VL Challenger Troubleshooting

I was curious on their non warranty repair charges and asked one day and  was told you pay  the shipping there, $60 charge for labor plus whatever the parts cost,they pay shipping back.

 

 

There's a lot of knowledgeable people on the forum when it comes to engine problems so don't panic just yet.

Your rant is aimed in the wrong direction. Call Lionel.  their repair program is fantastic. You only pay shipping if your are not a US veteran. Most of the forum people here are great to deal with. If you are absolutely fed up with it sell it.

J Daddy,

 

Really just ranting to rant.  I love the loco. But I've been going back and forth with lionel thru the "talktous" email getting a RA setup, and explaining everything.... i'm sure the QUALITY of the repair will be excellent. i have no doubt they do great work in ohio.  But their customer service people use form letters and seem to only say 1 thing "ship it to us, pay 60 plus parts, too bad you didnt buy it from an authorized dealer"

 

So I'm frustrated and venting.  I'm sure after it's repaired and back in my hands i'll be happy and smiling again, But the forum member ASSURED me the loco was "like new" and refused to accept the whistle steam did not work.... Oh well. I'm sucking it up and getting everything repaired at my expense... I'm sure whatever is making it not move is going to be expensive.  *sigh*

 

Sorry if I offended anyone.

If you had an issue from day 1, why did it not go back then?  I am sure any Lionel Tech who wanted to would tell you what your problem is. 

Marty,

 

Sorry if i was not clear.  I bought it second hand off of a forum member on here.  I did not send it back the day i received it, 1. because the forum member i bought it from would not accept it was his issue that the whistle steam did not work, and 2. because i was trying things at the advice of Lionel like blowing air down the whistle hole, etc, etc... i was trying to trouble shoot.

 

I also was enjoying the sights, sounds, and smoke of this great loco, even without the whistle steam it was fun to run around the layout.  Today after getting paid i sent Lionel an email to get a RA. put it on the track for one final test before sealing up the box and discovered it suddenly would not move.   

 

I don't mean to rant.  I'm Sorry for that.  but that is why I did not send it back from day 1.  Because whether i sent it back a month ago, or now... it would not affect my warranty. 

 

It is packed up now, and I will ship it out tomorrow.

It will be an easy fix and they return them quickly.  The guys in Ohio are the best in the business when it comes to service.

I agree with Marty. I will soon be sending my Challenger back for no blow down smoke. the only part I don't like is having to ship it.

I agree with Nick.  Be very careful buying off the 'net, especially newer stuff.

 

I repair for a local antiques vendor.  A nice enough guy brings in a KLine Bigboy tender.  A front step has a bend to it, one plastic journal insert is missing as is one wheelset (where the missing insert was).

 

I'm going back and forth with Brasseur to ensure I get the right parts.

 

He also bought a Lionel 10E.  It's repainted battleship grey (which covered rust and zinc rot), has wobbly (and two loose) replacement MTH steamer drivers and the electric reverse unit is corroded inop, among other problems.

 

The good deal he thought he got isn't so good after all.

Mark,
Do you have an original receipt from the seller? If not, call Lionel on the phone,  Ship with insurance, you will be fine. And if you want to get rid of I will buy it! I have one and it is one amazing locomotive. Good luck, and enjoy, you may be out of 150.00, but its worth every cent.

 Its best to buy the big ticket O guage stuff new from an authorized dealer. That way in the case of VL you'd get 2 years warranty with all expense paid return shipping.

 

IMO  a couple hundred bucks more buying new more than worth peventing the aggrivation.

 

Once you pay to ship it back, and pay for the repairs the money you saved buying used will shrink fast.

 

 

Its not Lionels fault you got a bum deal.

 

 

Yes Marty buying on ebay is a crap shoot, but the "ebay buyer protection" will at least get you your money back. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark,

 

I had a similar situation to yours, except mine was the VL CP Hybrid.  I bought it from an authorized Lionel dealer off the internet that was going out of business.  When I received it and turned it over, I noticed that it did not have a serial number sticker affixed to the bottom of the loco.  That was the first warning sign.  Next, I placed it on the track and turned the throttle on the Legacy remote.  It would crawl 6 inches or less and then stop suddenly.  After doing this a few times, I pressed the reset button on the remote.  After resetting it, I turned the throttle and it took off like it was shot out of a cannon.  What's worse is that it would not respond to braking or reversing the throttle.  I had to kill track power to prevent it from flying off of the track.  I informed Lionel of the situation and the fact that I could not register it for the warranty due to the missing serial number.  They asked me to confirm with the vendor that I bought it from if it indeed was brand new.  The vendor told me that it was still sealed in the box before they shipped it to me.  Lionel still fixed it under warranty and paid for shipping both ways after I provided a copy of my receipt.  It turned out to be a bad motor, according to the repair slip.  They repaired it and it works like a champ now. 

 

I had a feeling that it was a store return, even though the store insisted it was new.  They had opened the box to slip the receipt inside of it, but something didn't seem right.  Anyway, I'm willing to bet that you have a bad motor as it sounds too similar to the issue I had with mine. 

 

Good luck.

I bought brand new engines sealed and had issues .. My vl hudson never moved it had a bad motor driver board .. So buying used doesn't bother me .Just buy it at the right price . Now when I sell something i do what ever it takes to make the engine The best it can be.. 

Good News. i got my challenger back from Lionel and it appears to be working great.

 

They forgot to screw back in one of the screws that connects the support rod on the front set of drivers to the boiler.  They replaced 2 smoke resisters, the whistle "seperately applied detail" , the motor sensor board, and realigned the lead truck on the tender to line up with the wireless tether on the locomotive. 

 

I also got my MTH 70' Scale (19") Passenger cars from fedex just a couple hours before my challenger showed up at my door via ups!

 

Here is a Video, sorry about the poor lighting, sure does SOUND great though!