Cab Light Blinking on my Pere Marquette Berkshire

A Michigan guy selling his PM Berk... sacrilege I tell you

Not by choice, impending layoff ahead so unless I can find a new job in the next few months I might need to put the trains on hold.  

Thats odd, these were released before Lionel started equipping legacy locos with "diagnostics"  so its not a code.

When you say you tried a reset did you do the "hard reset" following the steps in the back of the owners manual?

Outside of that I recall a thread involving bilnking interior lights on a stationsounds diner. It was some type of "strobe effect" that was inadvertantly activated.

I can't remember if it was a reprogramming or a certain keystroke sequence that stopped it. It might be a stretch but maybe its a similar issue.

With all of the "potential extra features" of the legacy handheld maybe you activated something on accident.

If you don't come up with a solution on the forum, shoot Lionel an email. I've had good luck with advice regarding my own repairs.

Sorry to hear about the layoff Jim.

How many blinks?

Thanks, I am not out of a job just yet but have a deadline to find a new one.  I have lots of options so taking it slow.  Just taking inventory of what I have that I can sell if I go too long without work. 

It blinks 4 times.

John, as I stated earlier, these berkshires were the first generation legacy offerings and do NOT have the diagnostic code system.

Additionally there is no "secondary smoke unit" only stack smoke. 

I've had problems with the smoke unit on mine, never had anything flash, just quit working like the old TMCC locos do.

I overlooked your previous reply.  In that case, I wonder if it's something like the antenna connection or the handrails shorted to the boiler?

I agree, I'd actually call Lionel, I've had good luck talking to them on this kind of issue.

Thanks Rick and John

I will give Lionel a call

From the TMCC troubleshoot guide:

THE LOCOMOTIVE CAB LIGHT
IS FLASHING:

THE LCRU2 CAN PROGRAM THE LOCOMOTIVE TYPE: STEAM

WITH OR WITHOUT RAILSOUNDS, DIESEL WITH CAB LIGHT,
WITH OR WITHOUT RAILSOUNDS, AND DIESEL WITH STROBE
LIGHT, WITH OR WITHOUT RAILSOUNDS.
THE LOCOMOTIVE TYPE IS SET AT THE FACTORY BUT CAN BE
RESET IN THE PROGRAM MODE. CONTACT LIONEL SERVICE FOR
THE PROPER SEQUENCE.

Did you try the "hard rest" for that loco JD?

TrainMaster Command Control operations
Reprogramming your locomotive to restore features

If your locomotive is unresponsive to your commands in the TrainMaster Command Control
environment, we recommend that you follow this procedure to reset your locomotive. All
factory default settings will be restored when you reprogram the locomotive.

1. Slide the Command reverse unit switch to the PROG position.
2. Plug in and connect your Command Base.
3. Place your locomotive and tender on the track, then power up the track.
4. Press ENG and enter the locomotive’s ID#.
5. Press SET.
6. Press ENG and enter the locomotive’s ID# again.
7. Press AUX1.
8. Enter 1 for this particular locomotive.
9. Turn off track power and wait ten seconds.
10. Slide the Command reverse unit switch back to the RUN position.

At this point, your locomotive has been reset. Restore power to the track and operate the
locomotive as usual. Be sure to use the ID# entered in Step 4.

I'd email, its been my impression in the past that the "techs" read the emails. Otherwise the customer service " lady" may just run you through protocol questioning.

I ran some trains again last night and the cab light was not blinking this time!  Odd. 

I will be giving Lionel a shout.  I will ask them along with getting a RA for my CAB 2 that has the brake/boost button stuck now!