RK MTA R-12 ps2 3 volt sound issue

Vinny,

Do you have a MTh battery charger? I would use one to charge these as the battery pack is 17 years old. You can test the battery by shutting off the track power and see if the sounds continue for at least 6 to 7 seconds. I would also check the speaker for flaking of metal as this is an early PS2. After this, I would try a PS2 sound reload.

I'd replace the battery pack, as Joe says, 17 years is geriatric for any battery!  And the speaker advice is also right on, the old Star speakers were infamous for the chrome plating flaking off and shorting the speaker and taking out the audio amp (or more) on the board.

Stop running it until both of those things are checked, you can only do more damage!

If this operates in conventional mode or plays shutdown sounds when track power turned off and if SOME of the sounds are normal, that does eliminate the dead battery.  The main speakers that were failing where 16 ohm PS-2 5V.  Not so much the 4 ohm versions.  Though I have seen one or 2 like that.  I would do the factory reset.  If that does not work, inspect the speaker.  It would be 4 ohm, but the specific model speaker could be different depending which subway.  G

Thank you for all the help. After some further test the sounds keep playing after power is cut so I don’t think the battery is the main problem. I’m am going to change the battery anyway though and give the speaker a good look at as I’m starting to think that is the source of the problem.

i have had a ps 2 3volt speaker fail open it does happen occasionally!

Alan

So when it failed open, it played certain sounds and not others Alan?  Distorted sounds and certain freq losses is usually the disintegrating magnet.  Depends on which speaker in the subway.  G

Here is the speaker, aside from corrosion or paint chipping around the edge it looks fine and the magnet is still strong as the bracket holding the battery is extremely attracted to the magnet.

Looks like flaking on the edge, not good I think...

That flaking is not good, you need to replace the speaker.  If it's not an issue now, it will be in the future.

Good to know I’m going to order a new speaker and replace it as soon as possible. The problem is most likely the speaker.

Good you found the problem before you took out the audio amp on the board. Most of those STARR speakers I have seen are junk!

What you do not see is the flaking inside that effect the coil and how the paper cone vibrates.  That is classic and is one of the 4 ohm star speakers with similar problems as the 16 ohm version.  G