Thanks for the advice.
I am not sure if I am going to send it back or just keep removing/replacing the battery for off/on. Everything else works fine with the remote, and the remote actually turns on/off faster with just taking a battery out.
In reading other posts about this issue, it seems this is a major problem and Lionel is sending some remotes back that are refurbished....I.E. not the original one the customer's purchased.
Plus, I will have to completely reprogram the remote.....Engine ID's, Switches, Routes, Accessories, etc. I have so much programmed right now, it will take a few hours to get to the point where I am at now.
I think I'll just keep things the way they are. If the remote breaks any further I'll send it back at that time, or just buy another one. Hopefully it lasts through the year.
I do know I have had so many other problems with the Lionel peripherals. Out of 10 CC switches, 4 were defective (at different times) and had to be returned. My FasTrack has been another issue all together...I've had tracks arrive without the connector pins. 10" straights and 5" straights have had conductivity issues. My Lionel motorized wind turbine is so noisy, it overshadows the trains. I am seriously questioning the quality control of some of this stuff coming out of China.
I wish I had known of this forum prior to purchasing $1,100 worth of Fastrack and CC switches. Next year I plan on ridding myself of all Lionel peripherals, and building a new layout with Gargraves and Ross. I'll keep the Lionel ZW-L and the Legacy engines (so far they are awesome), but everything else will go.
But, live and learn, and next year will be exciting with some new components.
Thanks again for all the good advice.