PS2 programming issues.

Check under the hood. Make sure they are set for "three rail" in the slide switch.

The smoke control can be shut off under the same cover. Turn it to the off position...

Tom

They should run on conventional without any programming, and certainly you should get at least lights and/or sound.  That's the first item to check.

For conventional, make SURE the TIU is nowhere in the picture, if they see a watchdog signal, they will come up dark, which sounds like what you're seeing.

Gray,

Is a dead or low battery an issue with PS2 engines programming or functioning?

Yes, it can be.

What battery do these have, the 8.4V or the 3V?

These engines are PS2 3 volt and have 3 volt (actually, 2.4 volt) batteries.

Is this a TIU issue?

my track functions pretty good with signal strength from 5 (not to many places) to 7-9 (mostly).

Actually, this could be a TIU issue since, actually, your signal strength is not "pretty good". It's more like "fair". Pretty good would one 8-10 everywhere.

Is there a way to turn the smoke units off on PS3 (and PS2) engines without having to do it everytime they start up?

Smoke should be on or off in the same condition that it was when an engine was last shut down. If it isn't, that's an indication that the engine isn't saving its settings on power-down, and a main cause of this is a low battery.

Regardless, what is the DCS version that you're using? if it isn't DCS 6.1 in both the TIU and the remote, it's often very difficult to further attempt to troubleshoot possible DCS issues.

Problem solved on programming referenced engines.

The 3 rail / 2 rail switch was set from the factory at 2 rail.  I would never have guessed that a Hi Rail factory engine would come this way.  Just glad it wasn't the locomotive.  This has happened and been discovered before??

I am running software 6.1 on the remote/TIU.

When I get a little more time I'm going to try a "magic" light bub and see if I can get the functioning track better.

Sometimes I'm beginning to think I'm a TV (old school) repairman vs. a modeler and runner.  I knew things had changed a lot, but WOW have they ever.

THANKS everyone

Gray Lackey

Grey, how about a couple pictures of the "patients "? Lol. 

Glad it was just the selector switch. The smoke dial is there too. Just use fine screwdriver to turn it to off. 

Sometimes it is the simplest thing that messes things up!

Tom

Took the afternoon off to work on the trains (notice I didn't say play).  Got some needed parts, swapped some excess for things I wanted and started to work.

I installed a "magic" light bulb and rechecked my signal strength.  9-10 almost everywhere with an occasional 8, only for 1 fleeting moment did I see a 7 as the lowest.  Hopefully that now qualifies as "pretty good".

My PS2 and PS3 engines now work as they should, now I can play trains while continuing building.

I think I had a pretty good afternoon.

Thanks to everyone who has helped drag me through the new world order.

Gray Lackey