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Hey all,

Just dragged out this older locomotive.  The Santa FE #2925 GP9   I think the item number was 6-28502.

I fired it up with the TMCC remote, and everything works.  It runs great in both directions; all lights work; flashing yellow light goes on and off via the remote; electro-couplers work.

Then we come to the sound.

I have made sure the program run switch is in "run".    I made sure the Signal Sounds/Railsounds switch is on Railsounds.

The issue is, the sound is barely there.   I have rotated the volume pot.  It does effect the sound, but max volume is about a whisper.   The volume is linear to the volume pot.

I went to the remote and used the volume buttons UP and Down.   It, too, has the proper effect.

I turned over the loco and used alligator clip to power it up.    I can hear all the proper sounds: coupler sound, horn, bell, crew talk, etc.. when pushing the proper buttons.   I just have to have my ear to the speaker to hear it.

It's as if someone put an attenuator on it to restrict max volume.

So, now that I may have over explained the issue:

Any ideas?   Reset the loco?   I did try simply reprpogramming the id# and also trying using it in just signal sound mode.  Same results.  Horn and bell sound, but barely audible.

Thanks for any ideas.

Last edited by EscapeRocks
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First off, set the volume pot in the middle of it's travel.  Next, short one outside lead to the center terminal.  If the sound totally goes away, short the other outside terminal to the center terminal.  If that restores decent volume, the pot is bad.

Check all the wiring from the board to the speaker and pot, make sure there are no loose connections.

Reseat both of the RailSounds boards on the motherboard.

Obtain a PLCC ship extraction tool and extract and replace the PLCC chips, after some time oxidation of the contacts can result in a poor connection.

Next stop, replace the speaker. 

Finally, the RailSounds board may have an amplifier that died.

You can test the two RailSounds boards in another TMCC locomotive to see if they are good or bad.

John, I did your "pot" test and it seems to be fine.  

I then unplugged everything.  I pulled the chips. Used some DeOxIt, reseated the chips.  Reseated the boards.   No change.

I then took the railsound power board and plugged it into another loco.... BANG...

That was it.  Problem seems to be that board as I immediately got the low output in the otherwise known working loco's speaker.

Lionel looks to have them in stock.

Thank you again!

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