Ghost Controls Gate Motor Replacement in Los Angeles, CA

Ghost Controls Gate Motor Replacement: The Los Angeles Owner’s Guide

We stock and install Ghost Controls-compatible gate motor replacements across Los Angeles, with most jobs running $650-$1,200 installed depending on your model series and whether the arm or the entire operator needs swapping. Same-day service is available when you call before noon, and we carry the common Ghost Controls motor assemblies on our trucks for the TSS1, AXWK, and DTP1 series. Most Los Angeles homeowners realize their gate motor is failing when the gate starts reversing for no reason, stops mid-travel, or makes that strained humming sound without actually moving the gate.

Call (833) 754-7503

Which Ghost Controls Models This Applies To

Ghost Controls has three main residential series you’ll see on Los Angeles driveways, and the motor replacement strategy differs for each. The TSS1 series uses a compact tubular actuator motor rated for gates up to 20 feet and 900 pounds; the motor housing is stamped with a date code near the wire harness that tells us which revision we’re matching. The AXWK swing-gate series carries a heavier-duty linear actuator, and here’s the gotcha: the AXWK motor from 2019-2021 used a 24V DC motor with a different mounting footprint than the 2022+ revision, so we always verify the stamped model suffix before ordering. The DTP1 dual-tube system has two matched motors that must be replaced as a pair if one fails, or the gate will torque unevenly and stress your hinges.

We are an independent service provider, not affiliated with Ghost Controls. For most Los Angeles homeowners, we recommend OEM Ghost Controls motors for the TSS1 and DTP1 because the control boards are calibrated to specific torque curves; on the AXWK, we’ve had excellent results with a quality aftermarket equivalent that matches the 24V DC spec and saves roughly $180 on the part. We’ll show you both options and the price difference before we turn a single bolt.

Signs Your Ghost Controls Gate Motor Replacement Is Failing

• The gate reverses before fully opening or closing. This usually means the motor is drawing excessive amperage as its internal brushes wear down, which tricks the Ghost Controls safety sensor into thinking it hit an obstruction. In Los Angeles, we see this most often on south-facing gates where summer heat has cooked the motor housing past 140 degrees for three or four consecutive summers.
• You hear the motor hum or click, but the gate arm does not move. The gearbox has likely stripped its nylon worm gear, a known weak point on early TSS1 production runs. The motor itself may still test fine on a bench, but the gearbox is integral to the assembly and not sold separately by Ghost Controls.
• The gate moves slower than it used to, especially on cold mornings. Motor windings degrade over time, and a healthy Ghost Controls actuator should cycle a standard 16-foot gate in 12-15 seconds. When that stretches past 20 seconds, the motor is laboring and will soon overheat the control board.
• Intermittent operation that gets worse after rain. Water intrusion through the motor housing seal corrodes the commutator; this is more common in canyon-adjacent Los Angeles neighborhoods like Laurel Canyon or Topanga where morning fog lingers. Once corrosion starts, the motor will fail completely within weeks, not months.
• The control board shows a solid red fault light with no obstruction present. Ghost Controls boards flash specific patterns for sensor issues, but a solid red typically indicates motor overcurrent. We’ve traced this dozens of times to a motor that tests fine at rest but draws 3x normal amperage under load.

Replacement Cost & What’s Included

For a Ghost Controls gate motor replacement in Los Angeles, here is what you can expect:

The range depends on three things: whether we can reuse your existing mounting bracket, whether the control board took collateral damage from the failing motor, and how accessible your gate post is. Hillside Los Angeles installations with tight setbacks take longer; flat Pasadena or San Marino driveways typically run toward the lower end. We settle on an upfront price before we start, and that price includes the motor, labor, travel, and our 90-Day Done Right Promise. No surprises on the bill.

DIY or Call Us?

There are two things a homeowner can safely check before calling: verify the breaker hasn’t tripped, and confirm the manual release handle is fully re-engaged after any recent use. Beyond that, Ghost Controls motors operate at 24V DC but draw power from your household 120V supply through a transformer housed in the control box. Mistakes there can damage the board, void whatever warranty remains, and in rare cases create an arc hazard if water has entered the housing.

The motor assembly itself weighs 12-18 pounds and mounts under tension; if the gate is open when the motor lets go, it can swing freely. We’ve been called to Los Angeles homes where a DIY attempt turned a $700 motor job into a $2,400 gate rebuild because the gate torqued its hinges. A gate should open when you need it to and stay closed when you don’t. Everything else is just the work. If you’re not certain, call us at (833) 754-7503 and we’ll talk through what you’re seeing.

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