somfy roller shutter that no longer goes down?

Why does my Somfy roller shutter no longer go down?

Does your Somfy roller shutter with wired motor or RTS or IO radio motor no longer descend correctly? Several factors may be at the origin:

  • an obstructed or damaged slide
  • one or more misaligned or damaged slats or the entire deformed apron
  • a problem on the winding shaft (detached apron clips, broken tulips, etc.)
  • un engine problem (motor deprogramming, faulty control or switch, faulty motor)

In most cases, the problem lies with the motorization, and more precisely following an electrical bug which requires a engine reset and reprogramming of the limit switch. If so, that's good news because fixing the problem doesn't actually require a repair. You will simply have to carry out a series of manipulations with your order. But first of all, you will need to check that a hardware problem is not the cause of the problem with your Somfy shutter lowering.

Note: If you are using a wireless remote control for RTS or IO radio engines, try now to change the batteries because the problem may simply come from dead batteries.

Somfy roller shutter problem that no longer goes down, how to fix it?

Since several factors can explain why your Somfy electric roller shutter no longer goes down, you will have to try toidentify the origin of the problem to solve it effectively. We invite you to follow the troubleshooting steps in our article in order to achieve this. If you quickly identify that the origin of the problem is not the one stated or that you are not competent for one or more manipulations, go to the rest of our article or contact a professional.

Caution: Risk of electrical shock as well as irreversible deterioration of the Somfy component. Think of cut power when you work on a component inside the boot and/or electrical. Do not try to pull the apron down. You risk damaging the rolling mechanism of the shutter. If your shutter is under guarantee, you can now contact Somfy support to obtain the intervention of a technician at no cost to you.

Check the condition of the slides of the Somfy electric shutter which no longer closes

Somfy shutter problem that no longer goes down, what to do?
wing of a stage

First of all, if the Somfy roller shutter no longer descends correctly, by a few centimeters, askew, jerkily or does not descend at all, check that the slides are not obstructed or deformed :

1 – Check that none screw slides is slightly out or broken. You can run your finger along the slider to check if the screws all seem to be at the same height. If not, tighten it or remove it. If one or more screws appear damaged, replace them.

2 - Check that the backstage of the Somfy shutter are in good condition. Indeed, with the vagaries of the weather, they can end up being damaged. The guides must be parallel, straight and well fixed to the wall. Otherwise, you will have to reattach them because their arrangement or spacing may no longer allow passage of the Somfy shutter, which will not be able to lower. Also check if the slides are deformed, swollen or badly damaged. If so, you will need to replace them.

3 - Clean and grease the slides. If your Somfy shutter has trouble lowering (jerks, squeaking noise, etc.), consider cleaning the guides and lubricating them with a silicone lubricant spray so that the apron can slide up and down smoothly. This manipulation must be carried out once or twice a year to maintain the good condition of the electric shutter.

Check the condition of the slats of the Somfy shutter which does not lower

It also happens that the problem of a Somfy roller shutter which no longer descends occurs because the blades are misaligned or defective. In this case, they could get stuck in the boot or prevent the descent from being done correctly.

1 – Check the condition of the blades

If you find that the blades are too damaged (gnawed ends, deformed, twisted, broken, rusty slats, etc.), it is possible that it blocks the descent of the Somfy roller shutter. In this case, you will either have to replace the slats individually if the model of your shutter allows it, or replace the entire apron with an identical or compatible one (weight, dimension, PVC or aluminum material). Likewise if your apron seems deformed, swollen, warped, etc.). In this case, replace it completely.

2 – Reposition the blades

It is also possible that your Somfy shutter no longer lowers or is stuck in the boot because one or more of its blades shifted sideways. They are then no longer aligned and centered, which can block the descent of the apron.

Warning: This operation only concerns aprons which do not have NO bindings (end caps or storm clips). To find out if your shutter has a fixing, check directly visually on the apron by opening the boot or try to shift the lower slat laterally if you have to carry the apron at hand. If you manage to shift it left or right easily, the blades are not fixed and the manipulation concerns you.

Try shifting the low blade to one side or the other

In this case, you will have to open the chest to check if the blades are well aligned with each other at the winding axis; and if necessary, realign them so that they overlap perfectly and are in the center (equidistant on either side of the winding axis):

Somfy roller shutter that no longer closes what to do?
Image 1: Blades not aligned on a winding axis
Image 2: Blades aligned on a winding axis

Note that according to the Somfy safe that you have (tunnel chests, built-in safes at the window (window block) or traditional chests), the manipulation to open it will be more or less obvious. On most traditional safes, all you have to do is unclip the roller shutter access hatch. On some models, you have to unscrew.

Check the winding mechanism in the trunk

It may also be that your Somfy roller shutter no longer closes because one of the components inside the box is no longer functional and then blocks the descent of the apron. This is all the more likely if you hear a motor noise but the shutter does not move.

After opening the safe, check the following points:

  • Check thatno component or parasitic object present in the boot interferes with the lowering of the shutter somfy.
  • Check that the apron is well fitted in the two guide tulips at the entrance to each slide. Check that neither of the two parts are broken or loose. If necessary, reattach or replace them.
  • Check that the apron is centered on the winding axis.
  • If you can, unroll or remove the apron from the winding shaft. To do this, you will need to remove the screws that hold the winding tube on both sides and remove the motor attachment (metallic gray hook-shaped part).
  • Make sure that the apron clips are in good condition, well aligned and that they are well fixed to the tube and to the upper blade. If they are unhooked or broken, they are no longer driven by the motor and can no longer lower the electric shutter. In this case, reattach them or replace them.
  • Check the shutter, slats or winding shaft for visible damage (blows, cracks, deformation, expansion, rust, depression, etc.). If so, you will need to replace the apron or the entire winding mechanism.
Note: you will most certainly need to reprogram the limit switch of the Somfy shutter if you have replaced a component. 

Check the condition of the motorization and power supply of the Somfy roller shutter

If everything is working normally, then there is a good chance that your Somfy roller shutter no longer lowers because it has a motor or power supply problem (connectors or switch). First, just try to electrically reset the shutter by cutting off the electricity to the accommodation via the electrical panel for a few seconds. Switch on the current again. If after that the shutter still does not work, then try to reset and adjust the limit switches.

1 – Do a reset and the limit switch settings

When your Somfy electric shutter does not lower, most of the time the problem comes from a bug in the shutter system which has deprogrammed the motor. This can happen as a result of a prolonged power outage, voltage spike, thunderstorm, or electrical malfunction. In this case, you need to reprogram the motor.

Here is how to reset the motor and reprogram the limit switch of a Somfy radio roller shutter motor :

Caution: Before carrying out the manipulation, the motor of your Somfy roller shutter should preferably be electrically insulated so as not to interfere with others. Indeed, the operation risks deprogramming all the roller shutters with radio receiver connected to the same power source as your shutter, and you will then have to reprogram them all one by one. To isolate it you can either disconnect the other motors on the junction box, or temporarily connect the motor on which you are going to work to a separate socket. You can also try, at first simply, to adjust the limit switch, without resetting the motor, but it is likely that this will not succeed. 
1 – Perform a double blackout
  1. Cut the power supply to the shutter which no longer lowers for 2 seconds
  2. Restore power for 8 seconds
  3. Turn off the power for 2 seconds
  4. Then, again, turn the power back on.
  5. The shutter moves up and down automatically for about 5 seconds
2 – Reset the memory of the Somfy roller shutter motor
  1. Within 2 minutes of the power failure, press the "prog" button on the back of the control (remote control or wall transmitter) for 8 seconds
  2. The apron goes up and down twice
  3. Release the button
3 – Reprogram the limit switches of the Somfy electric roller shutter
  1. Simultaneously press the two arrows up (up arrow) and down (down arrow) on the control until the shutter moves up and down briefly
  2. Press the up button. If the shutter lowers, press the middle key of the "my" control. This will reverse its direction of rotation.
  3. Hold down the down button on the control until the shutter is completely closed. Once it has reached its low point, press the "my" and "rise" buttons simultaneously to program the low limit. The shutter goes up by itself.
  4. Stop the shutter halfway by briefly pressing "my".
  5. Then raise the shutter while keeping the up button pressed. Once the shutter is at its high point, press the "my" and "down" buttons simultaneously to program the upper limit switch. The shutter will lower automatically.
  6. Stop the shutter again by pressing the “my” key.
  7. Press the “my” button again until the flap moves back and forth.
  8. Press the “Prog” button on the back of the remote control to save the setting.

You can find the procedure on video below or on the Somfy website in the section “ Help videos"

If in doubt about the manipulation or if the manipulation does not work, refer to the user manual corresponding to the motorization of your Somfy roller shutter. You will find the manual on the Somfy website under “Assistance” -> “Roller shutter” -> “Product manuals” -> “ Choosing the type of equipment for your cover“. Then choose the type of motor (wired, radio IO, RTS or solar sensor), then the model of your motor. If you do not have the exact reference of the motor, you will have to open the winding tube where the motor is located, take it out and find the reference written on the motor.

2 – Check the shutter switch

If the procedure did not work, then the problem of the Somfy shutter which no longer goes down can come from a control failure (power supply, remote control or transmitter) or the engine itself. You can first check the command:

Whether your Somfy shutter operates with a switch (wired motor) or a control (radio motor with removable or wall-mounted remote control), check that it works. Normally, when you press the up or down key, a green light comes on on the order indicating that it has received the information. If so, your control is receiving power and is not faulty. In this case, the problem comes from the engine. On the other hand, if nothing happens, the failure is certainly due to the switch or the control.

1 – In case of detachable remote control, you will need, after trying to replace the batteries of course, change the remote.

2 – In case of wired wall or switch control, you will need to test the connections of the electrical network in your home. To do this, you must remove the switch, make a continuity test using a multimeter and, if the fault is proven, replace the connectors or the control in its entirety and connect them to the electrical network. These complex manipulations must be carried out by a competent person, or failing that, a professional in the sector or an electrician.

3 – Check the Somfy roller shutter motor

Finally, if the switch is not the cause, the motor of the Somfy roller shutter which no longer closes is unfortunately probably faulty. In the event of an engine failure, several signs can alert you : no motor noise while the switch is working, a jammed, jerky, muffled, forceful or unusual motor noise or even a shutter that lowers a few centimeters and stops. To access the Somfy motor which no longer wants to lower the shutter, you must open the boot, dismantle the winding shaft, remove the shaft apron, and remove the motor which is located inside.

In the event of a motor failure, you will certainly need to replace it. But before that, carry out two checks which can sometimes allow you to have it for much less:

Warning: before an intervention, remember to always switch off the current to avoid electrocution! 

• Check that the roller shutter motor is correctly powered: the motor is well connected, its connectors are in good condition, and it receives the current necessary for its operation (230V in France).

• Check that the capacitor is not faulty. This component is inside the engine and is used to start the engine. Generally, when the failure comes from the capacitor, the warning sign is rather a flap which no longer goes up. However, if it has completely burned out, it may no longer drive the motor at all. In this case, if after the test, the capacitor is indeed the cause of the failure, it will simply be necessary to replace this part for about ten euros. Be careful to replace it with an identical capacitor (same microfarad capacity).

Two videos to help you disassemble the motor capacitor and test it: - Replacing the capacitor in a Somfy motor
- How to Recognize a Failing Capacitor in a Roller Shutter Motor

If the capacitor is not the cause of the fault, you can test the motor electrically to make sure that the fault really comes from the engine. But at this point, there is almost no doubt! Then you only have one solution: replace the motor completely. Count between 150 euros and 300 euros for a new engine. This is why, think of checking well if your shutter is not always under guarantee ! If so, contact Somfy assistance for a free repair.

Be sure to replace the old motor with a compatible (IO motor, RTS, wired, adapted to your type of safe, the weight of the shutter, power, etc.). You will find all Somfy motor replacement kits on their website, accompanied by instructions for use and their characteristics to be certain that the one you have chosen is suitable for your shutter.

What should I do if, despite everything, the problem with the Somfy shutter which no longer closes persists?

If after all these checks and manipulations you have not managed to solve your problem with the Somfy roller shutter which no longer lowers, you will then need contact a professional repairer. And we know that in the meantime you can have need to lower the blocked Somfy roller shutter. In this case and depending on the model of your shutter, you will either have to use an emergency crank or lower it manually, but not in any way.

Contact Somfy assistance or a professional repairer

How to repair a Somfy roller shutter that does not lower?

Depending on your situation, you have several choices when your Somfy electric roller shutter refuses to lower:

  • Check the guarantee for your Somfy cover. It can extend from 2 years to 7 years. In this case, contact Somfy Assistance for free intervention.
  • Check if you are entitled to the ten-year guarantee (France) or if a clause in your home insurance contract covers the repair of your roller shutters.

If you are not entitled to any guarantee or insurance, in this case we advise you to:

  • Contact Somfy Assistance by phone or via the online troubleshooting form to obtain an estimate. Note that the diagnosis and/or repair of the shutter can be carried out within 72 hours at your home by a technician.
  • Contact an independent repairer who specializes in carpentry repair to compare quotes.

How to lower a blocked Somfy roller shutter?

To lower a blocked Somfy roller shutter, there are two options:

The first option is to use an emergency crank. However, this crank is only supplied with the Somfy CSI motors. This crank is attached to an emergency attachment point present in the boot. Normally it was provided to you at the time of installation.

The second option for unjam a Somfy roller shutter that no longer goes down, less official this time, consists of manually unroll the apron on the axis. Since a safety mechanism is triggered when a manual force intervenes, you must first unplug the motor to achieve this. For it :

  1. Open the trunk
  2. Remove the motor shaft starting from the side opposite the motor (unscrew the nut with a spanner)
  3. Once the nut has been removed, take the axis out of its wall bracket, and push the telescopic axis (black part) inside the tube
  4. On the other side of the axle, remove the gray hook-shaped metal part that holds the motor to the support
  5. You can now unroll the apron by manually rotating the winding shaft

Obviously, we are aware that this manipulation is a temporary backup solution. Indeed, the operation being laborious and cannot be done every four mornings, you will probably have to choose between leaving the shutter closed or open for the time of the repair. Be careful, do not carry out this operation if your shutter is still entitled to the guarantee, as this could make you lose your rights.

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