strange problem

Have you turned the TIU DCS signal on for VAR 1 and 2 via the remote?  G

It sounds very much as if your wires on the layout between the TIU and the tracks are reversed in polarity.

Follow the wires from the TIU's output to the tracks. The TIU's Red terminal must be on the center rail and the TIU's Black terminal must be on an outside rail.

Otherwise, you will see the exact symptoms you are getting.

Is your   tiu actually turned on when you're using the var channels. Take a peek and check out the red led on top of the tiu.

I know you mentioned you have 2 Z4Ks one for the 2 var loops and one for programming.Both Z4ks must be turned on even if not using the programming track.

Second thoughts.... You wouldn't get any power through the var channels if the tiu was in the off state..Back to the drawing board. Reversed wires? r signal off? or faulty channels???

All the wires are in the correct places and the TIU light is on. It really baffles me how it doesn't work. It used to work perfectly before. Perhaps it's about time to bring it to a hobby shop.

Not to belabor the point, however, have you done as I suggested?

Follow the wires from the TIU's output to the tracks. The TIU's Red terminal must be on the center rail and the TIU's Black terminal must be on an outside rail.

This one is a bit of a mystery because it's very unlikely both var channels would give up the ghost at the same time.

You have power to the var channels but no dcs signal why? reversed wires, signal turned off,tooo much track faulty tiu channels.

One other thought, Place a engine on the var track. don't power the track just yet. Make sure the tiu is in the "on state with either power to fixed 1 or an aux power supply. Make sure the red led is lit.

Now apply full  power to var 1 & var  2 IN

Go to menu/system/ dcs set up/  select the var channel and hit fxd.   while you're there press AON (all dcs signals on).

Does the engine still come up with lights and sound?

I know that Barry is the DCS expert, but I think that you may need to reload(unload each one and then re-load each one, this will take some time but it might help) the engines into the remote via the regular track. I never used a special track to load my engines, just the main track that they were to run on.

Another thing to check is the handheld remote control batteries, do they have full power? Most AA batteries should read about 1.57 to 1.61 volts DC when new or close to being new.

Try to look at the most common or smaller things that can go wrong and go from there.

Lee Fritz

The quick check for Barrys suggestion is to reverse the variable wires at the variable TIU output. black to red red to black. If this does not fix it try this.

Move the variable output wires to fixed output. If this fixes the problem it is in the TIU variable channels. Then tests can be done to make sure everything is working.

Was the power turned on to fixed one when you tried running with variable 1 and 2.

I think if var 1 and 2 are set to fixed they will pass power regardless TIU power on or off. 

No power through the var channels in either fixed or var mode if the tiu is in the off state. 

Just went downstairs and unplugged AUX input and pulled fixed 1 red wire input out. Powered track and the track powered up and the PS-2 engine on track came up in conventional.

It works!!!! I don't know how I did it but I reset the remote and tiu data multiple times and it finally kicked in. I'm SSSOOOO happy!!!! Thanks to y'all for helping! I tried every suggestion I read and in the end it all worked out! Thanks again!!

Greg I reread your post and the var channels will not pass power but the fixed ones will with TIU off. Mine are set to fixed and did not pass power when power applied.

Jim I wouldn't lead you astray  or would I?