I recently purchased an r16 subway set. One of the car will not open or close the doors and the interior lights continually blink. Has anyone else seen this problem?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
This sounds like an intermittent electrical connection. Since it's only one of the cars it's probably not a track issue.
I could be either of the 2 power connections.
Ground/Common: Outside rail collector to axle contact dirty, or loose wire connection at collector
Center Rail/ Hot: Pick-up roller dirty, or pick-up roller wire loose.
It's also possible that one of the aforementioned wires could have a cold solder joint or loose crimp connection at either end. These are the simpler things to check, starting with cleaning the pick-up roller and collector to axle contact areas.
The blinking seems to be at a regular interval, even when the car is standing still. It think it is an error code of some sort but I don't know what the error is. I first noticed it when I tried to open the doors. But it continues even when the train is moving. Could it mean that one of the doors is blocked?
If it's blinking at a regular interval like an error code, then that's different.
Please provide the Make and Model number of the r16 set as well as any other details about how it's being controlled: ie. conventionally or with command control and if so what control system and model.
It may also be helpful if you could describe the lights' blinking pattern in more detail: slow fast, number of blinks, pauses in the pattern, etc..
If you power off the track for 15 seconds and then back on, does the blinking start right away or only after you try to open the doors?
The car with the blinking lights is a R16 subway car non-powered unit '6341' with item number 6-25592. When I just went to duplicate the problem the lights did not blink but the doors did not work either. I think the blinking has to do with stuck doors. The windows in this Legacy car have come unglued and one of them is probably wedged inside. I will have to open the car and check it out. I see four screws in the base which I assume will allow the top to come off.
You're probably onto something with the door issue.
This is a link to Lionel's parts pages for this car. It may be of some help:
Thanks! That could be a great help.
Bill-
The blinking lights indicate a door error, which is common on the Lionel subway sets. To clear the error press Aux 1 and 0 on the Legacy or Cab1 Remote; the lights will stop blinking and the doors can be opened again.
If the doors still do not open and a buzzing sound in heard, the mechanism is likely jammed or in need of service. Removing the four screws near each truck will allow the shell to be removed. There is no wire harness between the shell and the frame but you will notice a rectangular PC board with contacts sticking up. This board makes electrical contact with a socket on the underside of the shell; when reinstalling the shell ensure the socket is on the same side as the PC board.
Hope this helps!
-John
Wow. That is just what I was looking for. I'm pretty sure one of the window panes is stuck in the mechanism. I will open it up and check it out. I'll let you know what I find. Thanks.
Just a question from someone who has never used a Cab1 controller before: do you press the Aux1 and the 1 and 0 at the same time or are they pressed sequentially?
Bill-
The buttons are pressed in sequence: Aux 1, then 0. The Aux1 button is located below the numbered buttons on the remote.
-John
Great. Thanks for your help.
The Aux1 and 0 cleared the blinking. Unfortunately the problem with the doors not working in one of the cars still remained. This is a set that I just received. There were loose windows that may have jammed the mechanism when I tried to open the doors or it may be a pre-existing condition. The cars on either side are working so I know it is getting a signal. Now I have to figure out whether it is the electronics, gearbox or motor that is the problem.