Legacy Control and Vision Challenger - help!

When you added the new base, did you program the engine with its new number into it?

Try reloading the module and re-programing the engine again.

What engine ID did you program the engine to using the Run/Pgm procedure?

I just did the quick start. I hit CTC, engine, number 1 and then the lower left power symbol. what should I be doing? 

Each Legacy or TMCC engine should be assigned a unique engine ID. If your LHS did this it maybe either the first 2 or last 2 digits of the cab number. 

Try pressing ENG then the number of the iD trying either the number Or get out your manual and follow the programming procedure for giving it an ID. 

MartyE - ok, so quick start doesn't work for these locos. I need to program a new ID. Got it.  I will try that and see how it works. Fingers crossed . Thank you.  Peter

Quick start only works for an engine that is factory fresh with an ID of 1. I'm guessing when your LHS had it going they assigned the ID. You can re-assign it a new number and load the module to the ENG iD. 

Just remember every engine must have its own unique ID.  Most new engines and those serviced by Lionel will be 1. You then assign it to the number you want. 

We'll get you going. 

Did the programming per manual and - boom! The loco fired right up. Thanks again, MartyE!!  This is one amazing engine. So much freakin' smoke. The dynamo smoke and smoke billowing from the bottom rear under the cab adds a lot of realism.  Now I just need to get the courage to wire up my 6924 gizmos to my Atlas turnouts. Every single turnout this thing traverses seems to knock out and then reset the tender sound system. Weird, I don't get that issue from any other loco ...

Actually, it just occurred to me, the non-derail 6924 gizmo won't solve the problem, as it transfers juice to rails not typically powered when an engine goes through the diverging route. The Challenger tender went dead and restarted sounds through every turnout and all turnouts were set on straight, non-diverging route.  I love this hobby.... one step forward often entails a riddle-to-be-solved step backward.  But hey, I have my first Vision loco up and running - a good day!

I turned one of the power rollers around on my challenger, I was have the same problem going through curved switches.

The Atlas switches tend to be problematic with dead spots  and the Challengers also had roller spacing issues. Try adding a 9 volt battery to the tender to minimize the sound cut out. I know there are some fixes for the switches but do not know what they are 

Thanks joker34 and cbojanower!   Was just now reading the manual again after remembering it mentioning the 9v battery. Will try that before messing with the rollers. Thanks again! 

The roller turn is actually a fix suggested by Lionel if I remember correctly

I have a 9v in mine and the tender lights would still flicker, that's when messed with the rollers

Atlas crossings seemed to have the same effect... adding the 9volt resolves it.

Which roller should be turned?

So I installed the 9v battery into the tender. The sounds now stay on through turnouts, but the tender's red lights stay on non-stop, even after the train is removed from the track!! They do not turn off now - ever. The manual doesn't indicate any on/off switch function. WTF?   

Did you see this when you registered it?  Not sure if it applies. 

VL Challenger

MartyE - thanks once again!  No, I had no idea. I am relatively new to Lionel. I had the Southern Express set as a kid but only got back into the hobby for my twin 10 year old sons around 2 years ago. We liked MTH products so much we stuck with it.  I saw a video of the VL Challenger last year and thought it was the most amazingly realistic (feature-wise) engine I'd ever seen.  After searching for a while, I found a dealer who just had this one sitting unsold last November/December.   Other than having my LHS put it through its paces when I got it, it's sat in the shipping crate till I got my Legacy system 3 days ago. I haven't yet registered it. I think I will call Lionel on Monday.  Thanks again for all the help.  Peter

No need to call, faster and easier to register online here:  

https://www.lionel.com/RegisterProduct/

BTW. Lionels website contains all sorts of stuff. Catalogs, product info, instructional videos, service and parts etc.

Check it out:  http://www.lionel.com/

Wanted to post a follow-up after all the great help you all provided:  whole process was really easy.  I called Lionel (ran into problems on website), they registered my locomotive. Within 2 days I received a box in the mail, packed up my circuit boards and sent them. Received an email confirmation when Lionel received my boards. And within one week a box arrived with the circuit boards back from Lionel.  I haven't had the chance to install and test, but wow - looks like great customer service.   Peter