Was running train on high (90+%) for 15 minutes when it stopped moving. Looked over at engine and saw smoke coming from underneath carriage/shell. Upon further inspection, a device on one side of the motor appears to have overheated, and the lead from the motor tab broke off the device when pulled slightly. Looks like either a choke or wire wound resistor. There appears to be a 10 or 100 nF cap across the motor leads (appears to be Mabuchi motor from Lionel parts picture). Failure is on white wire side of motor (not yellow). Power transistors appear OK (not cracked/broken/scorch marks on PCB), and the motor has ~3.8 ohms of resistance. The insulation on the white wire has melted back onto the wire at both ends (near the choke and on the other end going into the terminal plug block). Is there a way to test whether I need to replace the control board, or more specifically just one of the transistors in addition to the choke/resistor that fried? Any idea on the part number for that choke? It isn't listed in the parts list on Lionel.
You've done the right thing by talking with Lionel. Their techs should be able to guide you trough trouble shooting as it seems that you have some knowledge of electronics.
SOURCE: lionel train won't reverse
there should be a switch under or in the cab section that turns off/on the reverse function.
SOURCE: Lionel train power issue
Answer a number of questions:
Is the tranformer power adequate for the train and is it a working tranformer?
Will the train run by connecting the wires directly to the two points of the train (wheels and center rail connector)?
Are the tracks new?
Is the lockon new?
SOURCE: i bought the set last year of holiday lionel
If all cars are not properly on the track, the engine does not have enough power to pull the cars. Try with engine and coal car only to zero in on cause.
SOURCE: WE are trying to get our lionel holiday train
There is no on/off switch. Remote will give no indication of working. Try putting engine and coal car only and try. I have had this train set for two years and the remote tends to work whenever it wants.
SOURCE: New Lionel Polar Express train set-up issue. The
My son just got this train and we are having the same problem. Taking the last car off solved the problem for us. I think it has something to do with accessories and the transformer voltage output (See page 14 and 15 of the instructions).
I have still not determined why it won't run with the final car but am assuming it has something to do with the lights on the cars pulling too many amps and not enough left to run the train. I will let you know if I find a solution. If anyone else knows how to solve the issue, any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Hello
The engine
and automatic transmission in this vehicles drive train
are fully electronically controlled by a computer called the PCM
(Power Train Control Module). Whenever a problem like this occurs the
computer stores a record of the problem (there are of course some
exceptions to this, like the fuel pump, engine coolant temperature
sensor and MAF sensor for instance) in the form of a fault code in
its memory, to read these fault codes you must have the systems
memory scanned with a special tool. Once the fault code(s) are read
you then must perform the appropriate diagnostic testing to find and
resolve the problem(s) DO NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS UNTIL A
TRAINED TECHNICAIN HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO AVOID SPEDING YOUR
HARD EARNED MONEY ON PARTS THAT MAY NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM
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Talked to a Lionel tech who told me that the failed parts were wire wound resistors that can be removed. It was somewhat of an experiment apparently.
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