MTH bikini car wash

Is there any way to bypass the PCB and switch the effects manually ?  You would have to build your own control box, with toggle switches or something similar.

It sound like it is in the reset mode. That is if you turn off the power mid-cycle, and then re-apply the power, it will operate without sound or features until it reaches it's starting point. It operated fine twice okay, then quite working properly? It could be a bad limit switch at the front of the car wash building, but it would take the removal of about 23 screws from the base to check!

Chuck Sartor posted:

It sound like it is in the reset mode. That is if you turn off the power mid-cycle, and then re-apply the power, it will operate without sound or features until it reaches it's starting point. It operated fine twice okay, then quite working properly? It could be a bad limit switch at the front of the car wash building, but it would take the removal of about 23 screws from the base to check!

Thanks for your reply.  I have had the bottom off so that does not scare me.  I removed it and checked each switch to make sure that they were working and that I had continuity up to the circuit board.  What does a limit switch look like? 

Dan Padova posted:

Is there any way to bypass the PCB and switch the effects manually ?  You would have to build your own control box, with toggle switches or something similar.

Thank you for the reply.  I would not know how to do that.  I am assuming there are resisters and step down on the PCB that I would be bypassing.

I was referring to the switches with the arm. There is about 4 of them that the chain triggers. You found them. Did anything change after it worked a couple of times? It is unusual that a new circuit board would have gone bad so soon. Is power connected to A and C and the push button between B and C ?

Thank you for your response. Wiring is all correct.  As soon as the power source is turned on the chain begins to move and does not stop.  No lights come on.  No sound.  The garage door comes down but does not go up unless power interrupted.  The first time it happened I sent it to MTH and they switched out the PCB.  The second time it stopped I called MTH and after talking to a tech they sent me a new board.  Now it is not working again.  I was told by someone at a local train show that MTH had trouble with the smoker unit and that it took out the PCB however MTH as well as other references say that the units are very reliable and doubts that's the problem.  MTH has no PCB's and I could find nothing on line available.  So I am hoping the problem lies elsewhere.

Hi. I have one that did the same thing and I removed it from the layout.  Have not tried to fix it.  Very interested in what you learn.

bob with 1 o posted:

... and checked each switch to make sure that they were working and that I had continuity up to the circuit board.

Other than you checking the switches manually, did you check to see if they change state when activated by the chain ?

Dave

No I only manually activated them with my finger.

Sonny Hayman posted:

Hi. I have one that did the same thing and I removed it from the layout.  Have not tried to fix it.  Very interested in what you learn.

Hope we solve both our problems.  I have had mine for about 5 years..  Worked for two then went nuts.  Have replace PCB twice with result that it worked fine but after a few cycles it went nuts again.  No more PCB boards available besides they are $50 a pop and if they are being taken out by something  I want to know what it is