I have a Chessie SD-9 (B&O 1839) MTH # 30-2652-1 that the headlight (forward and reverse) has stopped working. I have already checked the headlight button on the DCS remote, it is on and I have gone through all the selections in the remote to the best of my knowledge to see if anything else might control the headlights. Is there something I am missing or has the part of the electronic board controlling the headlight failed. The interior lights in the cab work. All other functions of the engine work fine. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks
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Steve, did you do a feature/factory reset? If none of that helps, open your engine, pull and re seat the 12 pin connection on the end of your board. Your headlights are controlled from that location.
Steve,
Does your GP9 use springs to connect the headlights to the chassis? If so, make sure that they haven't simply slid up on their posts.
Marty, Barry, sorry about the delay in getting to answer your posts. I was out this evening with my wife.
Marty, After checking that the headlight button was in the on position in remote, doing a feature and factory reset was the second thing I did after the headlights stopped working. As you suggested, I did re-seat the 12 pin connector, still no headlights.
Barry, my SD-9 does not have any spring connectors. The headlights are wired to the 12 pin connector.
I appreciate both of your reply's. Any other suggestions. Thanks
On pin 2 on the 12 pin you should see two purple wires. One goes front and the other rear. Check for a wire nut connection at the end of the purple wire that may need some attention. The chance of both lights being bad is slim. Do you have anyone near you that is an MTH tech that can put your board in his test fixture?
Marty, The double headlights at the front and rear have 4 black wires each that come to two separate 2 pin male connectors and plug into two separate 2 pin female connectors which have a blue and purple wires. The purple wires from each end go to the pin 2 on the 12 pin connector. There is no wire nut involved with these wires. Unfortunately, the 2 hobby shops near me in North Carolina, Tom's Train Station (Tom Stanly retired) and Todd's Train Depot (Edna Todd passed away) have closed. I am not aware of the status of their MTH techs. Thanks for your reply.
Steve, if you want to pull the boards and send them to me, I will put them in the test fixture for you. If any Forum sponsor can help you I will offer to be a back up.
One more thing to check. Set your meter to continuity and on each end, test for continuity on the end of the purple wires back to pin 2. On the front light, check the blue wire back to pin 5 on the 12 pin connector. On the rear light, check the wire (should be green) back to pin 4 on the 12 pin connector. Pull the 12 pin connector and re plug it back in.
Steve, Pull a bulb plug out and using another connector plug if you have a spare, power it with a 9V battery. Do the bulbs light? If not they may be blown and just need replacement.
Of course you need to make sure when replaced that they don't vary in full intensity with track voltage. If so the FET may be shorted and that blew the bulbs. Any signs of pinched wires? G
Sorry for the delay, but working the graveyard shift at the Postal Service, all I want to do in the morning is get home and go to sleep and prior to going back to work, I try to spend some time with my wife. Night work really messes with one's body and mind.
Marty, I did a continuity check on the wires and they are fine. If you are still willing to test the boards, please send your address to me. My e-mail address is in my profile. Thanks, Steve
GGG, I did as you suggested, the bulbs do light up. I did not see any pinched wires.
Thanks, Steve
Sounds like you may have damaged the board fets though weird that fwd and reverse both blew. G
Same thing in conventional?
Sorry for the delay in response, work and sleep get in the way.
Gregg, yes same thing in conventional.