Blinking cab lights on a Legacy Loco?

 From Page 31 in your manual Lee:

Maintaining and servicing your locomotive
Locomotive Diagnostics

Your locomotive includes built-in diagnostics to monitor the condition of the main drive motor
and smoke system. If a problem is detected, the locomotive's cab light will blink a diagnostic
code.
If you see the light inside the cab flashing, press RESET (for LEGACY operation), 0
(for TMCC operation), or DIRECTION/power interruption (for conventional operation)
to attempt to clear the problem. The locomotive will immediately check itself again. If the
problem persists, the cab light will blink the code again.
Note that smoke-related errors can be reset a maximum of three times. On the third try,
if the problem still persists, the smoke unit will be shut down and must be returned to Lionel
Service for repair.
Turning the smoke unit switch to the off position will disable diagnostic checks of
the smoke system.
Number of Blinks Diagnostic Code Description
1 Main drive motor stalled.
2 Smoke 1 element problem.
3 Smoke 1 fan problem.
4 Not applicable.
5 Not applicable

Hello again Lee:

As I recall, the three blinks means there is a problem with the smoke unit.  If you cut the smoke unit off using the slide switch, does it still blink?

Secondly, most newer Lionel engines must have voltage go all the way to zero volts before the reverse unit will function correctly.  All the CW 80's I have seen seem to have a problem with voltage not going completely to zero. I am not sure about the Z4000 but I have noticed a number of times on friends layouts, with the Z4000 handle all the way off, a voltage is showing on the readout.

Good luck and happy railroading,

Don

"I love this loco but it is by far the most obstinate loco I have when running conventional - to the point I probably won't run it much."

You wouldn't believe how well she would run if you had Legacy.Well worth the investment!

How many flashes are you seeing in the cab?

Ricky

Definitely see if there is a pattern.  That will help you figure out a possible solution.

I feel like an idiot - no wonder I could not find the blinks in the manual: I had taken the manual for an older, non-scale Lionel Northern out instead.  That's what comes from having too many locos . . .

It blinks two and three times.  I've seen both, but mostly three . . . 

Anyway, the smoke units are both turned off.  Not sure what I can do . . . 

BTW - when new, this  loco ran as if it had binding gears or something -- noticeably uneven -- as if it had a limp, at low speeds.  I lubed it as I could without dis-assembly, then set it to running for about two hours at about a scale 50 mph and that seemed to wear it in a bit and it ran more smoothly, but it sill does not run a low speeds when it runs. 

I would send it back. 

Okay. Now I know what the blinking cab lights mean. Thanks. I think I have them on all of my legacy engines so far. I guess when I need smoke, I will run MTH. Probably need to go ahead and buy legacy. 

If your getting three consecutive blinks at a time in the cab of a legacy loco  Mr Muffin its most likely the smoke unit fan.

It seems Lionel had gotten a "batch batch" of fan motors over the last couple of years as this is a common problem. Easiest way to fix it is to replace the fan, then the diagnostic will reset itself and the blinking will stop.

The fan is breifly tested when the loco is powered up, so breif the only way you would know is to have the fan out of the unit and visible. If there is too much draw in the instant its tested the unit shuts down and the cab light blinks.

The legacy control system has nothing to do with this, the problem lies with the loco itself.

Rick 

i noticed last night that the Milwaukee S-3 has five blinks. Know what that means? Maybe that we're way south of WI? 

The Alton has three. 

Excuse me butting in here. But I may have an answer for you.

If I'm correct in my thinking that the S3 has a secondary smoke unit, then 5 blinks most likely indicates a fan motor problem with the secondary smoke unit.

I hope this is of help.

I had the same thing happen with my S3 and my ATSF 4-8-4  #3751. My understanding is that the on board computer will sense an overload on the motor and at a certain set point the computer cuts the power to the motor.I opened up the main smoke unit and found loose bits of plastic flash in both the locomotives fan chambers.This flash was preventing the fan impeller to spin freely.I blasted the debris out with air and then made sure the fan was spinning free.I am sure the same problem could affect the secondary smoke unit for the steam effects.I have had no problem with these units since then.Word of warning:You will void the warranty.

Boomer: 

Looks like I bought the S3s in January of 2012, so I am out of warranty already, correct? 

Warranty policy is one year from the date of purchase, having said that with the loco being just out of warranty, and you mention multiple locos are having issues I think an email to Lionels customer service is definately worthwhile.

FWIW I have had a few "exceptions" made in the past. I recommend contacting Lionels customer service through the "service/repair" question link and let them know you are having  problems with multiple locos they may take care of the s3 and by all means get the alton and any others that are still under warranty taken care of.

Its been my impression that the "repair guys" read the emails direct and I've gotten  quick responses.

Heres the link to the "link".

http://www.lionel.com/ContactUs/

BTW the last page of the owners manual for each legacy locomotive gives the diagnostic codes.