signal problem with RS-11 #20-20214-1..... problem continues after factory reset /Problem corrected!

DO a conventional reset and or Factory reset.  Sounds like it is locked in conventional FWD and since your powering up with out a watch dog signal it will start up.  It moves because it is locked in a direction.  The reset will fix that.  At which point you can press start up or shutdown when it starts up on the siding to regain DCS control.  G

Thank you GGG. Still having the problem. Also I noticed that when I turn the Z4 power on, raise it to 18v, with the yard track on/off power switch set to "on" the engine behaves fine. I start it up, shut it down then turn yard track power off, then turn yard track power back on and engine  starts up as it should (lights, sound) without moving and not respond to remote commands as it should do, until engine is shut down and started up again. The problem only happens when Z4 is powered on but yard track is powered off until I switch on yard track power. Hope I explained this clearly. I also did the factory reset with all 3 remotes. Not sure if I should have done that. Also when it moves in phantom mode it goes forward for  0.5 seconds. Then moves in reverse and won't stop until I turn off the yard track power or press the emergency button on the remote. Thanks for your help. Anymore advice would be welcomed.

Do you actually run the engine in conventional? If not I would try locking the engine in neutral in  conventional mode ,

Back to command mode   If it misses the Watch dog it's not going anywhere  or shouldn't.  (ya never know  though)

FYI............I have several PS3 that take off like that........Clem k    

Gregg, how do I switch the engine to conventional mode. I searched the control and advanced systems on the remote, skim read the DCS O gauge Companion Guide on conventional mode, but cannot find how to switch from DCS to conventional and back to DCS. Once in conventional mode how do I switch to neutral. I didn't see that setting on the remote. Or do I have to use the buttons on the Z4K transformer?

To switch to conventional mode, turn off the DCS signal for the TIU channel to which is connected the track upon which the engine resides.

LUVTRAINS... did you get it?  AS Barry mentioned you have to turn off the dcs signal and then use the Z-4000 for the combination. Set the voltage around 10 volts, I don't have the horn/bell combination at my finger tips to lock in a directional state.  Grab the manual.

 First  turn off the signal go to Menu/ System/ DCS set up/ highlight the channel   and turn it off with one of the soft key  off ,   (don't forget with no dcs signal  some engines may misbehave so be prepared, I would park then somewhere else and only have the problem engine on the track.

To turn the signal back on .. same thing but hit on or AON(all on.)

Gregg  I think  I got it. Can I only do this with only one remote without changing the other 2 remotes? Also looking at the system chart in DCS O Gauge companion on pg.40,41. Will remove other engines from track. 

Can I only do this with only one remote without changing the other 2 remotes?

Yep, One remote should do it.   the setting(locked in conventional neutral) should stick with the engine...Good luck.

Gregg, DCS was shut off for the correct track. The RS-11 manual said when power (10v) applied to the track headlight will be on but no sound until for about 1-20 seconds. Instead when enough power is applied to the track headlight does not come on, but the engine goes forward for 0.5 seconds then starts moving in reverse just as it did when I switched power to the yard track. Direction button would not stop it. It just keeps going in reverse then lights and sound come on. Engine does not respond to direction button, so I could not get it in neutral. Horn/bell combination for direction was not mentioned in manuals, just the direction button to change from forward-neutral-reverse-neutral-forward. My wiring is Z4 (tracks 1 and 2) to TIU (fixed1 in/out and fixed 2 in/out). Should wiring be changed to variables 1 and 2?

Here are the horn bell combinations   Page 9 to 12.. Seems your engine is stuck in reverse. You can try and unlock with the unlock combination, or a Factory reset as GGG mentioned.  It's a little tricky... This should do it but proto-3?? At one time a PS-2  command factory reset would  restore a conventional lock. I don't think  it does anymore with PS-3.

Using Z-4000 with dcs signal turned off.

Directional lock & unlock.. in this case get the engine moving as slow as possible and try a horn press followed by 3 bell presses.

Factory reset.. Again moving as slowly as possible  One horn press follow by 5 bell presses. 

Good luck  

http://mthtrains.com/sites/def...ction/20dl17153i.pdf

Thanks Gregg, I printed pgs. 9-12 and tried bell once and horn 3x , engine at slow speed with DCS off. Didn't work. The engine is a stubborn little thing! As they say in MTH PS3 cab chatter...."Time to call it a night". This baby has to go back under repair warranty for LED marker light problems so I will have my dealer attach this problem to it.  Probably won't get it back for many weeks or months.

Thank you for your patience and guidance, Fred

Well this a.m. problem was solved and the engine is back to itself. Tried the DCS off-, horn-bell-bell-bell a few times until I could get it, and it finally worked. It is tricky. Thanks again!

You're welcome  from all of us.   I might leave as is just to see what happens down the road... You've got a handle on it now..  You  still have the option of now locking it in neutral (same  conventional combination) so there would be no chance of a unwanted move in command mode if the engine slipped into conventional..   DCS keeps things interesting . Maybe best left as is.. I don't know.