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Get your free estimateGhost Controls Gate Motor Replacement: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide
A Ghost Controls gate motor replacement in Fort Lauderdale typically runs between $485 and $820 installed, depending on which model you have and whether the arm, cable, or control board needs replacing at the same time. We stock Ghost Controls-compatible motors and parts on our trucks, and we can usually have your gate swinging again the same day you call. Most owners discover the failure the hard way: the gate groans, stalls halfway, or simply refuses to move after a rainstorm or a power flicker. Fort Lauderdale’s salt air and daily humidity shorten the life of these motors faster than the national average, and we see the same failure pattern repeat itself from Victoria Park to Rio Vista.

Before anyone touches your gate, you’ll know the price. We write it down, hand it to you, and nothing changes unless you approve it first. That’s how Cole Rafferty runs every job at Warden Gate Repair Fort Lauderdale, and it’s non-negotiable.
Which Ghost Controls Models This Applies To
We service and replace motors across the Ghost Controls line, including the most common residential units found in Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods: the AXDP, AXCP, and TSS1 series. If you have a Ghost Controls dual-gate setup, you have two motors, and we often recommend replacing both even if only one failed. A mismatched pair fights itself, and the older motor drags the new one down within months.
Here’s the compatibility gotcha most owners don’t know: Ghost Controls changed their arm mounting geometry between older and newer production runs. A motor from 2018 may not bolt cleanly onto a 2021 bracket without an adapter plate. The model label is usually on the underside of the motor housing, but salt corrosion in Fort Lauderdale can make it unreadable. When that happens, we measure the arm travel and bolt pattern to identify the right replacement. We carry OEM Ghost Controls motors as well as quality aftermarket equivalents where the spec matches exactly. For a coastal environment like Fort Lauderdale, we lean toward OEM or marine-grade sealed aftermarket units; the aftermarket budget options don’t survive the humidity and salt the same way.
Warden Gate Repair Fort Lauderdale is an independent service provider. We’re not affiliated with Ghost Controls, but we install their parts daily and know their quirks better than most factory-authorized shops.
Styles & brands we work with





Signs Your Ghost Controls Gate Motor Replacement Is Failing
- The gate moves at half speed, then stops. The motor’s capacitor is degrading, which is the single most common Ghost Controls issue we see in Fort Lauderdale. Heat and humidity accelerate capacitor failure, and once it goes, the motor can’t hold enough startup torque.
- You hear the motor running, but the gate doesn’t move. The internal gear train has stripped, or the clutch is slipping. Ghost Controls clutches are deliberately sacrificial, meant to fail before the arm bends, but once they slip, the motor is working against nothing.
- The opener trips the GFCI breaker whenever it runs. Moisture has infiltrated the motor housing or the wiring harness. By the time a Ghost Controls motor trips the breaker in Fort Lauderdale, the internal seals have already failed and corrosion is working through the windings.
- The gate reverses direction randomly or opens a few inches and stops. The limit switches inside the motor are going bad, or the control board is misreading the arm position. This often gets misdiagnosed as a board issue when the motor’s internal sensors are actually the culprit.
- There’s a grinding or clicking noise during every cycle. Bearing wear, usually accelerated by sand intrusion. Fort Lauderdale driveways pick up sand and fine shell grit, and that grit finds its way into the motor’s lower bearing seal.
If you notice any of these, call us at (754) 354-9065. A motor that’s failing gradually is still cheaper to replace now than one that seizes mid-cycle and twists the gate off its hinges.
See the difference
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AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
A Ghost Controls gate motor replacement in Fort Lauderdale typically falls between $485 and $820 installed. Here’s what drives the range:
- Motor type: single-arm units are less than dual-arm by $150 to $250.
- OEM vs aftermarket: OEM Ghost Controls motors run 20-30% higher than a quality equivalent, but in coastal Fort Lauderdale the sealed OEM units earn their cost back in lifespan.
- Accessory condition: if the bracket or arm is corroded, expect $60 to $140 in additional hardware.
- Permit or code considerations: most Fort Lauderdale residential gate replacements don’t need a permit, but if your HOA requires a matching opener model, that can change the part price.
Every quote from Warden Gate Repair Fort Lauderdale is written, itemized, and agreed to before any work starts. You won’t see a surprise line item when the job is done. The replacement motor is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, and our labor carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the repair isn’t right, we return and make it right, free of charge.
DIY or Call Us?
Replacing a gate motor involves line-voltage wiring, and on a Ghost Controls unit, the arm is under tension in certain positions. If the gate is currently stuck closed with a charged capacitor, prying at the motor can release stored energy and hurt you. We don’t recommend opening the motor housing or messing with the wiring if you’re not trained for gate electronics.
What you can safely do: check the breaker, look for visible corrosion on the motor housing, and confirm the gate itself isn’t physically binding on its hinges. If the gate swings freely by hand in manual release mode but won’t move under power, that points to the motor. At that point, call (754) 354-9065 and tell us your Ghost Controls model number. We’ll bring the right part on the first trip, and the technician arriving at your door will be the same face we sent you by photo before we ever rolled a truck.
A locked gate only protects you if it actually locks. If your Ghost Controls motor is fading in Fort Lauderdale, get it handled before the gate fails open or closed at the worst possible moment.
FAQs
Five to eight years on average, but coastal Fort Lauderdale salt exposure can cut that to four or five if the motor housing seal fails early. We see well-maintained units in Victoria Park hit eight years regularly, while unprotected motors near the Intracoastal rarely make it past five. Call (754) 354-9065 and we’ll assess your unit’s condition honestly.
Sometimes, yes. A failed capacitor or a slipped clutch is a $60 to $140 repair, not a full replacement. Cole Rafferty specifically looks for the cheap fix first, because we’d rather earn your trust than sell you a motor you don’t need. If the windings are burned or the gear train is stripped, replacement is the only honest answer, and we’ll show you exactly why before we quote it.
Most single-motor replacements are done in 90 minutes to two hours. Dual-gate motor replacement with control board reprogramming runs two and a half to three hours. We typically have your gate operational the same day we arrive, and the written estimate you get before we start is the exact number on your invoice when we leave.
Yes. We carry OEM Ghost Controls motors, compatible arms, capacitors, clutches, and control boards on our service trucks, with more in local inventory. We also stock parts for LiftMaster, Mighty Mule, and DoorKing openers, so most jobs are finished same day without a second appointment. Call (754) 354-9065 for a free estimate and a written price before any work begins.
Written by Cole Rafferty, Owner, Warden Gate Repair Fort Lauderdale at Warden Gate Repair Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.