Just acquired a mint Lionel conventional Alco C-420. Sealed in the box since 2000. Put it on the track and it runs great but there are no sounds. I cycled the sound switch on and off underneath a few times and it did not help. Took the body off and all connections look tight. Did I miss something when running a Signal Sounds engine for the first time?
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Signal Sounds is just a bell and whistle/horn. No other sounds. G
No whistle no bell - just dead quiet. There is a 9 volt battery connector but I assume it's for use only if there's a sound upgrade. Does the battery have any purpose regarding basic signal sounds? The instruction manual leaves out a lot of info.
Signal Sounds doesn't use the battery, it's there for a RailSounds upgrade.
If there is no sound at all, first thing to check is all the connections. Remove the board and replace it to insure good contact. Trace the speaker wires and make sure one is not broken. Finally, reseat the two socketed chips on the sound board. Mine has standard DIP parts, just pry them up a small amount and press them back in.
Did you try turning the volume pot.
Bill
Bill, that would be too easy! 
Crank the volume all the way up CW to start, then adjust it when you get some sound. I'd also test the speaker, a battery and a 100 ohm resistor is all it takes. Disconnect the speaker plug and just "tickle" the speaker leads with the battery/resistor in series and see if you get static.
Tested the speaker with a D battery - it's fine. I pulled the sound board and found it interesting that the engine won't run without it. Lionel seems to have replacements so I may order one.
Time out! The engine should run without the SS board, but the other board in there is the electronic reverse unit. Are you sure that's not the board you took out? The electronic reverse board is on the left, the Signal Sounds board is on the right.
The one with the heat sink and plugged into the audio pins is the one I have had in and out. The same as the one on the right in your photo. I did remove the e-unit board and the engine wouldn't run. When I reinstalled it the engine ran. Then I removed the sound board and hooked test leads up to the engine and the engine would not run. Reinstalled the sound board and the engine ran again.
I'm surprised that the SS board kills the locomotive. I can only suppose they're getting +5V power from the SS power supply.
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