Problems With Vfsion Line Challenger 6-11221 Sound System

I recommend you send this one to Lionel.  Those RS boards are expensive, I wouldn't risk any more damage.  I'm guessing that either you got the boards in the wrong slots or the power board was plugged in with the connector offset by one row of pins.  In any case, I'd stop doing a home repair and get professional help.

maxmn_98 posted:

I recently bought new from a dealer a Vision Line Challenger 6-11221. Upon looking up the information on the Lionel website I found that the sound system need to be upgraded.  Lionel agreed to replace the sound system 3 boards at no cost. However after I installed the new boards, the power board instantly started smoking when power was applied. The smoke was coming from the protected coil on the board.  I assume that the board is fried. I do not know if the other two boards are still good.  Before I do any replacements does any one know how to test the connections on the tender to make sure it is not a problem with the power being supplied to power board. Also, anyway to test the other boards to see if their okay.

Where'd you get it from? 

"Upon looking up the information on the Lionel website I found that the sound system need to be upgraded."

Looking up what information? Difficult to understand what this was about. Did you mean the sound board was faulty and needed to be replaced? 

In any case, GRJ's advice is sound, no pun intended.

I agree one hundred percent with John.  When you have an engine like this it needs to be seen by someone who knows it.  Being a Lionel tech, I get to see many engines that were repaired by someone who tells the owner  he knows what he is doing.  Mixing the audio and power board has been done many times and it never ends well.  I tell everyone before you take something apart to get out the phone and snap some pix.  Lionel is very good at marking mother boards.  The issue is, most modular boards are 24 pin connections and they will mix and match.  They do not play well together if put on the wrong 24 pin connection on the motherboard.  Let Lionel look at it.  Dean has some good people and they will help you.

On the Lionel Site and if you look for the instruction manuals and find the one for this engine you will find two additional short manuals saying that there is a defect in the sound system that drains the 9v battery down. The two short manuals are one for removal of the boards in the tender and one is to install them. I carefully removed the boards and sent them to Lionel to be replaced. I received back a set of boards that were the replacements. Following the instructions carefully and the pictures in the manual I installed the boards per the picture and numbering on the boards.  There appeared to be no pins out of position for the power board upon close inspection before and after the frying.  I know that if the pins are out of alignment your asking for trouble.  The reason I asked about testing the boards and the tender supplying  power was whether I need a full replacement of the boards and if the tender need to be sent for repair as well.   

I would certainly send the whole tender in.

I agree, send the tender in. What also could have happened is you accidently installed the boards offset of the pins on the motherboard. Which can easily happen which is what I have done in the past.

The last post of MAXMN 98 pretty much eliminates pilot error...I would send the tender in at this point.

I called Lionel and they are not taking any out of warranty repairs right now.  

maxmn_98 posted:

I called Lionel and they are not taking any out of warranty repairs right now.  

I hate that BS, especially with it being a VL unit.

If Lionel isn't taking them, find a good Lionel tech and send have them sort it out.

This is warranty repair of the boards they sent you so I would get back on the line with them.  I have received defective boards, and some times these boards are used.  So if you KNOW you connected it correctly per the instruction sheet, and pins where not misaligned, they should send a replacement power board or accept the tender to fix it.  G