MTH operating reefer car not working

Do you have a meter than measures AC and DC voltages?

Track power must be on even when the operating  track is independently powered.

My layout is TMCC so track power is on. Also all my other operating cars work so clearly it's not the track. 

Yes, I have a voltmeter, just not sure where on the car to check. 

There are probably different reefer boards, but for the ones I've seen there are (at least) 4 pairs of wires going into the board which you should be able to identify by simple inspection.

1) A pair of wires from one truck

2) A pair of wires from the other truck

3) A pair of wires to the DC gear-motor mechanism

4) A pair of wires to the cycle timing lever switch which is tripped by the door motion

If you measure the AC voltage at 1) or 2), you should get the track voltage (16-18V AC) when you activate the track section.  It's hard to believe this would be a problem since this is just a matter of wires running from each truck up to the board.

So let's say you do get AC voltage at 1) and 2) when you push the Unload lever.  Then you're looking for a DC voltage at 3).  You should get this DC voltage (I think it's either 6 or 9V DC) when the Unload lever is held active.  It may require 3 hands to make this measurement!  If you get a DC voltage at 3) but the mechansim is not running, then perhaps a loose wire to the motor or a bad motor.  The lever switch 4) is what keeps the mechanism running for one full door cycle after a short press of the Unload switch - but since nothing moves at all, the wiring to the switch is not the immediate concern.

I know that this is an older post, but I have a similar problem with a similar MTH operating reefer. I thought this car was "new", but I see it was made in 2005. Right out of the box I can hear a click inside the car when I press the button for my operating track, but that's it. I've read the manual and see where to add smoke. Is this whole car a bad design? Does it jam easily inside or something? 

See following thread where OP had same symptom:

https://ogrforum.com/t...erating-reefer-issue