“No engine to add” Solved! Thanks to G (again!)

Harness plugged in to engine fully?  Any harness get unplugged while changing battery, especially the 7 pin? G

Are you using a programming track or small test track with no other engines receiving power? 

G, the tether goes from the engine directly into the tender due to the external drive shaft running the length of both pieces. The drawbar is screwed to both so no external plugs.

PS...You were right about the tether being bad on an engine I previously posted. I did a continuity check and one of the pins would cut in and out when I wiggled the 90 degree plug. Midge said the harnesses are out of stock and no telling when they will come in. Bummer!

Gregg, the engine was on an isolated loop, no other engines on the same loop. As soon as I can get the time, I’m going to try starting it in conventional mode. 

Rich

Yes there still is a harness look closely. It plugs into the engine and is a straight one.  If loose, no power.  As far as other plugs, I was talking about the ones in the tender that plug into the board.  If 7 pin came loose while changing battery, the board gets no track power. G

Once again G, you nailed it! The straight plug into the engine was loose. I probably did this flexing the end tender truck to get at a screw. Didn't even notice the tether was connected with a plug.  I just remember the salesman saying not to attempt separating the tender from the engine due to the driveshaft. I am really impressed by your trouble shooting accuracy! Thanks  !!!

Rich

Yep Buddy. George seems to have these MTH engines ALL figured out. From what I have read and heard he is a genius when it comes to troubleshooting and even can rebuild boards!!!!

I  have a pretty perplexing problem myself right now, as I have a MTH Proto 2.0 Zephyr that will run on conventional power, but has no sounds at all,with the conventional power.

I just got my TIU and remote hooked up today,and when I put The Zephyr on the track the remote won't recongnize it.NO ENGINE TO ADD it keeps saying,the same problem you had.

It too,is a JUNK 5volt  board, and nothing appears to be wrong with the board.No magic smoke smells, no traces of it frying.

I replaced the speaker with one that I know works, and was hoping that today with the remote and TIU,I could hit RESET ENGINE and maybe the sounds would come on. But I cannot even get it into the remote to try this last desperate step before I junk it.

GGG,I sure hope you see this post and are kind enough to offer some advice to me as well. I do not understand why it will RUN perfect in conventional mode(NO SOUNDS STILL),and now it won't even go into the remote for me to try this last desperate step!!!!!

Same question. Are you using a programming track or equivalent with a good dcs signal and  no other engines receiving power anywhere on the layout.?  It's too bad you can't get it added and then try a feature reset to restore the sound. wishful thinking maybe.

Do your other engines run in command mode?

"Nothing feels as good as something you"ve done with almost nothing. Bringing a train back from the dead, is better than any NEW one money can buy"

You sure got that right Kenny! Being on a social security, I was wondering what I need to sell for to upgrade the board to PS3 for that Shay. So happy it was a simple fix due to G's advice. Is your Zephyr the 9900? I have that train and the motor in the observation car stopped working. The train just stalled as the single motor in the engine couldn't pull. I had the engine and observation all torn down then I noticed the tether was loose on the observation car. There are so many tether connections on that train, and think, any one of all those pins could be a disconnect! A lot of my stuff is 15 years old or more, so the tethers are all probably on borrowed time, particularly those 90 degree culprits. Good luck, hope you get your Zephyr running, such a stylish train!

Rich 

If an engine runs with out sound conventionally and it is not the speaker.  Check the volume pot, must have 0 ohms between gray and red wire.  Otherwise a reset.  If that does not work, could be a bad audio amp.  As far as adding to DCS, do a recover engine.  Easy for the 5V boards to get a faulty address when battery is low/dead.  G

Sure Enough Rich!!!! I have NEVER bought anything new trainwise in my  LIFE yet!!!,and I don't plan to anytime soon.I just ain't got it like that to spend on a HOBBY,even though I enjoy it MORE than anything in life!!!

Figuring out the problems, restoring the exteriors, hunting down those missing trim parts, IS the fun part for me,besides running the daylights out of them of course!!!! 

And when I do see something new come out that is cool,I know if I WAIT a YEAR or two,I can get it for HALF the PRE-Order price.Whoever thought you'd have to pre-order a train anyways?? 

One thing is for sure,that Zephyr is an Awesome Train.both in real life,and the models of it.It made people line up just to get a glimpse of it,as it ROARED through the country setting speed records for the time.

112 MPH is MOVIN'!!!!!And that stainless steel exterior,wow!!!!How far ahead of it's time it truly was.I bought this one originally to resell,and make a few bucks to buy other trains,but once it got home,and started Cleaning up so nice,FOR SURE it will be in my modest collection for awhile.  I love ALL of the streamliners,to me,they were the COOLEST trains ever produced. 

I  work as a truck driver,and you'd think I would have a few hundred a month to blow on trains,but like every other occupation, they have forced the wages down so far from where they used to be,the10% er's want it all,as the middle class working guy has to find new ways to afford what he wants.

But whatever they do,they will never kill my enjoyment of this hobby,and the few hours per week I get to spend in the train room,where the world they have created does not exsist,and the world I have created does!!!!

The Lord provides what I need,and like I said,many people will never know the thrill of finding that headlight cover, that missing handrail,but kudos to them as well,as the stuff they discard is my treasure to get running again.and bring back perhaps even better to it's original glory.