Vision Reefer - no crew chatter...

Check min/max switch underneath. Needs to be set to max for dialog. 

Dave, thanks. Min/Max set to Max.  

BUT..... when I put the car back on the track, I tried to reprogram it again, and this time, I got crew chatter and my eletrocoupler operational!   I think the real issue I'm having is that there is, at best, intermittent continuity with track power .... it's cutting out a lot as it rolls down the track,  although my engine in the built train or other cars that have lights don't have this issue.  (i.e., not dirty track).

Is there anything to check here to improve power pickup?

Cleaning the pickups and wheels is a start.  I'd also look at the connection between the trucks and the frame, I don't know if that car has a wire direct from the trucks for the outside rails.  Also, make sure both pickups are connected measure the resistance between the two center track rollers.

Finally, you can consider adding my YLB - RailSounds Battery Replacement (RS-Lite) battery to the car to ride over the power interruptions.

...and it gets worse.  So today I remove the reefer from the track where it was sitting overnight, inspect the wheels for dirt, put the car back on the tracks and... NOTHING. no sounds / no squeals / completely dead. 

Well, I think we now know why it was cutting out.  First check is for a simple connection issue, if not, I'd send it back to Lionel for service.

No discernible breaks / loose connections, so it's heading back...   just waiting on my shipping label.

Received a package back from Lionel today...  apparently there was a bad "hall effect sensor"  .  Fixed and the Vision Reefers are AWESOME on the tracks.  "Get that ice loaded"..."don't drop it on your feet!"  "Unload the bananas first!"

Many thanks to the team at Lionel! 

...just curious...does anyone know what a "Hall Effect Sensor" is?  

Good news.

The hall effect sensor is essentially a magnetic switch. You can see the little board next to one of the axles on the bottom of the car. The magnet is on the axle next to the sensor. This tells the electronics when the car is in motion.