Rapido VIA F40PH-2D dead.

[emdman71]

Hello group,

I recently received a new purchase in form of a Rapido VIA F40PH-2D, #6424 with DCC and sound.

First thing out of the box was the rear handrails were bent and some stanchions damaged. I was able to fix the problem.

Once in the track next issue was the front headlight did not work. I have the ESU Lokprogrammer and I checked the functions but everything appeared ok.

But once I tried to change the road number, the locomotive is completely dead. There is no sound, and it does not move anymore. When put in the programming track the software recognizes and read the decoder and it appears the CV can be changed, but nothing happens when the locomotive is placed on the mainline.

In a desperate move, I tried to reprogram de decoder installing a new sound an function mapping from the Amtrak F40PH file downloaded from the ESU website. But with no success. And the initial sound arrangement appeared again when reading the decoder with the ESU software afterwards, like no new sound was overwritten.

I am in Spain, so I can not think about returning the locomotive / decoder to Rapido because the customs paperwork and duties are a nightmare in this country. In the other side, I have contacted Rapido for two times asking for help and I have not received any answer at this time.

Could anyone provide a yellow/gray VIA F40PH-2D complete CV list ? I would try to introduce manually all the values as a desperate try to reprogram and reactivate the decoder.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Juan Andres

Barcelona, Spain

[jonklein611]

Take caution, Rapido uses their own programming logic / CV's, so the file from ESU's website is not the correct file. CV list can be seen here:

rapidotrains.com/content/manuals/F40-Instructions_en.pdf

www.rapidotrains.com/content/manuals/51980-ESU-LokSound-Manual.pdf

Also, Rapido did some tricky things with the programming on these:

please take note of the following.

We have tried our best to recreate the actual way an F40PH-2D locomotive operates with this model. This means:

1. To operate your F40PH-2D locomotive with a modern passenger train (such as LRC, HEP-1, HEP-2 or Amtrak passenger cars) on a DCC layout, you need to press F4 and then F5 before you start accelerating. If you press F4 but don’t press F5, YOUR LOCOMOTIVE WILL NOT MOVE. That’s right – the locomotive will NOT move when just F4 is pressed. Press F5 if you want it to move. Those of you who read the rest of the manual will find out why.
2. If you don’t press F4 or F5, your F40PH-2D locomotive will operate like a freight engine and will not provide power to your passenger cars.
3. The rear (backup) light will only go on when you are switching cars. It won’t go on when you are backing up.
4. If you are running DC, just go play trains. Whatever sounds come out are what you get. And the rear (backup) light will never go on. Not that we’re trying to convince you to upgrade to DCC or anything…

You can read more about these weird features, along with our reasons for introducing them, in the Protoypical Operation – DCC section ine the manual. If you are using DCC and you really don’t like operating your F40PH-2D prototypically, you can turn off all of these features. Please see page 11 of the manual for step-by-step instructions on how to do this.



Check the value you set in CV 29, CV 17 and CV 18, you may have to program those in manually.

[emdman71]

Thank you for your reply. I just checked again and everything seems ok about the CVs you mention (for long address). CV 29 value is 38, and CV 17 and 18 show the correct values resulting from a formula (although LokProgrammer also does this automatically).

It is a very strange issue. The Lokprogrammer recognizes and accepts reprogramming of the F40 decoder, but when put on the track layout the locomotive is completely dead.

Just an additional note. When the locomotive is placed on the layout, a very low but continuous sound can be heard from inside. 


 

[Judge Doom]

A low continuous sound could be the Standby HEP mode engaged for the layover power mode (when the train is laying over at a station, the engine is always running in a higher notch since the HEP needs to run off it, hence the F40 "screamer" nickname). There should be a section in the manual detailing that and how to switch between it and normal operation mode. Having it enabled would disable all regular operation of the unit.

Since you haven't gotten in contact with them, you should probably keep trying until you get a response (or try calling, messaging their Facebook page, etc). If the decoder or unit is defective, they might cover the postage to send it back (even if it's coming from Spain), or send you a replacement decoder to try.

[emdman71]

The sound I was referring to is a sound caused by some voltage, maybe from the board, maybe from the decoder, like "tek-tek-tek-tek..." , not a diesel sound. I am sorry I did not explained it properly.

I agree, I will continue trying to contact with them. Although they may not recognize this issue as their fault, I need a solution.

The only other way I can think for fixing this problem is installing by myself a brand new Loksound 21-pin V5 decoder but I wonder if there could be more issues as these decoders come with the speaker attached and the Rapido boards come with their own speakers soldered.

[jonklein611]

Typically the ESU's come with a speaker, but it's not attached so you can route the wiring as needed.

[Judge Doom]

Nov 22, 2019 9:36:07 GMT -8 emdman71 said:

The sound I was referring to is a sound caused by some voltage, maybe from the board, maybe from the decoder, like "tek-tek-tek-tek..." , not a diesel sound. I am sorry I did not explained it properly.

OKay, if it's not locomotive sounds emitting from the speaker, those sound like they could be the motor responding to commands trying to be written to or read from the decoder (you'll typically get short motor movements making noises like that when writing CV values to most decoders, and slight jerking of the model).

Something doesn't sound right with that model. Contacting Rapido and seeing if they can replace the decoder or fix the unit would be the best course of action. If it's a defective circuit board, decoder or motor, there's not a whole lot you can do to fix that through programming.