BL-2 # MT-2132LP

Tony,

Are you the original owner of these two engines? I ask because the 20-2222-1 is an 18 year old Protosound (original) engine and while I could not locate the MT-2132LP on MTH's web site, by its product number its even older.

While I feel your pain, if you acquired these engines recently then they were either used, or very old stock, and their history is both long and, perhaps, very questionable. I wouldn't be too quick to be frustrated with MTH locos in general using these two as examples.

MTH's current product line has come a long way since the days or their original Protosound offerings. Maybe it's time to put these old-timers on a shelf.

I agree with Barry. I have very few problems with my MTH engines. Mine are all protosound 3 and 2 protosound 2 engines. I have very little problems running them. Not sure how old yours are but the DCS system on my layout works great. There is a learning curve when you first get started with the system but I soon caught on

Both are Proto1.  

PS-1 locomotives are excellent locomotives and great runners.  I love all of mine.  But, they also require quite a bit of understanding on your part to keep them going.  You have to know the PS-1 system, become intimate with the manual.  You have to be good at flicking the transformer handle to get the right feature.  You have to be okay with the finicky nature of the system, accepting that some days it'll work just right, and others it won't.  You have to keep on replacing the batteries, or installing a BCR.  If you want a locomotive that will run no matter what, PS-1 equipped locomotives are not for you.  You can replace the electronics with something else and have a good locomotive, but at what price?  Many times it's cheaper to get a new locomotive.  Yes, you can get many PS-1 locomotives for what seems a steal of a deal, but you have to know the baggage they come with.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

... while I could not locate the MT-2132LP on MTH's web site, by its product number its even older.

It was easy to find if you are familiar with how MTH numbers (Or in this case renumbered.) their locomotives.  The corrected number is 20-2132-1.  As you can see Barry was right, it's almost 23 years old.  What exactly is the problem you are having.  If it made sounds but wasn't moving, the boards inside were probably bad.  As for transformer issues, you should only use one of the ones listed in the back of the manual, they are very picky about the power they get.  But they should be fine on a brand new MTH Z-4000 or Lionel ZW-L.

PS-1 engines need to have a good charged battery.  They have to be allowed to start up first.  Then voltage needs to be below 10V for coming out of reset (the first state after startup).  Once moving and out of reset all future direction changes can be at any voltage.  They do work better on pure AC like the old lionel.  Especially the pre 1997 versions.  G

If you live close to a MTH service station, have them run a 'FIX' chip through it. That my be all it needs. If no luck, the next possibility is a new power supply board. Still available and not terribly expensive.