Car stopped working after couple of SAFE modes

[Twigman]

One of my cars (Scalextric McLaren Mp4-12C) has totally stopped working.

I was racing when the C7042 APB went into SAFE mode.

I removed the cars from the track, checked their braids weren't crossed, put them all back and everything was fine.

For a couple of laps,

Then APB jumps to SAFE mode again.

I repeat the process.

All cars apart from one restart functioning.

I remove the body of the non-functioning car.

I see no breaks in the wiring and no shorts where wires should not be touching.

I replace the braids for new ones.

I change the chip in the chassis for a new one.

Nada - cannot get APB to see car.

 

What's likely to have happened to it?

What should I check next?

What's gone wrong?

 

The car is only 4weeks old and is my bairn's favourite.

He's not happy

[Blagard-01]

Well you are on the right track (excuse the pun). If other cars  function OK then the problem must lie with the one car. It only takes one strand of the braid to cause a problem so also check the contacts between the guide and the cars fixed pickup contacts (the rigid silver bits on the end of the wires).

 

Assuming you are running a digital car it is also possible you chave a chip problem.If a DPR car  check the plug and make sure no strand of braid has got in there to short.

[gorp]

what do you mean by cannot get apb to see car ?

does it run ?

if so will it run on analog ?

was new chip id ed ?

does it work with different controller ?

if you place lead wires on rails, will it run ?

[Twigman]

By cannot get apb to see car means that in prog mode, pressing the brake button does not ID car

It doesn't work with any controller.

It doesn't work in analog.

 

 

I discovered the problem:

A capacitor leg has broken inside the ferrite man by the guide blade.

Will build a new ferrite man. That'll fix it.

[gorp]

on the original digital porshe set cars, guide ferry man was weak point

for more bad advice:

have always removed guide ferry when it breaks and then resolder leads to guide

been at least 10 years and they still work great without it

btw sf use to advise that

[Andy P.]

I think by ferry he means ferrite.

[Twigman]

Perhaps he's a Chris de Burgh fan?