My DCC Sound GP40 Reading has its sound cut off while running

[skerbs]

Hello,

I am a newby to DCC.  I have had DC for decades. I use a MRC Tech 6 Sound Controller. I have Atlas common rail wiring with separate electrical blocks. I bought a Reading GP40 recently with the DCC and sound (Item number 66310).  When I got it, it ran great on the duel mode.  Sounded great too.  I was very impressed.
Then, one day I left it in a siding with the electrical block turned off (I should of taken it off the track in hindsight). I then accidently ran one of my DC powered locos--under the DC setting of my MRC Tech 6--into a non electrical block and I caused my Bachmann to come on with all the sound. I know when this mistake happens in DC, all it OK.  But I noticed shortly after that incident, my Reading GP40 stopped making nice sounds while in operation and eventually the sound totally cut out and could not be controlled with the mute (number on the Tech 6. The lights still work.  The locomotive mechanically sounds normal.  It just is silent.

I tried cleaning the track and wheels with q-tips and 91% isopropyl alcohol.  Afterward cleaning, the sound comes on nice, but when the locomotive starts running, the sound will cut out again and the locomotive will continue to run silent.  Not sure what is going on.  Once the sound cuts out, I cannot turn it on again while the locomotive is running.

I am wondering if that jolt from my DC locomotive damaged the sound board on the GP40.  I have not had time yet to take the shell off to investigate inside--which to be honest, I have no idea to to look for if there is damage. 

Again, I am totally green with DCC and sound. Any help or ideas would be great.

Thanks!

[trainman203]

Try a cv8=8 reset and see what that does. Remember to, after you send 8 to the CV, break the track power by rocking locomotive off of one rail briefly.  You should then see the headlight blink 16 times which means that the reset was successful.  The locomotive address will now be three and everything will be set at default.  Now, see if the engine runs with sound all the time. Then you can reset the address to whatever you want to be.

If you still get the same problem with the sound cutting out, then you probably fried the decoder.  But I don't think it's that bad, the DC surge probably just jolted some CV somewhere that needs to be reset.

[skerbs]

ok. Thanks!  I will give it a try.

[trainman203]

Did the cv reset work?

[skerbs]

I got it to blink the 16 times, but no sound afterwards.  Still runs though.

[trainman203]

What decoder do you have in this engine?

[skerbs]

The one that came with the Bachmann locomotive when I bought it. It has the DCC Sound Value on board from SoundTraxx.
I did the CV8=8 as instructed on my MRC Tech 6.  The locomotive light blinks 16 times. I did it a couple of times--same result.  16 blinks and no sound afterward. 

Also, I reached out to Bachmann and I was informed through their email:
"For sound the reset is CV 30 to a Value of 2 and then try to run on default address #3." That didn't work either. 
My question is how do I know my locomotive is set to "default address #3" after doing that?
Right now, it is a great running silent locomotive with nice bright headlights.

I am thinking of two thoughts--find someone who has a true DCC system (that may take a bit since there are no clubs in my county) and see if it will run on that layout or start saving up for a new sound decoder. I didn't realize this but because I bought my new Bachmann off Ebay, the warranty doesn't apply (that is what Bachmann told me).  I know that now and will remember that on the next locomotive purchase. Thanks for your help!

One other thought comes to mind--reach out to SoundTraxx to see if they have any ideas.

[skerbs]

After checking the Soundtraxx website, I wonder if my speaker got damaged.  It did sound crackly before I lost sound totally. Also, the sound did cut in and out before it totally went away. I notice the speaker being the issue for sounding "crackly" "sound cuts in and out" and "locomotive will not produce sound." I will have to investigate further.

[jward]

Also, I reached out to Bachmann and I was informed through their email:
"For sound the reset is CV 30 to a Value of 2 and then try to run on default address #3." That didn't work either. 
My question is how do I know my locomotive is set to "default address #3" after doing that?
Right now, it is a great running silent locomotive with nice bright headlights.

According to the manual, the Tech6 will only run DCC locomotives on address 3. Since you are able to run the locomotive, it has been reset to that address. I am guessing you have somehow muted the sound. The Tech 6 manual I found online does not mention how to turn on the sound.