Speaker

DC activated devices like these cars, electronic whistles & horns, even the new DC motored air whistles, do not work well at high voltage.  Test the cars at 10-12 volts to confirm this.

The short answer is, you don't.  You can take the RS board out of it and stick it into an engine and see if it has normal volume, that would be an easy test.  Any 8 ohm speaker can be sky-wired to see if the speaker is defective.

Sorry to ask the obvious, but you did run the volume control up and down a couple of times, right?

For command operation, I like these with TMCC capability, that way you can fire it up on demand and not have it running all the time, makes it into a fun accessory.

Yep tried moving the pot up & down. I do have a 1033 here  so I'll try it, Back later.

I don't understand. The Hot Box Reefer is the car? I have them and you only have to turn on the switch underneath and have it pulled around the layout to have the dialog, lights, and smoke start. What are the dc pulses for and why would tmcc be required on a stock hot box car?

I did put a mini commander in one and do turn it on and off with tmcc as an ACC. Is that what you have?

Yep Chuck, the TMCC is simply to turn it on and off, you got it!

I don't have one of these cars, is his use of the 5909 just not needed/used to trigger it on/off? If so, disregard my comments above.

Yep! The 5906 just turns it off (hold whistle button for 8 seconds). I think it comes back on by default upon  a power up but I'm not really sure. Anyway tried a 1033 and a couple of used  8 ohm speakers. No luck. I only have the one car here at the house with no directions.   Haven't given up yet.

Oh. I didn't know that. With tmcc, I just noticed it was on when I powered up. Then, still not knowing, I installed tmcc control to turn it on and off and also a small led so I could see when it was on.

Running command, it was difficult to arrange a whistle command, especially with multiple power districts.  Much easier to just control it with the ERR MiniCommander, job done.

Hey Chuck when you first apply power what does the car do ? mine is on a test track so there's no movement.

Yes, I rewired the 5906 with heavier wire, but sometimes forget which tiu channel it's hooked up to. In series from the power supply to the input channel of the tiu.  Well things  not working out that great.

Almost there, I was moving the car by hand and accidently touched the volume pot. Sound! not very loud but sound. I had turned the pot up and down quite a few times before  but this time after hearing it, I squirted WD-40 right into the pot. I think it's almost fixed or at least much better.   Thanks for the suggestions. I guess the bottom line is..  use it or lose it. Thanks. BTW the car has to be moving even if it's back & forth.

Nothing but a barely audible buzz. When you move it about 5 feet it starts up with "all clear...etc.". Then after another 5 feet or so it squawks and stopping the car I think does not quiet the squawk...then I think it has to roll to continue the program burning, lights, smoke, water being thrown on it, and eventually get the "all clear ready to roll, and I'm taking a nap".

Thanks Chuck It's fixed. I guess the thing just sat around too long without being used.I'm also taking a nap. 

I shoot contact cleaner into the volume controls, they're probably about the most troublesome part.