MTH PS1 loco lost Station announcements

[Choochoohugh]

I have an MTH Protosounds 1 Pennsy K-4S loco. Loco runs fine in all aspects except it seems to have lost the (PFA) passenger station announcements. I have replaced battery, reset to factory defaults and followed all instructions in booklet. Everything appears to happen according to instructions but announcements don't come through.
Help me please! I am using a z4000 transformer so can reprogram if required.
Thanks,
ChooChooHugh

[spankybird]

Do you have the item number of the engine [?]

Did you try a factory reset of the whole system [?] reset 18

[Choochoohugh]

Thanks for your reply. Yes I did try the 18 reset. I cannot tell you the mikes number on the box without going into the attic and searching through all my boxes. No small task but will do so if I have to.
The number on the cab is 1361 and it is the railking version of that engine.
Further inspection of the symptoms makes me think i hear a "rushing" sound when the announcements should be made but no distinguishable talk can be heard. All other activity like steam sound, squeaking breaks etc. coupler operation are all ok. No cab chatter either but can't remember if this has cab chatter. None described in the operation manual. I wonder if this is the classic "fried" PS1 from low battery which I heard so much about?
Thanks,
Hugh

[Anonymous]

I had a PS 1 GP-9 that I fried the board on due to low battery voltage. The engine would not move or give any sounds. So I dont think low battery voltage caused your problem.

[spankybird]

I have to agree, it's not a fried board. The engine would not respond to any command if it was fried.

[spankybird]

Your enigne number is 30-1115-1. I have the same one. Are you sure that you are activing the stations sounds correctly?

When the engine is in neutral (ready to go into foward, not reverse) Press the whistle button for 3 or 4 seconds. Then put the engine in fowrard. The next time you stop it, it should start the stations sounds.

[Choochoohugh]

Hi again! Have been fooling around with the engine again and been back through the instructions. Did 18 reset again and went through procedures for setting PFA. I am sure it is whistle and not horn to push for 3 seconds. Same procedure set squealing brakes feature and it works ok. I am going back and try some alternative "turn on PFA" directions in the book. Glad it is not the "fried" event! I will keep you posted in a short while. Hugh

[Choochoohugh]

Here is the total scoop. By the way, I have a NYC ABA which seems to have similar directions and works fine so I feel my fingers are not getting in the way of proper instructions.
According to directions, There are 5 events which should happen.
Event 1 (forward) which says push bell for full three seconds and will play squealing brakes works as described.
Event 2 (neutral before reverse) says throttle needs to be back on in 3 sec. (OK) and if bell was not turned off, it will automatically do so! This does not happen.
Event 3 (Reverse) which says PFA turns off the reverse feature. In my case not so, engine goes in revers. Event 4 and 5 don't work correctly either.
This tells me that I turn on squealing brakes, but never enter PFA feature. Any ideas before I get onto MTH site and beg for advice?
Thanks,
Hugh