Challenger garage door openers are reliable electronic devices for most automatic garage doors. But these devices may malfunction over time for several reasons. In this case, Challenger garage door opener troubleshooting becomes mandatory to find the root cause and solve the problem.
Damaged push buttons, defective motor control board, the dead or weak battery in the transmitter, etc. are some of the problems when troubleshooting is required. You will experience some symptoms for these possible reasons.
Solving these issues isn’t always a big deal. I shared a detailed discussion on the Challenger garage door problems.
What is the Process of Challenger Garage Door Opener Troubleshooting?
Challenger garage door openers come in different models. I shared the troubleshooting guideline for Challenger 9300 series for your convenience.
Before getting into the troubleshooting process, you will need to understand the severity of the complications by judging the red and green LEDs signals.
Read the below chart intently.
| Diagnostic Condition | Red LED | Green LED |
| Normal Operation | Turned off | Turned Off |
| Learn Mode | Turned on | |
| Full Memory | Turned on for 25 seconds, then shuts off automatically | |
| RF Signal Decoded | Short and fast flashing | |
| Shorted wire to button or push button | Turned on | Turned off |
| Photobeam Obstruction | Fast flashing | |
| Contact Reverse | Fast Flashing | Turned off |
| Stuck Relay | Slow flashing | |
| Open limit is stuck | Turned off | Slow flashing |
Garage Door Opener Troubleshooting – Challenger 9300
Find the below chart to learn the Challenger 9300 opener troubleshooting. However, read the Challenger garage door opener manual intently.
| Symptom | Possible Reasons | Fixation |
| Deactivated Opener | Enabled mechanical door lock | Remove or disable all door lock |
| Outlet doesn’t have 120V power | Circuit breaker, fuse box and wall switch needs to be checked | |
| Doors open and closes by itself | Shorted radio receiver or wiring | i) Push button wiring needs to be disconnected ii) Look at the operator’s back panel. There is a terminal with a radio receiver. Uninstall the radio receiver.iii) Momentarily connect Terminal 1 & 2 using a test wire. Thus, the opener will get activated. iv) Check whether the opener is running. If it runs, reconnect everything simultaneously to locate the damaged circuit. |
| Damaged Push button | ||
| i) Non-illuminated light ii) Turned off light after Opener runs | Defective motor control board | Consult with the challenger door professional |
| Opener needs to be controlled by the push button but not with the radio control | Weak battery in transmitter | Battery replacement is mandatory |
| Transmitter range is short | Defective transmitter or receiver | Consult with the challenger door professional |
| Opener needs to be controlled by the push button but not with the radio control | Mismatched Radio Coding Switch | Resetting of the switches is necessary following the identical codes |
| i) Opener stopped in opening or closing position ii) Reverses before reaching complete close position | Obstructed Door | Remove obstructions from the garage door path |
| Opener stopped in opening or closing position | Improperly adjusted up sensitivity | Sensitivity needs adjustment |
| i) Opener stopped in opening or closing position ii) Reverses before reaching complete close position | Improperly adjusted down sensitivity | Sensitivity needs adjustment |
Below is a more detailed discussion of the Challenger garage door opener troubleshooting process.
Defective Motor Control Board
A defective motor control board can create many unpredictable and strange problems.
Here are a few causes of motor control board malfunctions.
Symptoms
A damaged motor control board will show the below symptoms. Consider calling a professional when these signs appear.
- Your garage door is opening by itself
- The garage door opener is turned off while it is plugged in. In this case, check for faulty outlets and wires.
- Your photo eye sensor LED stopped blinking or even lit.
- Constantly shining or flashing warning lights.
Causes
- Corrosion can damage the limit switches inside the opener and break the motor. The switch will surely corrode if signs of oxidation and moisture are found near the opener.
- Due to a loose or damaged motor control board, you may experience resonating or vibrating opener during operation. If resonating happens strongly, get it repaired without being late. Otherwise, the opener will fall to the floor.
Solution
Garage door openers are one of the significant parts of your home security. A mechanic should attend to any garage door opener issue sooner than later.
Weak Battery in Transmitter
The garage door opener consists of a transmitter or remote controls powered by a battery. The longevity of these batteries is 2 – 5 years, based on the usability of the transmitter.
Symptoms
- Challenger garage door opener comes with a wall-mounted unit, helping users to operate the door from inside the garage. If there is no problem opening or closing the door with the wall unit, but the transmitter doesn’t work, check for the “lock button in the wall unit.
With the enabled lock feature, the remote will not work. Press the lock button to unlock it. If you see that the remote is still not working, the transmitter batteries are probably gone.
Causes
- Garage door opener transmitter battery performance can go down over time.
Solution
Replacement is the best solution when batteries go bad. Happily, the process is straightforward.
- Batteries are located securely in a specific location with a back cover. The back cover can be removed by either unscrewing or sliding.
- After removing the back cover, pop the old batteries. Then, replace them with new ones.
Door Obstructed Problem
This is one of the common reasons for Challenger garage doors.
Symptoms
- If your garage door refuses to open or close even when the path is not obstructed, it may indicate a safety sensor malfunction.
Causes
- The garage door may stop closing due to accidental obstructions. Toys, strollers, and bicycles can obstruct the door’s path and the safety sensor. Moreover, dust, dirt, and insects can obstruct the normal operation of the sensor.
- Wire connection problem is another cause of the door-obstructed problem.
Solution
- Remove the obstructions from the path of the garage door and sensor lens.
- Make sure that all the connections are correctly done and that there is no loose connection in the system.
FAQ
Why can’t I connect my Challenger garage door opener to my car?
In most cases, when the radio signal is interrupted, you cannot connect your Challenger garage door opener to your car.
In this case, changing the old battery to a new one will work for you. Sometimes, the garage door opener receiver may have a problem as well.
Who manufactures Challenger garage door openers?
E.T. systems make Challenger garage door openers. It is a South Africa-based company established in 1989. They are well-known for designing, manufacturing, and selling electronic security systems and parts.
Where is the Learn button on a Challenger garage door opener?
A Challenger garage door opener learn button is on top of the antenna wire hanging from the motherboard. The “Learn” button is identified with colors, including yellow, purple, red, orange, and green.
Final Words
Many problems described in Challenger garage door opener troubleshooting are comparatively easy to fix and minor. Whether a homeowner or businessman, you can follow the fixation methods.
However, there may be a time when simple fixation will not work; take help from a trained technician in such cases. In addition, I recommend you schedule maintenance for an old Challenger garage door opener. This will help you identify the problem before it becomes severe.
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