M.T.H. EMD F40PH DIESELLOCOMOTIVE Operating Instructions Manual - page 22
F40PH Diesel Operating Manual
22
TROUBLE SHOOTING PROTOSOUND™ PROBLEMS
Although ProtoSound™ has been designed and engineered for ease of use, some questions may arise
during initial operation. The following table should answer most questions. If you find that your problem
can’t be resolved with this manual, contact MTH ProtoSound Electronics (9693-A Gerwig Lane,
Columbia, MD 21046, 410-381-2580) for additional assistance.
HORN PROBLEMS
REMEDY
The horn seems distorted at low voltages.
Your battery may be undercharged or dead. Try recharging the battery as explained in
the battery sections.
When I press the whistle button, the bell comes on instead.
You are trying to operate the horn in neutral. The horn will only operate in Forward or
Reverse unless you program ProtoSounds through Feature 25. See the instructions in the
section entitled Using RESET to Program ProtoSounds.
I cant get the horn to blow when I press the whistle button.
You may be pressing the whistle button too quickly. Most older AC transformers
contain a two--step whistle button that releases a DC signal onto the track. It is this DC
signal that tells the horn to blow. However, because the signal is weaker when the whistle
button is depressed fully, the ProtoSound circuit may not recognize the signal. Try
pressing the whistle button slower, taking approximately 1 second to fully depress the
button.
BELL PROBLEMS
REMEDY
When I press the whistle button to activate the bell, the horn sounds.
You are trying to ring the bell in Forward or Reverse. The bell only operates in Neutral
unless you have programmed ProtoSounds to recognize a separate bell button.
When I press the whistle button to activate the bell, I arm the coupler.
Reduce the voltage on the transformer before pressing the whistle button to activate
the bell. The bell will only come on at 8 volts or less.
When I press the whistle button to activate the bell, the bell only rings once.
You are trying to ring the bell in RESET instead of neutral. Interrupt the power twice to
enter Neutral, set the voltage at 8 volts or less and press the whistle button to activate the
bell.
I cant get the bell to ring when I press the whistle button.
You may be pressing the whistle button too quickly. See the 3rd remedy in the horn
section above.
The bell wont work with a separate bell button.
ProtoSounds must be programmed in order for a separate bell button to function. Enter
RESET function number 20 (see the section entitled Using RESET to Program
ProtoSounds) and press the whistle button until the bell sounds two dings. Simply turn
the throttle off and then on again to lock in the new setting.
COUPLER PROBLEMS
REMEDY
The ProtoCoupler wont let the engine uncouple on the Fly.
The power required to fire the coupler open when the engine is on the Fly may be
greater than the ProtoSound system is capable of providing. As a result, you may
experience times when the coupler wont fire open. Unfortunately, the only solution is to
stop the engine and fire the coupler in Neutral. If that doesnt resolve the problem, try
lubricating the coupler knuckle and rivet as explained in the ProtoCoupler Operation
section.
I cant get the coupler to arm or fire open when I press the whistle button.
You may be pressing the whistle button too quickly. See the third remedy in the horn
section above. Another possibility is that ProtoSounds has been programmed to turn the
coupler function off. See the section entitled Using RESET to Program ProtoSounds
Only one coupler will function when I press the whistle button.
Only one coupler can operate at any one time. Use the coupler selection switch on the
bottom of the chassis to choose which coupler you want active.
DIESEL START/CAB CHATTER
REMEDY
Sometimes the diesel start sounds dont occur when I first turn power on.
Occassionally the diesel engine start up sounds may not occur when power is turned back
on within 5 seconds of being shut off. Wait 10 -- 15 seconds before repowering.
Sometimes the Cab Chatter sounds dont play.
The Cab Chatter sounds only play in neutral and ProtoSounds may be programmed to
turn thesounds off. See the section entitled Using RESET to Program ProtoSounds
LOCKOUT PROBLEMS
REMEDY