Need help with starting PS2 Mohawk locomotive.

I think you need a new Battery... Or the engine is missing the watch dog signal but first try the battery test.

Battery test..  

Start up the engine,

Turn "off" track".

how long do the sounds last with no track power.   If not  at least 6 or 7 seconds the battery is shot..

Delete & try adding again with a new battery.

Thank you Gregg. It worked....new battery was needed. But the engine's address is not #3 anymore. It's #5 on the engine list. That's because #3 was not on the list as a choice to choose for the Mohawk's new address. The #3 can not be found. The same situation stands for the SW-9 switcher. They both respond because they have an address.  Can I revert back to the old address numbers again, if they are available in the system?

You can delete the engine at #3 and then change the ID from #5 to #3.

Thank you John.  There is no #3 to delete on the remote. So I turned the other 2 remotes and deleted #3. Then I went back to the remote I tried to edit it from 5 to 3 but #3 does not appear in the system. The only thing I can think of is that I have a track 1 and a track 2 separated by power blocks. When the Mohawk is on track 2 it starts manually or conventionally without a command. Doesn't do that on track 1 where it starts in command mode.

Occasionally, the DCS remote gets confused and you can't add an engine in a particular slot.  If you have the engines all added to other remotes, try doing a reset of that remote and then backup one of the others and restore it to that one.  Then you should be able to use #3 again.

Thank you John. Followed your advice. All the engines are in the remote from #1 to #5 But I still have a problem. They all start up on track 1. I had the SW-9 switch to track 2 for a very short run. I shut it down with the remote. When I pressed start up it wouldn't respond to the command. Next I turned off power. Then turned power back on while the engine was still on track 2. It started up without the command prompt when I reached 18 volts with the handle/throttle. It did not respond to other command responses. It wouldn't shut down, so I used the track handle/throttle on the Z4 to do so. It shut down. I think I failed to do something with track 2 to have the engines respond to command prompts on track 2. Any suggestions? I tried adding the engine to the roster on track 2 but can't do it because it already started up manually with the Z4 handle/throttle. So that process didn't work. Maybe the TIU needs to know the existence of track 2. I don't recall my performing such a task. But if that's the problem how is it done? I did remove the wire jumpers which connect tracks 1 and 2. I have all the block sections in place.

Your tracks, do not matter.  What outputs on the TIU are you using....  Fixed 1, Fixed 2, VAR 1 and VAR 2?  Remember that the TIU only gets power for itself from Fixed 1 or the Aux power input.  So if you want to use Fixed 2 for a track, you still need to power the TIU via Fixed 1 or Aux power.

Also, you can go into the DCS control section and ensure AON is pressed.  This is All DCS signals On.   G

Do you have more than one TIU?

John, I am using one TIU and one transformer. Track 1 is connected to Fixed 1 and track 2 is connected to Fixed 2 and that's it. Should I go into the DCS control system and use AON or is it better to power from Fixed 1. If so how do I wire the TIU to power from Fixed 1 so Track 1 and Track 2 get the signal?

Well, I'd turn all of the DCS channels on, that can't hurt.  If you wire one transformer to the inputs of Fixed #1 and Fixed #2, you can then route the outputs to two track loops.  Make sure the center rail is isolated between the loops, you should never have multiple DCS outputs paralleled, i.e. feeding the same tracks.  You can wire all four TIU channels to one transformer, turn on the DCS from all channels, and supply up to four track loops/regions.

As mentioned, you MUST have either AUX power or Fixed #1 powered to wake the TIU up.

Hope this helps.... The tiu needs to be turned on   just like  a radio, TV. or any other  electrical appliance to function.( operate. do its' thing.)

AS mentioned power to fixed  1 or an aux power supply will turn the tiu "on"

Since you have a Z-4000 hooked up one handle to fixed 1 IN , This will turn the tiu "on" . Without an AUX power supply Fixed 1 IN   will always have to be  powered.   .

You may be thinking fixed 2 has power without fixed 1 being powered up... That would be correct however fixed 2 is a straight through connection and any power on the input  comes out the output but with no dcs signal.   The var channels are also  dead without with the tiu being turned on.

 One handle on the Z-4000 to fixed 1. the other handle to fixed 2.   I would try this as a first step. 

Adding engines..  only  the engine you're trying to add should be receiving power, everything else off the track or on dead track.

John I am now using AON.  Also thanks for informing...er.....or 'reminding" me that Z4 handle 1 needs to be on for before using handle 2. It's all working now that I got the answer to my self created confusion. The obvious was right in front of me. Now just wait until you convert my fastrack switches to command control. I will read the directions and still create confusion for myself.  Hope to see you sometime in April when I pick up the switches. Can't make it to York. But enjoy!

                                                                                                                                Fred in New Hope

GREGG I think you got my number when it comes to electrical systems by the way you introduced your explanation. That's just what I needed to light the bulb in my head. With both you and John guiding me through my "Lost in Space" behavior I feel I am back on the ground. I do have that "deer staring in the headlights" look when I am familiarizing myself with a task.

                                                                                                                        Thank you, Fred

You're Welcome Fred...  It makes us feel pretty good when something works out. The best part is when someone says "thanks".