Persistent blinking cab light TMCC F3

What is the feature code you used during the reset? Answer should be 6 or 8

You also properly hit the aux1 key before entering the reset code?

Print this instruction sheet off and have handy for your TMCC engines. You'll likely need this again one day.

Abbreviated list copied below.

I used #5; I looked at reprogramming codes without my glasses on, cause I was too lazy to walk upstairs and get them! Tried again with #6. Success! Thx, Vern!

This is an old tread, but it is exactly my situation.  I got a BTO Lionel Legacy Cotton Belt GP20 (2333592) from the 2023 catalog in early November.  I also bought a new CAB1-L/Base1-L back in April last year.  I am using a refurbished ZW to provide track power.  I ran the new GP20 for a bit (<2 hours total) after I got it, and it worked perfectly.  I put it away in mid-November to go see my kid and new grandkid in upstate NY for Thanksgiving.  I hadn't run it since then, it's just been sitting on the carpet (no one has touched it except me).  My kid/grandkid are coming next week so I put it back on the track to test it before they came, and all it does is blink the cab light.  I guess it's only once, but it continues to blink.  All the sounds, lights, direction control, and couplers work, it just doesn't move.  I put a different TMCC engine (not Legacy) on the same track, and it works fine.  I'm pretty much a neophyte in the TMCC/Legacy environment and really can only follow the directions I'm given.

Is it reasonable to think mine could be the same problem as @Mark V. Spadaro?  The switches for bluetooth and smoke are in the off position.

@texgeekboy posted:

This is an old tread, but it is exactly my situation.  I got a BTO Lionel Legacy Cotton Belt GP20 (2333592) from the 2023 catalog in early November.  I also bought a new CAB1-L/Base1-L back in April last year.  I am using a refurbished ZW to provide track power.  I ran the new GP20 for a bit (<2 hours total) after I got it, and it worked perfectly.  I put it away in mid-November to go see my kid and new grandkid in upstate NY for Thanksgiving.  I hadn't run it since then, it's just been sitting on the carpet (no one has touched it except me).  My kid/grandkid are coming next week so I put it back on the track to test it before they came, and all it does is blink the cab light.  I guess it's only once, but it continues to blink.  All the sounds, lights, direction control, and couplers work, it just doesn't move.  I put a different TMCC engine (not Legacy) on the same track, and it works fine.  I'm pretty much a neophyte in the TMCC/Legacy environment and really can only follow the directions I'm given.

Is it reasonable to think mine could be the same problem as @Mark V. Spadaro?  The switches for bluetooth and smoke are in the off position.

More likely it's the Main Drive motor stalled code.  Check for obstruction in the gears like a thrown traction tire.  Page 39 of the manual gives you this information.

Your issue is totally different than Mark's issue, his was a 20 year old TMCC model, yours is a brand new Legacy model.  The blinking is indicating a drive train issue.  Since it was sitting on the carpet, the first step is to carefully examine the exposed gears on the trucks and see if you have crap in the gears, one little bit can jam the gears and cause the symptoms you see.

I see Marty beat me to it.

@texgeekboy posted:

Legacy Cotton Belt GP20 (2333592)  I put it back on the track to test it before they came, and all it does is blink the cab light.  I guess it's only once, but it continues to blink.  All the sounds, lights, direction control, and couplers work, it just doesn't move.

Is it reasonable to think mine could be the same problem as @Mark V. Spadaro?

So different problem and not the same solution.

You have a Legacy engine. In the instructions for that engine- it notes there are diagnostic blink codes of the light when a fault is detected.

We take your product number (2333592) and go over to lionelsupport.com which searching that number brings us to the support page for your engine. https://www.lionelsupport.com/...lt-LEGACY-GP20-815_2

Bottom of the listing is where the manual link often is.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...egacy%20GP20_web.pdf

On page 39

Again, what this error code says is you commanded the loco to move, and in a nutshell, the motor could not turn or the tachometer sensor did not sense the motor turning- so it thinks the gears are jammed or some other problem.

I would be checking the gears for some stray piece of ballast or other material, could be anything, caught in the gear of the truck preventing movement. Note that it may take turning track power on and off again to reset the system to clear the fault and attempt again. In other words, once it tries and senses the motor could not turn- it kicks in safety to prevent motor burnout and does not further attempt to spin the motor- and blinks the cab light letting you know this is happening.

Marty/John/Vernon,

Thanks a lot. Before I posted this I had looked at the manual and saw that they had only one situation for the blinking light listed.  I can't get back to it until tomorrow afternoon, but I'll look carefully as y'all suggested.  I did turn it over and didn't see anything unusual, but it was only a cursory glance.

You may have to attempt to spin the wheels or at least rock them back and forth and see if you can find any binding.

Edit- I do not know off hand if this has gearing that can be back driven- meaning you can turn the wheels with force, and the motor spins without power. In that case, all you can do is attempt to rock the wheels and thus gears-within the limits of their travel.

In addition, this symptom can happen if the power supply for the track or dirty track and back connection- results in drops in power when the engine attempts to move. As an example, say a smaller Lionchief DC supply on a track, or just a temporary layout with track connections that may not be tight and electrically as good as needed- these modern engines do not like that situation and can in some instances, trigger this fault code.

Otherwise, it's under warranty- call up big L, and get your RMA moving.

On an old TMCC geep, the #5 would make the top light blink as it is should. You can always make it a constant on/off with using #6 in the reset mode. Also, I think you could use #8 as well for an on/off from your cab1. #8 button is off and #9 is on, the same if you had a smoke unit.

Well, I carefully visually inspected the gears underneath for both front and rear drive units. I could see no obstructions.  I also sprayed some compressed air on the gears.  I was able to manually turn the wheels, although it took some force (I don't think I overdid it).  Before I put out this track I made sure all the connections were tight.  I also thoroughly cleaned the track (it's only a small 7' oval).  I put the engine back on, and the cab light still blinks when I give it power to move.  It responds to all other signals from my CAB1-L.  I double checked and my older TMCC loco still functions properly and moves fine around the other track.

Unless someone has a suggestion (and I love suggestions), I'll be getting with Lionel on Monday to get a RMA.

Thanks for all your help.

To close out my saga, my BTO Lionel Legacy Cotton Belt GP20 (2333592) from the 2023 catalog was just returned from Lionel warranty service.  There was no damage to the unit from shipping (UPS both ways), and it works perfectly again.  The repair order said a board was replaced.  I asked which board (not that I would know), but never got an answer.

There is only one board in it.