I was running my engine today and turned on the smoke unit and got 2 blinking lights. I see that means somke unit. So I reset turned the smoke on and you could hear the fan blow for about a second and then turns off and then starts to blink. Have any ideas?
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That means that your smoke unit is stuck or burnt up, look at the end of your manual. - Matt
The two blink code indicates a problem with the smoke element. Sometimes this can be caused by a loose connection of the cable to the smoke unit, or possibly too much smoke fluid has been put in, and the smoke unit circuit board is soaked. (I've done this myself once.) If it is too much fluid, then it should be OK after a few hours when some fluid has evaporated or soaked down into the batting.
If it doesn't self-correct after a few hours, then you might have a failed smoke unit element or a loose connection.
Take it apart and re do the smoke unit.It's a normal PM task on Lionel locomotives.Learn it-live it.Nick
Most of the times we have encountered this problem the fan was obstructed and the unit was over filled with smoke. I have to also say you should do the Modification to the fan intake hole. This mod was outlined in another thread sometime ago.
The mods can be done to Legacy smoke units, but they were really intended for the earlier TMCC models. I second the recommendation to do a PM on the smoke unit. For the Legacy models with the voltage regulator, many times I find the screws loose to the smoke element. Be sure to tighten those and then make sure the sides of the smoke resistor do NOT contact the bowl when you put it in place. While you're in there, a simple trick if the wick is charred where the smoke resistor sets, flip it over. If it's the first time you've been in there, that will usually work as well as new wick. Obviously, the next maintenance will require a new wick.
ok I took the engine apart, lionel wanted me to send it in to them in august because they are moving they are not taking in repair work in and its just not my thing if I can help it. what I found was that the board was wet with fluid but upon testing I found that the negative wire to the board and motor was not well connected. to tell the truth after looking into this the wire came off the motor as well. but since I have it apart I will order some new wicking as well as a resistor, and the smoke element pcb while I am buying new stuff. is it going to cost me a few dollars yes, but the last engine I got brand new out of the box was missing windows as well as only had one motor working how it should. lionel fixed the motor problem said they put on a new shell don't think they did and and was still missing windows when I got it back. so I guess I will take care of this myself. thanks for all the help guys.
I don't see a reason to replace the PCB unless something has happened to it. I've only replaced a couple of those, one when the regulator shorted and literally burned up the smoke unit! Unless the resistor is damaged, I can't see replacing that either.