DCS won't recognize steam engine as "being on track"

100's of TIU's have gone bad w/DCS signal problems this year from MTH. Actually heard they had or were working on around 1,000 of them.  Just got mine back from 6 week warranty repair. Does it recognize any MTH engines and work?? My other functions were fine just bad"0" DCS signal.. Hello Barry, are you there?? Barry?!?

 I believe the caps only need less than a minute to charge.

Try to address it on a test track if you can. How is the signal strength on the layout?

Will it run in conventional? I would try that first.

 Checked system with my diesel....no problems....so it's not the track.

It's not the DCS.

Richard,

100's of TIU's have gone bad w/DCS signal problems this year from MTH. Actually heard they had or were working on around 1,000 of them.

Let me guess - you heard this from your local hobby shop guy. These guys are generally wrong.

I have asked and have been told that there are not any kind of widespread TIU problems, REV. L or otherwise.

Down to the Basics;

Have you tried powering it up in conventional?

Does it "click" when power is applied? (there is a relay that energises in PS2, not sure about PS3)

Have you tried it on a "Programming track"?

IF it works Conventional, or clicks on power up;

Clean inside the pickup rollers with electrical cleaner spray or WD-40. (Be sure to wipe off the WD-40, it's oily and will spread, it's bad for traction tires.)

Otherwise it might be time to visit the local Fixit shop.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.  Just got home from work and will try some of these ideas out tonight.  I have an older TIU (revision i) and not the new one (rev. L). Both DCS and TIU have latest updates. Like I stated earlier (maybe I wasn't clear), I had previously entered the engine on the DCS address (default 1) and have been running it for a couple weeks with no problem.  Put it away for a few weeks, and tried to use it today with the weird result of the address being active in the DCS remote, with the "check track" engine not on track message when I try to start up.  Will try conventional mode and let you guys know what I find. Also, I try re-entering into DCS.  My track is 3 rail lionel fastrack by the way.....

When we are not complaining about something, or complaining about someone else's complaints, we often help each other out.

This is a great forum with a full range of experts and newbies, and everyone in between.

You have already started helping out by reporting the fix. You have added to the collective knowledge, so thank you too.

regards