Problem getting a Lionel MU Commuter powered set to fully function

NH BillOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I recently bought a new/old New Haven MU Commuter powered set (6-18328). It isn't working quite right but I think it may be trying to tell me something confused . The problems are in the powered unit. When I apply track power, it immediately begins the engine sounds, headlight comes on, and interior lights come on. But, the interior lights are flashing at a regular frequency, sort of like it's an error status indication. I can't find anything documented about this condition and was wondering if anyone has worked on these and seen this behavior before. Here are some other notes on what I see:

The unit does move forward and reverse in response to my Legacy throttle.
The headlight switches correctly (front to back and back to front) with a direction change.
Engine sounds start when track power is applied. Doesn't wait for me to issue an engine start up command from the remote. Not sure if that is correct or not.
Sometimes the engine switches direction on it's own after I have throttled down to 0 mph.
The interior lights can be turned on/off using the '+' and '-' icons on the Legacy remote.
There is no response to the Crew talk or Tower talk icons on the remote. Also no response to the engine Rev up/down icons or the power down icon.
It does respond to an engine reset command from the remote, but it doesn't have any positive affect.
The set is on an independent loop of track powered by a Z-1000. I also tried using a Legacy PowerMaster (6-37146) and PH180 (6-85226). There is no difference in behavior.
The Legacy control is set to 'TMCC', id = '82', sound system = 'RailSounds', engine type = 'Electric'. I also tried control type 'CAB1' but it didn't have any affect.
The electro couplers on both ends work from the remote buttons.
There is no horn or bell response when using the remote's slider.
The non-powered unit seems to work as expected. I'm addressing it as id = '83'. Electro couplers work, headlights switch with direction, and interior lights turn on/off from '+' and '-' icons.
Running on track power of about 17.5 volts. Not using pantographs for power.
I opened up the unit and checked for mechanical issues but I don't see anything obvious. Connectors look okay, pc boards look to be seated okay, no loose or broken wires that I see.
I exercised the volume pot and the sound on/off switch for corrosion possibility, but no help.

That's all I can think of for now. I'm guessing the flashing interior lights is important. Hopefully someone can tell me what that indicates. This set was an old/new, never used or displayed set from the original owner so I thought maybe something mechanical from aging on the shelf, etc.

Thanks for any tips or advice.

6/8/2110:35 PM

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NH BillOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Some more observations...

I tried running the unit in conventional mode today. I disconnected the Legacy wire from the track and turned down the throttle on the Z-1000 transformer to fully off. Then turned on the power to the transformer.

As I turn up the throttle on the xfrm, the engine sounds turn on, the front headlights get brighter with increased throttle, and the engine sits in neutral(?). The back headlights remain off. The documentation says in neutral all 4 headlights should be on. The interior lights come on but still flash on/off at a regular frequency as before. (I'm trying to be clear this not irregular flickering of lights, but something driving the lights at a regular frequency.). Hitting the DIR button on the xfrm causes the front headlight to blink off/on. Repeated DIR button use does not cycle the headlights as described in the manual for forward/reverse/neutral. I tried switching the PGM/Run switch to the PGM position since it is the reverse unit control, but that doesn't change the behavior either. Increasing the throttle has no affect meaning the train does not move. Cycling the throttle on/off has no affect (no reverse unit action).

Next, I tried the BELL and HORN buttons on the Z-1000 and they both worked. The engine bell and horn both sounded, so now I know those functions both work. Just doesn't work when using the Legacy remote to initiate the action.

That seemed to be all I could try in conventional mode, so hooked everything back up for Legacy operation. The engine returned to the behavior described in my original post. I did try the BELL and HORN xfrm buttons while in Legacy mode and they worked again, same as in conventional mode.

At this point I'm getting suspicious that maybe something(s) is mis-wired inside the unit. Anyone have a wiring diagram for one of these units or a picture of the insides of one that works correctly?

Thanks in advance for any help.

6/10/218:16 PM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

The lights flashing indicate that the feature output is programmed as a strobe. Try programming it with an engine type of AUX1/6 and the flashing interior lights should go away. The lack of motor function could be the DCDR or R2LC and the 4-pin cable between them.

6/11/219:20 AM

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NH BillOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Wow! I love magic ! Setting the aux code 6 fixed everything. The strobing lights no longer strobe, crew talk and tower talk works, bell and horn both work from the remotes slider, and startup/shutdown functions work properly. Thanks very much for the suggestion John. You made my Friday thumb !