I have a TMCC steam engine which worked fine last year, but when I took it out of the box this year, it is misbehaving!
The idlng sounds come on immediately when track power is applied (even though they shouldn't), and it does nothing else. I tried resetting it, assigning a new ID #, replaced the battery, checked all the connections and etc. but still no luck. Anybody have any ideas on this?
This engine is around 5 or 6 years old. Thanks in advance for any advice!
Have you tried running it in "conventional" mode, no power to TMCC command base ?
Is the command base being powered up before the track is powered ?
Does the "red light" on the command base show(blink) that it is receiving a signal from the CAB-1 ?
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I have tried another TMCC engine on the same track and it works fine so I know there's nothing wrong with the TMCC system.
Have not tried the "bad" engine with conventional power yet so I'll give that a try and report back. Thanks!
Sounds as though there is either a problem with the antennae receiving/relaying the signal. Check the antennae and wire for grounding, not good, or possibly a bad wire/connection. It sounds like the engine is trying to start in conventional ops as opposed to "recognizing" a TMCC signal which puts it into "command" mode. Try holding your hand out flat just above where the antennae is located while operating the CAB-1 with the other to see if the engine responds. Sometimes this little test will work when you have weak or poor signal/reception.
Good luck !
Well....I found a spot where the antenna (grab rail) was touching the engine body, so I fixed that and figured it would cure the problem....but no luck. I tried it with conventional power and the same thing happens....sound starts up, but engine won't move.
I know the problem isn't with the TMCC wire or the reception because other engines work fine on the same area of track.
Looks like it's time for a trip to the shop...
to me it sounds like a circuit board had a GP-9 that would run fine for about 20 minutes then it would either stop dead or it would kick into conventional ( by the it liked to do that) and go from like 20 miles an hour to 180 in about 1/2 a second . that ended up being a board which I was able to get from Lionel and replace my self. and I added coil couplers at the same time so I'm pleased with the engine now. I had called Lionel and talked to the techs and they more or less stated it sounded like this board and I ordered it and thats was it . but you have to get the customer service geeks to patch you thru and they'll tell you it may be a wait but thats better than dealing with them.
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Having the sound start up as soon as power is applied, that could be the programming. Did you do a reset or did you do a re-program.
Bill
Yes I tried reprogram and the full re-set, but it won't respond at all to its ID number.
There must be some way to "force" a full reset including wiping the ID isn't there? I can't find it in the manual but assume there must be a procedure.
What type engine.
It is a 6-28072 Hudson.
When you done the reprogram, did you use code 74
Bill - yes, just tried it again (after being out of town for the weekend) still no luck.
You could have a bad run/program switch, R2LC radio board, motor driver board and or wiring problem. I would suggest taking it to a Authorized Service Center if you have one near. Sorry we could not get you going.
Try assigning a new engine number and then do a re-program.
Hi Bill -- I did try the new eng #. It simply will not respond to most TMCC commands -- just sits there and makes the idling sounds.
However it WILL respond to the AUX 1 commands -- for example if you press AUX 1 and then 5, it plays the shutdown sounds.
I'll continue to fiddle with it a bit more and will report back if anything changes. Our nearest service station is about 500 miles away so I'm hopeful I can get it going, but starting to doubt it.
Thanks all for the suggestions.
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