MTH GP38-2 headlight replacement?

Have you toggled the headlight button on the DCS remote? or tried a feature reset?

some models have the headlight picking up power thru springs. If the body shell was removed, these springs can loose power.

You could test by using 2 AA or AAA batteries (less than 3 volt DC) to see if the light still works by putting power to those springs going to the headlight.

I don't have the GP38-2 to look at. I will look up the instructions now.

https://mthtrains.com/sites/de...ction/20dl15604i.pdf

Looks like the headlight bulbs are with the number boards mounted up on the metal stand? (page 15-16)

The fact that you feel comfortable removing the shell, might be easiest to replace the headlight bulbs yourself? Test the blue plug wires as above.

It makes a difference what version of Protosound this engine is. Protosound lights are 1 volt, PS2 are 6 volt and PS3 are leds. They are mounted in the cab housing and not on the bracket.

Yep, the headlight gets power from springs making contact with a board on the engine floor. I thought maybe a spring wasn't making contact so I took it apart, but all seemed to be fine. When I put it back together the headlight still didn't work. I didn't test with batteries though, that's a good idea. 

I was under the impression when I looked at the headlight that it was glued in and would require soldering to replace. I could be mistaken on that. If it was simply switching a bulb I could easily do it myself. This is a proto-sound 3.0 geep, not sure if it's different from the 2.0 version. I think I tried pulling it out and it seemed stuck in there so I assumed it was glued. I could be wrong though, I just didn't want to break anything. 

PS/3 uses LED's, but they're not glued in.

If this engine is less than one year old, tell MTH that the headlight went out prematurely and they should warranty it hopefully. If you offer to install it that may help? These LEDs should outlast the engine!

I'd still first test with the 2 AA batteries making sure to get the polarity correct!

Got an update here. I realized the numberboard/headlight piece pops out, which should make things easier and acessible. The bad news is it seems the LEDs are very very glued in. I've got a photo. Anybody have any tips here?  

If it is hot glue, the glue can be heated up with the tip of another hot glue gun to soften it so the bulb can be removed.

Andrew

Have you tested them yet, just to be sure? I have had to shim the spring assembly on a couple of engines to get better contact. I have changed all my PS2 headlights to LEDs, sometimes destroying the old bulbs to get them out. I push out the lenses and before installing the LEDs, and have them protrude slightly out of the housing. You get much brighter lights that way. You need flangleless 3mm or you have to file down a regular LED to do that.