Question regarding MTH battery Vol 68

[Anonymous]

I realize this question has been covered to death, but I still don't get it after reading some literature regarding the MTH Protosounds battery issue.

I just bought a MTH Premier JC Fairbanks Morse diesel engine (2201) , purportedly new in the box though the pick-up rollers show use, but that's another story. I think this engine came out around 1999/2000. I was under the impression that all the battery does is allow the sound to run a few seconds after power is shut off to the track. My 6 or 7 year old engine starts up (lights, sound, smoke) but won't move forward or reverse. I tried charging the battery but no luck yet (I am using a Z4000 transformer). I thought maybe it was locked in neutral mode, so tried program 18 to return it to the factory settings, but still no good. The guy I bought it from said it sounds like a battery problem. Can a dead PS battery cause the above mentioned situation? As I read through the MTH literature, it appears not to be the case. But I have gotten the impression that it is not always the case in other articles and this forum.

For me personally, I don't think I should be bothered having to even take the engine apart just to change the battery, if that is what it needs. Not for what these things cost. I hope in the future all such items will be accesible from outside or under the engine.

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions before I go any further & take the engine apart. Thanks!

 

[pbjwilson]

Yes, a dead battery will cause the situation you describe. MTH engines are easy to service. A few srcews on the bottom of the engine and the body comes off. Replace the battery with a rechargeable NiCad battery from Radio Shack and you are back in business. This whole thing with MTH and their batteries is blown way out of proportion. I buy older PS1 engines because the prices are very reasonable and the engines are superb. Replace the battery every couple years and you have a wonderful toy train engine. After 10 years of collecting and operating a dozen MTH engines I have yet to have a problem.

One thing to remember is there is like a second time lag for the engines to cycle from forward to nuetral to reverse. Hold the direction button or cut the power for a good second to allow the electronics to cycle the reverse unit.

[chuck]

You have to unlock the unit from neutral  before doing a factory reset 18.  If you put the engin on the track and apply power, wait for it to leave reset and then hit the program button on the Z-4000.  See what number code is coughed up.  It will probably be 42.  Use the program feature of the ZW to get to 41 (I think these are the right numbers, check the engine manual).  This should unlock the loco.  Do a shutdown then a second startup.  After it comes out of reset, do a factory reset 18 and another powerdown.  If everything went well, the loco should be back to factory settings.  If not, there is a chance you have a bad reverse unit (aka bad bottom board).