Blinking Cab Light on UP Legacy GP7 6-28567

Blinking cab light usually indicates a smoke unit failure. The # of blinks correlates to the issue. Check the manual. Good Luck!!

The smoke unit is brand new and works as advertised. It blinks at a steady rate. I'll post up a short video when I get home.

That is the code for a drive train/ motor issue. Look for something binding the trucks and motor.

It blinks when its first powered up, and it runs as smooth as glass. This is what I'm not understanding, Everything works. BUT, I dont have the lighting circuits connected. This engine also has a strobe light on top. Maybe I should try and connect it.

I suspect that it thinks the motor is drawing more power than it should.  Like Marty says, check the drivetrain.

It's all brand new, greased and oiled before assembly. Give me about an hour or two and I'll have a video up.

I believe you, but I can't tell from the video how much force it's taking to turn the motors.  If you monitor the track current and see how much it takes to move it out, that would tell us something.  If from idle to moving takes more than 1/3-1/2 amp at the most with no cars, something is wrong.

Here's the video. those motors turn uber easy. I hooked up my meter to get the amperage.                                                                Full Stop w/ smoke unit on= .72 amps,   Barely turning the motors= .88 amps,   Max throttle= 2.2 amps.

Don't pay any attention to the RailSounds, I had to sub the RailSounds card. Now it's doing weird stuff, sometimes the smoke unit will shut down, sometimes it wont. Also, It seems its only running at one speed. It doesn't vary with the speed of the engine. It has the original voltage regulator in it. Could this be the issue?  I hooked up the short hood lighting. The strobe flashes as advertised, I only get the class lights and number boards, NO headlights. Long hood I cant hook up unless I put the body on.

Suggestions? Thanks for the time.

That is early legacy electronics. No self diagnostics. I’d double check wiring, if that still looks good reprogram the R4LC if still nothing I’d try a new R4LC. Found a wire diagram from Lionel and the code for the reset

Correct, if the light is blinking like that, it's thinking the cab light output from the R4LC is a beacon, try setting the engine type, I'm guessing it's set to be a diesel, that would be AUX1/1, steam is AUX1/2 for early Legacy.

Thanks, thats the reset I used, Aux 1/2 like the manual for the engine said and whats posted above. I have that wiring diagram. The R4LC is new for that engine.

I'll try AUX 1/1.

Did you say you got the roof beacon light to work?

I see the update that this is older Legacy boards so the blinking codes don't apply.  I think you're on the right path with a strobe light.  Let us know.

@Chuck Sartor posted:

Did you say you got the roof beacon light to work?

The roof beacon works when power is supplied to the track.

Try another R4LC.

Ok.

I'm sorry John, Going to try another received. I searched for the reset codes and I know I saw them within the past week or two in a recent post and now I cant find them. Could someone please post those up, just one more time????

Thanks.

Ok, I just found the reset codes. I sould be using a AUX1/5 reset code. Going to give that a try this afternoon.

@Jayhawk500 posted:

I'm sorry John, Going to try another received. I searched for the reset codes and I know I saw them within the past week or two in a recent post and now I cant find them. Could someone please post those up, just one more time????

Thanks.

Here are the TMCC reset codes.  Not sure I know of a Legacy list but some of these apply to Legacy engines.

Here is a thread with a similar issue.  Might be worth a read.

Use as the manual stated and John for Legacy R4LC

Slide RUN/PRG to “PRG”

apply power

press “ENG XX” SET then “Aux1” “2”

@Jayhawk500 posted:

Ok, I just found the reset codes. I sould be using a AUX1/5 reset code. Going to give that a try this afternoon.

No, you shouldn't be using that code, this is a Legacy locomotive.  The proper reset code was provided earlier in this thread.

https://ogrforum.com/...1#152477234574412931

@MartyE posted:

Here are the TMCC reset codes.  Not sure I know of a Legacy list but some of these apply to Legacy engines.

I've never seen a Legacy list as there were only two that I'm aware of.  For Legacy steam with the R4LC, it's AUX1/"1", for Legacy diesel it's AUX1/"2"

Thanks Marty. Sounds Like I need to do another reset with the 5 Code since its for that particular engine. Currently its the 2 code I use from whats printed in the owners manual.

AUX 1/1 it is.

Okay, I'll do the AUX 1/2 again.

Okay, I completed a second Reset with the Aux 1/2, and It worked. The blinking Cab lights stopped blinking. Thank you so much to everyone with the inputs.

Now, the smoke unit is intermittent. This chassis has all new electronics in it. I am in process of replacing the voltage regulator.  Simply 'cause I have one. So, I have a question about the regulator...The old regulator had the transistor screwed to the chassis with an insulator. The new regulator...Lionel has the transistor folded under the heatshrink and its not exposed so it cant be screwed to the chassis. Do I cut the heatshrink off and unfold the transistor or leave it alone like it is from Lionel?

Thanks for the time.

Unfold, insulate, and mount.

I agree with Chuck, the reason Lionel started mounting them on the chassis was to stop the regulators from dying.  They also swapped the 6 ohm resistor for 8 ohms, that was a service bulletin years ago I believe.  If yours still has the six ohm resistor, I recommend swapping in an 8 ohm, or you're likely to be replacing the regulator again soon.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I agree with Chuck, the reason Lionel started mounting them on the chassis was to stop the regulators from dying.  They also swapped the 6 ohm resistor for 8 ohms, that was a service bulletin years ago I believe.  If yours still has the six ohm resistor, I recommend swapping in an 8 ohm, or you're likely to be replacing the regulator again soon.

It's a brand new smoke unit also, But I will definitely check.

Thanks Gentlemen.

The Lionel "brand new" smoke unit is likely a pull from an engine, they typically take extra stuff or returns apart for parts.  If it's the one in the parts listing, I'll bet money it still has the 6 ohm resistor.

Thanks John. I'll take a quick check.

Yep, Its 6 ohms. I'll check the old one too. Just have to find it.

I currently cant find the old smoke unit.   I have the new regulator installed. I don't want to power up the smoke unit without the upgraded smoke element. So I turned off the switch and I've unplugged the smoke unit. So, is a 8 ohm wire wound resister available from Digikey for this type of application. If so, anyone have a P/N? Don't really want to go to Lionel for an element or two and pay $10 for the priority mail shipping.

I take this 5W WireWound at Digikey, put it diagonally in a vise and tighten enough to crack the outer shell.  What is exposed is a perfect 8.2 ohm wirewound resistor just the right size for smoke units.

Squeeze with the vise at the arrows until it cracks.  Wear safety glasses.

Thanks for the help John.  I'll get some on order.