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If you should have any difficulties with the operation of your SoundTraxx Digital Sound Decoder, first check this section for hints on troubleshooting. When all else fails, try setting the decoder back to its original factory defaults. If you still cannot isolate and find a solution for the problem, we suggest that you call the factory before returning the unit to the factory (see Service and Warranty Policy). 

• Everything used to work, but now my locomotive doesn't run.

• Locomotive never ran, but sound works.

• My Locomotive runs fine, but there is no sound.

• I'm running my locomotive in a consist. It runs fine, but I can't get the sound or lights to work.

• Why are the lights flickering on and off?

• I can't get my lights to work at all.

• My locomotive won't move and the headlights are flashing!

• After a period of time, the sound stops working.

• The speaker is making a 'crackly' sound - what causes this?

• My functions 5, 6, 7, and 8 do not work...what gives?

• At slow speeds, I hear an annoying buzz in the motor.

• The cylinder blowdown function does not work on my steam decoder.

• All steam sound effects work except the exhaust chuff.
  

Locomotive doesn’t run but was working.

• Address has been accidentally changed.

• Consist address (CV 19) was accidentally set.

• CV29 has been changed to select other address.

• Acceleration and braking CVs set to very high values.

• Broken motor wire or track pickup wire.
  

Locomotive never ran.

• See all of the above.

• Decoder may be wired incorrectly.

• Locomotive is not on a DCC powered track. SoundTraxx Digital Sound Decoders do not work in 'analog' mode.

• Acceleration and braking CVs set to very high values.

• Broken motor wire or track pickup wire.
  

Locomotive runs but doesn't make sound.

• Mute function (F8) is on.

• Another function is re-mapped to the Mute function.

• Sound Volume CVs (see owners manual) have been set to zero.

• Speaker wire is broken.

• Speaker capacitor is broken.

• Speaker is burned out.

• Be sure the locomotive address matches that of your controller. If the acceleration CVs are loaded with large values, the locomotive may be also be very slow to accelerate taking almost four minutes to reach full speed.  
  

Locomotive runs in a consist but lights and sound effects don't work.

• Consist functions are disabled. Set CV 21 and 22 to activate desired functions.

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Lights flicker on and off.

• Decoder is set for 14 speed step mode and command station is set to 28 speed step mode.

Lights do not work.

• Decoder is in 28/128 speed step mode and command station is set to 14 speed steps mode.

• Function mapping is improperly set.

• If using 1.5 volt micro-bulbs, resistor value is too large.

• Light bulbs are burned out.

• Lamp wires are broken.
  

Locomotive just sits and flashes its headlights.

• CVs are being reset to defaults. Wait 30 seconds and the Digital Sound Decoder should respond to address 3.
  

Sound works for a while, then quits.

• Amplifier is overheating, lower sound volume.

• Amplifier is overheating, lower track voltage.

• Speaker is damaged. Replace speaker.
  

Speaker sounds 'crackly'. 

• Sound volume is too high for speaker.

• Speaker is not properly baffled.

• Speaker wire is loose.

• Speaker is damaged. Replace speaker.
  

Functions 5, 6, 7 and 8 do not work. 

• Program CV 30 to 4.
  

The Locomotive buzzes at slow speeds. 

• This is a normal side effect of using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) to drive the motor. The buzzing can be minimized by adjusting the drive frequency via CV 9.

• Lubricate the motor brushes with a conductive lubricant such as Aero Car Technology’s “Conducta”.

The cylinder blowdown function does not work. 

• Sound effect is not available in all models; check the owners manual for your Digital Sound Decoder model.

• If the auto blowdown feature is enabled, the hiss function cannot be manually controlled.
  

The exhaust chuff does not work. 

• For those models which support cam operation, the default is cam-synchronized sound. If you do not intend to use a cam be sure you set the decoder to operate using the Auto-Exhaust feature. If you do intend to use a cam, make sure you have not inadvertently set the decoder to use Auto-Exhaust.

• If you are using the Auto-Exhaust feature, be sure exhaust volume is not 0.

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