Lionchief locomotive won't connect, only shouting N516

I would say you are doing it wrong- especially for isolating and troubleshooting the exact problem or failure.

First power up the engine with the remote off. That way you can validate that the engine is working and not repeating the same audio clip. It will make a chirp or series of tones indicating it is not connected.

THEN turn the remote on, and check functions. A betting person would think the remote middle button was stuck(the announcement button) given the error sequence.

If that is the case, then load the blueooth app "Lionchief" on your phone or tablet and run the engine that way until you get the remote sorted.

Thanks Vernon, that was a really good point, she tried without the remote on and the locomotive still keeps shouting N516. Any other thoughts for how to further troubleshooting?

Ok last update, the locomotive moves both with remote and Bluetooth, but neither will stop the repeated N516 nor turn the volume down. Any other thoughts on what the issue could be? Anyone heard this ever happening before.

Does it start doing that before you connect with the app or remote?

That doesn't sound like typical toy train dialog, more like a computer error code of some sort.

It may be time to contact Lionel for warranty return, unless the vendor would exchange it for one that tests o.k.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Does it start doing that before you connect with the app or remote?

Yes sir, as soon as power is applied and remote off.

@miller3 posted:

Yes sir, as soon as power is applied and remote off.

It's broken, send it back!

I'll just say it, anything is possible. If I remember, wasn't this one of the engines Lionel was selling at the "warehouse" sale for $75? So not surprising, some folks may have purchased in bulk to resell at trainshows.

Again, the determination is, if the engine does it with remote and app completely off and disconnected and only the engine powered- then sounds like a fault in the engine (bad firmware or other issue) where the processor keeps resetting and playing the same sound segment. Again, the engine should do nothing but sit there and chirp the "not connected" sound, not actual dialog.

I think that engine is from this set? http://www.lionel.com/products...w-bluetooth-6-84726/

A giant clue is the part number ends in 516 and might indicate this was a test engine or an engine that never got the proper sounds firmware and the ID somehow is repeated to show what board it is?

Lionel parts and support for this engine https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ef-Set-w-Bluetooth_2

Again, the more we get into this, you may have gotten a sample or test engine from Lionel.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

It's broken, send it back!

Yeah thats what's its seeming like, u got it for him on the warehouse clearance day, it was a unit that was originally destined to be used for replacement parts, but looks like it's going to need parts itself!

I'll see Monday if lionel will let it come back to be repaired.

@Vernon Barry posted:

I'll just say it, anything is possible. If I remember, wasn't this one of the engines Lionel was selling at the "warehouse" sale for $75? So not surprising, some folks may have purchased in bulk to resell at trainshows.

Again, the determination is, if the engine does it with remote and app completely off and disconnected and only the engine powered- then sounds like a fault in the engine (bad firmware or other issue) where the processor keeps resetting and playing the same sound segment. Again, the engine should do nothing but sit there and chirp the "not connected" sound, not actual dialog.

I think that engine is from this set? http://www.lionel.com/products...w-bluetooth-6-84726/

A giant clue is the part number ends in 516 and might indicate this was a test engine or an engine that never got the proper sounds firmware and the ID somehow is repeated to show what board it is?

Lionel parts and support for this engine https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ef-Set-w-Bluetooth_2

Again, the more we get into this, you may have gotten a sample or test engine from Lionel.

I think you hit the nail on the head, the locomotive may not have had the sound files loaded into from the factory, or maybe some other internal error. Hopefully lionel will let it take a trip back to them to be updated.

@miller3 posted:

I think you hit the nail on the head, the locomotive may not have had the sound files loaded into from the factory, or maybe some other internal error. Hopefully lionel will let it take a trip back to them to be updated.

One would think if an update was all that was needed, they would have done it in order to sell these at at higher price.

Maybe  the update or whatever it needs, can only be done overseas. I'll gladly be wrong so your nephew can get his train fully operational.

Good luck!

I'm guessing a new board is what is needed.

Miller.

I saw you commented on my post today about the same thing.  I will buy that I'm not hearing it right and it certainly could be N516.

Anyway, there MIGHT be some switch or more likely a jumper or even a solder bridge jumper that changes it from this mode to normal.  Perhaps this is a mode they have to identify which sound profile is in in the board as I'm sure the same boards, hardware-wise, are used elsewhere.  Just wild guessing.

I just ordered a couple of boards from Lionel and will study things closely when I get them (assuming they work!).  Maybe I can figure out how to deal with the annoying board.

For reference, the Lionel part seems to be:

Item No. cs-691ENGM516-p

LIONCHIEF PCB / BLUETOOTH / 0-8-0 / SP #4727 / LCBA 4.0 and the price is $79.99

This is the link to the parts page for this engine.  It is part no. 28 on the diagram.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...LOCO-ONLY-6804727001

Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer

It is repeating 'M516' not 'N'. Which is the board code. I'm certainly not a Lionel engineer, but I'll bet the sounds are programmed into the board already, but how to access them is the unknown.  EDIT: I just realized this thread is from 2022!!