VL GS5 teething problem - or worse? Need some expert advice

most likely the wires to the main DSMK smoke unit got flip flopped during assembly, the only way your going to fix this is too open the shell and remove the two plugs flip them around and reinstall the shell.

that or get someone else to do it like a service center or call Lionel for a RA

As mentioned.

Pop the 4 screws. Swap the connectors. You’ll be all sorted out then. They are not hard to take apart.

@zhubl posted:

most likely the wires to the main DSMK smoke unit got flip flopped during assembly, the only way your going to fix this is too open the shell and remove the two plugs flip them around and reinstall the shell.

that or get someone else to do it like a service center or call Lionel for a RA

Thanks to you both for responding. The first thought I had was, "No way I'm sending this to Lionel - or anywhere - for something that seems obvious." The warranty is pretty worthless anyway, IMHO.

BTW, I very much enjoy your club's videos.

@Bruk posted:

As mentioned.

Pop the 4 screws. Swap the connectors. You’ll be all sorted out then. They are not hard to take apart.

Not for the first time, I reviewed your GS1 inside the shell pictures with morbid curiosity and a sense of foreboding. Yeah, easy to take apart, reassembly no picnic.

But on opening it up, I found no issues other than the smoke units were wired in reverse; so no pinched wires and good clearance between the Bluetooth module and the driveshaft. Also, there did not seem to be excess flux on any board.

Still, it's a little hard to understand how the wiring was flubbed when Smoke 1 and 2 have color-coded connectors, one white and one dark gray, and are clearly labelled 1 and 2 (in English) at both ends of the wiring:

BTW, I am no fan of the main smoke unit output contraption, which I had to cement and tape in place to ensure it was correctly aligned on reassembly. Anyway, it all works as expected now. Phew.

Thanks again.