Ongoing MFU-01 Problem

[TassieTrucker]

Hey all i'm kinda new to this forum.
I've been hunting around the Truck forums 4 an answer to my MFU-01 problem

Problem: Just about everytime i turn my truck on i move 2 feet then it shuts down i brought a new batteries for my truck and controller but that didn't fix anything.
This has been happening for some time now.
I sent Tamiya An Email and sent along a video of my problem they think it could be my ESC
Tamiya also told me to contact my local stockist here in Australia, which i did and was told that since i didn't buy it from them they won't help!!!!
I'm using a wfly FT06-A controller i know of other people using this controller and not having problems, so i guess i can rule that out.
I'll include my Youtube video you guys might have a bit more of an idea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNRA8CwQ6z0
Thanks in advance for any comments or help
Tassie

[McFig]

Have you run through training your MFU?

The three blinking lights make me think there is something missing, like the MFU needs to be set up again or the MFU is in the wrong mode, etc, etc, etc

[janderson]

Hey all i'm kinda new to this forum.
I've been hunting around the Truck forums 4 an answer to my MFU-01 problem

Problem: Just about everytime i turn my truck on i move 2 feet then it shuts down i brought a new batteries for my truck and controller but that didn't fix anything.
This has been happening for some time now.
I sent Tamiya An Email and sent along a video of my problem they think it could be my ESC
Tamiya also told me to contact my local stockist here in Australia, which i did and was told that since i didn't buy it from them they won't help!!!!
I'm using a wfly FT06-A controller i know of other people using this controller and not having problems, so i guess i can rule that out.
I'll include my Youtube video you guys might have a bit more of an idea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNRA8CwQ6z0
Thanks in advance for any comments or help
Tassie

Watched your video and of the many MFU's I have worked with, it looks like a battery/power issue.
(I mean no harm by my next comments) After reading all your comments on e-mail tamiya and your countries agent and tamiya having no clue. If you would have bought it from a local source that you could depend on for support, you would get support. We can only handle USA sales/customers and your countries agent handles the same. We would love to help you, but our hands are tied.

My suggestion is to find someone local either a store or person that knows the MFU and can help you figure it out. Iver the www is going to be hard to figure this out if not impossible. It's more of a hands on issue.

FYI your video really does not do the issue justice as we can not see if the truck moves forward at all sound or no sound. If you place it in R/C mode no sound does it work fine, if so then your bad ESC thoughts are out the door. You can bypass the esc by using a y cable for the esc and use a different ESC, your reciever will still send the signal to the MFU esc for sound and lights but your extra ESC will control motor (But I do not think the ESC is the issue)

:sorry:

[TassieTrucker]

Hey Thanks guys for your quick responses i really apreciate it. i suppose i did in a way do a stupid thing and brought the MFU off ebay brand new my only problem is none of my local hobby shops stock any Tamiya stuff and i find i'm buying all my parts, bits/peices either from the mainland or overseas. What i'll do is go and buy Battery no 3 on payday and see if that makes a difference and i'll get my video camera out in the next few day's and see if i can capture it.
Thanks again
Tassie

[TassieTrucker]

Ok taking advise onboard i made another video showing everything the MFU does and doesn't do i hope this one sheds a bit more light on my problem lol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_teStUTRtdE
Thanks in advance guys

Another question whilst on the topic would a faultly lead from lets say a light or the speaker play a part in this problem?
Cheers
Tassie

[Skip]

I have exactly the same problem so will be following you around the internet looking for an answer Jase

[Skip]

Just spent the evening trying everything to try and solve this issue and its an odd one. The MFU will work fine the first time you switch it on after leaving it for a considerable period of time (a couple of hours) but after 2 or 3 minutes of driving and using all the functions the truck just stops and the blinking red light starts. Turning the unit off and on again will give you about 5-10 seconds of use before it happens again. I have tried unplugging every LED and the vibration unit and just leaving the MFU, Control Box and receiver connected and it STILL does it! So it cant be an overload - I am at a loss :( I bought mine from Hong Kong so have no idea what chances of a return are especially as I have fitted all the LEDs etc etc :(

Very depressed!

[Mouton]

If you place it in R/C mode no sound does it work fine, if so then your bad ESC thoughts are out the door.Have you tried this? If not, do it, same for the other mode, the lights only mode. Does it work as expected?

In addition, have you also tried disconnecting the motor as well to see if the MFU still shuts down? Disconnect everything, all the lights, speaker, vibration unit and give it one more try connecting one thing at a time.

If you do have a friend nearby with an MFU, why not ask him/her to let you try his/her control box with your MFU? If you still cannot get it to work, why not contact the seller? Any serious seller will help a customer with warrany claims, even if the customer lives abroad. Like janderson said, what counts is where you have bought it as it is the seller that is responsible for support. Your local dealer should also be able help you, but since you have not purchased from them, they may charge you for their support. How much they charge is an indicator of how service minded they are.

Does your transmitter have any fail safe capabilities? If so, disable them. Tamiya specifies that PCM-transmitters are not to be used with the MFU. While there is no difference in how a servo sees a PCM and a PPM receiver, it might be that the fail safe impulse (which is usually sent once every minute) confuses the MFU, which then shuts down. Otherwise, I see no reason for recommending against the use of PCM-receivers.

[mcovalsk]

Have you tried this? If not, do it, same for the other mode, the lights only mode. Does it work as expected?

In addition, have you also tried disconnecting the motor as well to see if the MFU still shuts down? Disconnect everything, all the lights, speaker, vibration unit and give it one more try connecting one thing at a time.

If you do have a friend nearby with an MFU, why not ask him/her to let you try his/her control box with your MFU? If you still cannot get it to work, why not contact the seller? Any serious seller will help a customer with warrany claims, even if the customer lives abroad. Like janderson said, what counts is where you have bought it as it is the seller that is responsible for support. Your local dealer should also be able help you, but since you have not purchased from them, they may charge you for their support. How much they charge is an indicator of how service minded they are.

Does your transmitter have any fail safe capabilities? If so, disable them. Tamiya specifies that PCM-transmitters are not to be used with the MFU. While there is no difference in how a servo sees a PCM and a PPM receiver, it might be that the fail safe impulse (which is usually sent once every minute) confuses the MFU, which then shuts down. Otherwise, I see no reason for recommending against the use of PCM-receivers.

I think that what was said above it's reasonable, you should try all again, even a new transmitter just to be sure. However I think the problem is the flash memory that contains the program, has failed and need to be reloaded, I have seen this in other electronic devices of this kind and obviously need to be done in Tamiya's service at Japan. Probably in USA just send the board to the garbage and place a new one OEM.

[Swedspeed]

chek the tamyia conector on battery and mfu, i have seen some off them getting deformed and the model dosent work properly. Take a look at the male connector on the mfu, there is to female pinns inside, and what happens is they get a bit too large after use or not tight enouge as new, try to schrink them just a litel bit to get a god connection.
And chek the transmission, so it dosent turn to heavy and drains you batterys to fast, and dont pull to heavy trailers, it will drain them as well.
Maybe you got some bad new batterys, it happens. Get some that cost a littel bit more and as much milliamps as possible, i use a Orin 5100 in my truck. And a good charger, i got a multi purpus hobby charger (swallow is the name) that charge all types off batterys, lipo, NiMh, liion and it displays hove much the battery has charged and the time taken, this way i can se if they are starting to go bad. A good sharger is somthing neded as a hobby trucker to keep the tank full of gogo juice.

And a tip i give all new rc car byers wheen they come with problems ( i help out at my local rctrack with tips and repairs off all rc models) Read the instuctions. Many times the solution is in there, in the fine print.

[TassieTrucker]

Just thought i would update you all on my MFU problem.
I have sent the MFU back to Model-Direct (the company i brought it off through Ebay) and it's been ALMOST 3 MONTHS and i still haven't got it fix, Replaced or returned every email i get back from them just says they will let me know when they find the problem..........:omg: how long does it take to test/fix.

I'm getting quite frustrated with there lack of information let alone the length of time it takes to fix something. Skip had the same problem and his was resolved in a matter of weeks, i wish i had the same luck

All in all beware of buying ANYTHING from Model-Direct people

Jase

[mcovalsk]

Just thought i would update you all on my MFU problem.
I have sent the MFU back to Model-Direct (the company i brought it off through Ebay) and it's been ALMOST 3 MONTHS and i still haven't got it fix, Replaced or returned every email i get back from them just says they will let me know when they find the problem..........:omg: how long does it take to test/fix.

I'm getting quite frustrated with there lack of information let alone the length of time it takes to fix something. Skip had the same problem and his was resolved in a matter of weeks, i wish i had the same luck

All in all beware of buying ANYTHING from Model-Direct people

Jase

If you read what I told several months ago about the flash memory should be reloaded, you will realize I was right, that was not a connector problem or setup as was told here. Probably it would be better request the assistance of Tamiya America with a charge.
I wouldn't like to say this as you will be worried, but my experience and the people at forums was the worst with Model-Direct and probably you never will receive the part, new or repaired. Just read at Tamiyaclub the experience of some fellows members.
Good luck!

[TassieTrucker]

Well after a looooooooong wait the MFC has finally arrived back and is now installed back in my truck.
Does it work i hear you ask???
Yep she works don't know what they fixed though they sent it back to Tamiya to fix lmao

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP, SUPPORT AND THOUGHTS THEY ARE ALL GREATLY APPRECIATED!!

Cheers
Jase

[LOSIASSOCIATED#1]

Good to hear that your up and runnin again