"maintenance required" question

Walt,

I have a Proto 2 steamer that does the same thing, everything else works fine, I think it’s just a bug in the system. I just ignore it.

That message comes up every 1000 scale miles and every 50 hours.  I have had a few that I have reset after it was triggered by miles only to have it reappear shortly thereafter due to hours.  I have also had a few that I reset and the reset didn't take.  I'm interested to see the resolution for this one.

 well, it seems misery DOES have company!   Craig: I have been doing the same by ignoring it but it bothers me that a RESET isn't clearing it.

- walt

Does the engine retain other settings, such as turning off features or an ID # change.  If not, there can be a degraded supercap.  Does it run in conventional?

Otherwise, interesting observation.  It is a computer  G

I've never seen where I can't reset the maintenance, interesting issue.

John,

From page 154 of The DCS Companion 3rd Edition...

Maintenance Required

The Maintenance Required message is not actually an error message. It's an indication that the engine selected in the DCS Remote is in need of routine maintenance. DCS keeps track of how many scale miles an engine has been run and, when DCS believes that the engine requires maintenance, it so alerts the operator. The message is a reminder that it's probably time to lubricate the DCS engine as described in the engine's user manual.

The message may be reset by first selecting the DCS engine so that it's displayed on the DCS Remote's LCD screen. Next press soft key S5, "->” until “MORE” appears over soft key 4. Then press soft key S4 to view the soft key list. Use the thumbwheel to scroll through the soft keys until locating the ”Maintenance” soft key. Press the thumbwheel and then press the “Reset” soft key.

Barry, he's tried to reset it and it doesn't reset, that's what is being discussed.  I know how to reset the message.

I have it pop up often in my stable of locos, usually after a delay in starting up an engine.

I have seen the maintenance required when something is binding the gears. for instance a piece of scenery has been picked up and jammed into the wheels or gears.

Scott Smith

John,

All the “Maintenance Required” reset does is reset the message.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

John,

All the “Maintenance Required” reset does is reset the message.

Of course it does Barry, I'm not an idiot!   I realize the remote won't grease the gears or oil the axles and the like!

FWIW.  I have a couple of steamers that the resest doesn’t stick. They are PS-2. I’ve been ignoring the message for years and using my judgment as to when maintenance is required. 

Would someone (Barry, John, GGG)  please clarify what resetting the "maintenance required" message does. Shouldn't  doing the procedure correctly reset the odometer and chronometer to some pre-specified intervals to notify the user that it is time to perform routine maintenance when the engine has reached  one or both of those thresholds? Or do PS3 engines have some kind of sensors or something that let the PS3 system know that the maintenance has been physically performed? And of course I am assuming that the OP has done the reset correctly (based on his many postings over the years).

Mike,

Resetting the message makes it go away until a later date, when DCS once again believes that maintenance is required.

Thank you Barry. 

Now I wonder why the OP is still getting the message.

Just use a little black electrical tape to cover the message, works on "check engine lights" also.

Chris S.

Chris-

Does that mean I no longer have to disconnect my car's battery cables overnight? LOL

FireOne posted:

Just use a little black electrical tape to cover the message, works on "check engine lights" also.

Chris S.

As a retired mechanic I do not recommend doing that. If that check engine light is on something is wrong and needs to be repaired. A loose gas cap will trigger that light or it could be more serious.

it's comforting to read that others have this issue too.  If this was my first dive into DCS or if this was a brand new to me engine, I might not be as puzzled.  But since I have RESET many engines when "maintenenc required" pops up, the fact that it's not taking now is different.  Like I"ve said, I've had this engine about 5 or 6 years and I've done the RESET on it before.

GGG: you have the only observation about a possible cause.  The engine does run successfully but I will pay attention to what you questioned.  I'll try what you suggest and turn off some feature, shut down, and see if the setting stays.  YIKES I sure hope it does.  I've spent WAY too much over the years on MTH engine repairs.

Scott: it's not bound up - it runs well but thanks for that suggestion.

thanks - walt

Feet, I just said that in jest.  I maintain my stuff pretty well except for the Postwar, run it til it smokes without fluid, neglect it, it just won't stop running.  In the end of times, only things left will be cockroaches riding Postwar trains.

Chris S.

Just so we’re clear: an engine reset won’t turn off the message and resetting the message only turns off the message.

walt rapp posted:

it's comforting to read that others have this issue too.  If this was my first dive into DCS or if this was a brand new to me engine, I might not be as puzzled.  But since I have RESET many engines when "maintenenc required" pops up, the fact that it's not taking now is different.  Like I"ve said, I've had this engine about 5 or 6 years and I've done the RESET on it before.

GGG: you have the only observation about a possible cause.  The engine does run successfully but I will pay attention to what you questioned.  I'll try what you suggest and turn off some feature, shut down, and see if the setting stays.  YIKES I sure hope it does.  I've spent WAY too much over the years on MTH engine repairs.

Scott: it's not bound up - it runs well but thanks for that suggestion.

thanks - walt

FireOne posted:

Feet, I just said that in jest.  I maintain my stuff pretty well except for the Postwar, run it til it smokes without fluid, neglect it, it just won't stop running.  In the end of times, only things left will be cockroaches riding Postwar trains.

Chris S.

I kind of figured that but you would not believe what I have seen done to cars to get that light turned off.

Lehigh74 posted:

That message comes up every 1000 scale miles and every 50 hours.  I have had a few that I have reset after it was triggered by miles only to have it reappear shortly thereafter due to hours.  I have also had a few that I reset and the reset didn't take.  I'm interested to see the resolution for this one.

I have quite a few locomotive which do that ... the message disappears without doing anything when I start running it.  PIA but don't see it does any harm, or how to get rid of it for PS2.0 engines. 

Kerrigan,

Read the 17th post above your last one.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Just so we’re clear: an engine reset won’t turn off the message and resetting the message only turns off the message.

Barry, I don't understand your comment/question.  Sorry.

Yesterday for no real reason I did a FEATURE RESET.  Shut down the engine.  Waited an hour or so and did a start up.  NO MESSAGE! 

Just so "I'm" clear: pressing the RST soft key cleared the message for the current session but after shut down and start up the message would come back.

GGG: I tried your suggestion.  I turned off the headlight.  Shut down the engine.  Started back up and the light was still off.  If I read your info correctly that's something that I should be really happy about!

I guess my original question is really unanswered, even after this civil and appreciated set of replies. 

As always, thanks - walt

Walt,

It’s possible that MTH made some undocumented chsanges in DCS. It wouldn’t  be the first time.

I haven't updated my system in years.  I'm happy with 4.1, I think that's what I'm running with.  It does what I want so I just stay with it.  

I've started the engine up a few times after doing the FEATURE RESET and the message never appeared again.  It proved interesting to me to see how much interest my question generated due to the non-uniqueness of the occurence.

thanks all - walt