I recently purchased an MTH locomotive, used but like-new, for $180. The engine arrived and I put in on the tracks with a Lionel CW80 for power. Everything functioned as advertised. I was very pleased with the look and sound of this locomotive.
It ran for normally for about two weeks. Then I purchased a Z1000 along with MTH's budget remote control unit. I was running the locomotive with the Z1000 controller, but before I could install the remote unit, the engine quit running.
When I shut the engine down everything was working perfectly, but when attempting a restart the next day, the engine refused to move. This seems to be a common scenario with MTH products, shut it down in running condition and then have it malfunction on startup the next day.
I traded out transformers and while lights and sound functioned normally, the engine still refused to budge. I first noticed the lights were a tad slower to illuminate after applying power. The engine ran two more times after the first indication of problems. The first time it hesitated, made an odd noise and then began running. However, after I shut it down it would not restart. It ran normally one more time after that and has not run since.
While I am no expert on these trains, I am a former avionics/electronics technician with twenty years experience working with IT hardware systems, notably servers and networking systems. I have also have built a number of R/C aircraft, so I know my way around the block with electronics, chips and multi-meters.
Of course that's no indication I know what I am doing here or what I might have forgotten to look for. I also read manuals, as that is required when working on advanced computer/electronic systems. I downloaded, printed out, and read the manuals for this engine, trying various recommend repairs, all to no avail. I also read various web sites like this one, trying procedures outside the manual, like shutting down the engine while holding the horn button, having a lit car on the tracks behind the engine and connecting lights to the track, all to no avail.
Due to the intermittent operation and the slight hesitation of the lights coming on, I have the impression there is either an open in the circuit, perhaps on a board, or a component problem like a failed capacitor or transistor, as opposed to a programming issue. I have looked over the system and checked for power where possible without extensive disassembly, but can find no physical problems.
The most likely problem would be the plug, however it is in good shape and all other electronics are functioning normally with the exception of the barely noticeable, longer hesitation when the engine lights come on after a power interruption.
While am certain many others here have experienced similar problems with MTH products, has anyone encountered this particular issue? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I live on the west side of Seattle's ditch and there are no train hobby-shops on this side of the sound. Otherwise I would take it in to have it examined right after having my head examined for terminal trainitis.