The problem
The gate had stopped detecting approaching vehicles. Drivers were having to get out and use the keypad, and on a site running deliveries all day that was costing real time.
It had been intermittent for a fortnight before failing completely.
How we diagnosed it
- The operator itself cycled correctly on manual command — so the fault was in detection, not in the gate.
- Tested the loop detector, which was healthy, then tested the buried loop itself. Resistance was out of range, consistent with a break in the loop wire.
- Surface cracking across the driveway lined up with where the loop runs, which is the usual cause: ground movement shears the wire.
What we did
- Cut in and installed a replacement loop, sealed correctly, and re-tuned the detector to the new loop.
- Tested with the site's own vehicles rather than a car, because detection sensitivity differs considerably between a saloon and a loaded truck.
Watch this repair
No other gate repair company in Dallas–Fort Worth publishes video of their work.
The outcome
Reliable vehicle detection restored across the range of vehicles actually using the entrance.
What you should take from this
A gate that ignores vehicles is usually a detection problem, not an operator problem — and it is generally the fastest and cheapest thing on a commercial site to put right. Testing the loop before condemning the operator saves a great deal of money.
