I have a Lionel CP GP-38 with Trainsounds. Well, not really - the Trainsounds is on the blink, so there's no sounds. I'd like to replace it, and I was wondering if this is a DIY job, or would I have to send it to a Lionel service station? Also, is there another alternative to this, such as getting a Williams True Blast system or something from Dallee electronics?
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Well, you can probably get the original board from Lionel, what's the exact Lionel number for that locomotive? Did you check the Lionel supplements to see if there's a parts breakdown for it?
There's a number for the set it came with, but not the engine. I'm sifting through the supplements, looking for a parts breakdown, but that's not easy! There's a lot of supplements, and they're not labelled. You have to download them to find out what's in them!
Trainsounds is so lame compared to Railsounds. Why not add a better sound unit, like from ERR or Daillee?
The best plan with the Lionel Supplements is to simply spend a few minutes and download the full set. That way you will have them when you want to research something.
Not sure why you'd go with Dallee for the sound, the ERR RailSounds Commander is cheaper, and it has great sound. 
What about here?:http://www.lionel.com/CustomerService/ReplacementParts/index.cfm?doAction=productPartFilter&number=6-28904&productID=2ec42948-3bbe-4471-ad06-d6037d249399
You type the set number into the parts locater,from there find the component that needs repair, the loco has a seperate breakdown.
Wow, Rick! Thanks! That's great!
I just checked the EER website. Their Railsounds commander is cheaper than Dallee's product, but it's still twice the price of the Trainsounds replacement. Still, you get what you pay for.
Wow, Rick! Thanks! That's great!
I'd just make sure that it isn't just a bad volume knob (pot) before you spend the money on replacing the board. I've had a volume knob go bad and sound would cut in and out, if I "played" with the knob a bit I could find the "sweet spot" and it would work. Ultimately the knob was replaced.
I found a place in Canada that sells and installs both the Lionel replacement part and the ERR version - the Toy Train Workshop in Cumberland, Ontario. He's currently fixing an MTH Hudson for me - I'll ask him.
@Rick0-OMG! That's exactly what happened! I'll play with the knob some more. I hadn't had much luck with it before. Knobs are cheaper than sound boards!
You are definitely better off paying the extra for the ERR unit, way better sounds and reliable too.
You're right, Dave - It's more expensive, but it's definitely worth it.
A little contact cleaner will go a long way to fixing a flaky volume control.
I never thought of that - would I spray it right on the trainsounds chip itself?
On the volume control pot.
Inside and out?
Inside and out?
Well, the object of the exercise is to get some inside the pot on the wiper, that's where it'll have an effect.
I'll open it up and start spraying. Hopefully, I'll get some results. Trainsounds conked out one me when I was fiddling with the volume control, so that might be where the problem lies.
If it is a dodgy pot, just wind it back and forth with power on and see if it crackles or makes any sound. If it does, then that's the problem. Winding it back and forth will help cleaning the surface if you can't get cleaner inside.
Those pots usually have some holes or cracks that you can get cleaner in, it doesn't take much.
These are great hints! I'll get to work on it!
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