Odd Events for Remotes and Command Base

Boy how i can reflect. On your frustration.  I had simullar problems with same results. Has a last ditch effort I thought even though the cad2 shows good charge just maybe that was a false reading so went to batteries are us and got another  set of batteries. Well that seemed to resolve the issues I was having at that time. Ran great until last week. Now I have I think brake button issues. 🤪😒 great system when it works . I am glad I have lion chief  plus for back up. Keeps my sanity 🙃 I just hate trying to call Lionel. Its the worst customer service to have to deal with. I was just wondering if a Dealer would be an avenue? Good luck have a great holiday.

I thought I read here or somewhere that dealers will not do any work on the Legacy bases or remotes as they are under warranty.  Actually when I first contacted Lionel Service when this started, they were very attentive.  It is almost like they have Gone on Holiday until after the Holidays.  I am hoping that they will respond here if only to tell me that they are busy and will be getting back to me shortly.

I just emailed the dealer I bought mine with. Let's see what he says

I haven't been able to get through to Lionel for weeks, I have a list of "must call Lionel" parts and repairs waiting on them.  The natives are getting restless, but nothing I can do.

My experience is waiting 20-30 minutes with the God-awful hold screeching, and then they transfer me to the "answering machine", which announces it's full and taking no messages and hangs up!

I have no idea what is going on at Lionel, they used to be much more responsive on the phone until a month or two ago.  Orders placed through the order portal are still being processed, so someone is still home.

I bet we all feel your pain trying to get a hold of Lionel but their your best bet to repair Legacy Cab-2’s or bases. As far as the continually sending commands you’ve found that yourself if it’s say AX1 your Aux 1 button must be stuck. I’d start playing with it. You mention a 993 set so I assume you have a 2nd Cab 2 you can use without that issue. I’m a little confused as to your current issue with the base. When it is powered up the charging lights will flash but what of the 3 status lights. They should all come on solid for a second on power up. if I remember correctly

@zhubl posted:

I bet we all feel your pain trying to get a hold of Lionel but their your best bet to repair Legacy Cab-2’s or bases. As far as the continually sending commands you’ve found that yourself if it’s say AX1 your Aux 1 button must be stuck. I’d start playing with it. You mention a 993 set so I assume you have a 2nd Cab 2 you can use without that issue. I’m a little confused as to your current issue with the base. When it is powered up the charging lights will flash but what of the 3 status lights. They should all come on solid for a second on power up. if I remember correctly

The Status lights remain Blank and the remote states that it can not find the Base.  The Base is deader than doornail.

I'm afraid that Lionel is your only hope.  No service information or repair parts for the Legacy command system that I'm aware of.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I'm afraid that Lionel is your only hope.  No service information or repair parts for the Legacy command system that I'm aware of.

Yes, I agree GRJ and I think it is you that has alerted members to your statement in the past and is probably where I tucked that piece of information in the back of my mind.  I will give another call today.

As @gunrunnerjohn wrote, you will have to wait for Lionel.

If you only sent the base to Lionel, and kept the remote at home, I would suggest looking at a couple things. Pages 78 and 79 of the ver 1.6 manual for the 990/991 set show you how to check the binding of the base with the remote - so I would try to check this.

Maybe Lionel updated the base firmware, and now it doesn't match the firmware in the remote. Page 48 says that when you power on the remote with the CTC button, the firmware levels of the base and remote are both displayed.

I know that is something is broken, the above won't do a thing, but just something you can try to pass time till Lionel is available.

@MED posted:

As @gunrunnerjohn wrote, you will have to wait for Lionel.

If you only sent the base to Lionel, and kept the remote at home, I would suggest looking at a couple things. Pages 78 and 79 of the ver 1.6 manual for the 990/991 set show you how to check the binding of the base with the remote - so I would try to check this.

Maybe Lionel updated the base firmware, and now it doesn't match the firmware in the remote. Page 48 says that when you power on the remote with the CTC button, the firmware levels of the base and remote are both displayed.

I know that is something is broken, the above won't do a thing, but just something you can try to pass time till Lionel is available.

When I originally sent the units back I sent the charging base of the 993 and the Command Base of the 990 and Both remotes.  As I explained the Command Base is dead, No Status Lights, No "LIONEL" lights. And I did check the voltage out of the Power Supply and that is nominal.

Just thinking out loud I’ve had the power Jack on a 994 charging base work intermittent. When you plug it in wiggle the barrel Jack around and see if it comes to life for a brief second. I found a new Jack on Digi-Key and replaced it myself I can look up that part number if would like. But the 991 base is going to have a lot more boards and stuff in the way

Very disconcerting.  I was on hold this morning for 15 minutes, Disconnected.  Then for 30 minutes and Disconnected.  Recently for 60 Minutes and I hung up thinking if they would answer, they would not during Lunch Time.  Does Lionel Service Personnel monitor this Section of the Forum or is it in Name only "Lionel Service Questions"?  Are they on Holiday?  If so why do they not inform Callers to not waste time waiting for an individual to answer.  On some support Lines I call they break in every once in a while to say where the caller is in the Queue and expected wait time with an option to leave a phone number for a return call when you do not wish to stay on the line.  Maybe something for Lionel Service to consider.

I've given up until after the New Year, maybe they'll be back to work by then.  It's somewhat disheartening that you can't get an answer from email or the phone, it's like Lionel no longer exists!  The only thing that seems to be working is ordering parts through the web interface, somehow they get packed and shipped.  Oh, and of course, shipping new products to fill the coffers with green...

Jim. You were right dealers can not repair legacy remote.  Its really to bad that lionel does not have any real competition.  I know its Christmas and I am sure they have all hands on board for selling product. There's no excuse in not supporting your customers. The dealers sit on there hands and offer no help . So I guess its hang in there until something better comes along.

@zhubl posted:

Just thinking out loud I’ve had the power Jack on a 994 charging base work intermittent. When you plug it in wiggle the barrel Jack around and see if it comes to life for a brief second. I found a new Jack on Digi-Key and replaced it myself I can look up that part number if would like. But the 991 base is going to have a lot more boards and stuff in the way

Just Checked your idea out.  No Joy.  I think that since I do get the Charging Lights to light then extinguish that power is getting to the guts of the Command Base.  Of course this is all assumptions as I am not sure what the internals look like as I would prefer not to give Lionel any reason not to accept their warranty obligations by cracking the case to see what is going on.

There's not much to taking it apart.  However, the tricky part seems to be the little vent grills on the top, they're pretty much of a PITA to get perfectly aligned and the bottom back on.  I've taken a few of them apart, one to replace the channel switch, and a couple to re-solder the rear panel connectors back to the board if they've broken loose.

I am not adverse to investigating electronic devices, but, as I said I am not inclined to give Lionel a reason to deny any repair under warranty.  I have other things to do on my layout than to Run Trains as I just added an expansion and need to place some buildings that I have arriving from Menards, planting grass and Ballasting a great deal of trackage.  January is not that far away.

Thanks GRJ.