Kwikee Steps Won't! - UPDATED

Kazoo Tom · 06-05-2007, 03:56 PM

I have been getting the motorhome ready for a weekend trip. Everything seemed to be going fine when today the steps won't extend. They had been working must great until this point. I have checked the battery and it is up just fine (I have been plugged in to shore power with Trik-L-Start to keep it up). It has been very rainy and stormy the past several days, but I can't see any problems in the wiring.

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Kazoo Tom · 06-05-2007, 03:56 PM

I have been getting the motorhome ready for a weekend trip. Everything seemed to be going fine when today the steps won't extend. They had been working must great until this point. I have checked the battery and it is up just fine (I have been plugged in to shore power with Trik-L-Start to keep it up). It has been very rainy and stormy the past several days, but I can't see any problems in the wiring.

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Tom N · 06-05-2007, 04:17 PM

Check the ground. This area is open to the elements and corrosion is common.

Kazoo Tom · 06-05-2007, 04:45 PM

thanks Tom, I will do that right after work tomorrow. In fact I will disconnect the grounds, clean the contacts and reassemble. I hope it is a simple as that.

Ron & Dee · 06-06-2007, 01:25 AM

Tom,

If that doesn't work, take a hammer and tap the motor a couple of times.

I had to do that on my 93 brave. That worked for awhile, but never got a chance to change the motor before we traded the MH.

Ron

John Hilley · 06-06-2007, 05:06 AM

Lubricating might also help, as soon as it hits a certain amount of resistance it stops or reverses, perhaps when it was going in and out recently a piece of debris got in one of the swivel joints.

rvten · 06-06-2007, 05:13 AM

Wich battery did you check. Steps work off chassis(engine) battery not the house(coach) batt's. Leave the step out till you are ready to leave. No excessive drain on battery this way. Trik-L-charge is just that. A very small charge, not enough to keep chassis batt. charged with a lot of use.

Kazoo Tom · 06-06-2007, 03:00 PM

OK guys, I double checked the battery (starting battery) and it is fully charged, the steps were lubricated just a week or so ago. I crawled underneath tonight and removed and cleaned the ground connections. I unplugged all the connections and reconnected them. I then tested the wall switch (ok). The steps still don't work. What puzzles me the most, they were working perfectly a few days ago, now nothing.

Any other suggestions before I have to pay some tech some exhorbitant shop rate to trouble shoot this for me?

"007" · 06-06-2007, 03:22 PM

Brake switch
Could have a problem with brake switch or your switch on screen door is not operating. Try a magnet and see if your steps go out, most likely the brake switch use your hand and lift your brake pedel steps may operate.

Kazoo Tom · 06-07-2007, 05:40 PM

Thanks for the heads up on the brake switch. I wasn't aware that the brake switch had anything at all to do with the step circuit. I'll give it a try, nothing to loose.

David K · 06-07-2007, 05:57 PM

Don't' know if your coach has the same set up as mine but, on the console beside the passenger seat, I can set the steps to either in all the time or out all the time. I am sure you have checked this if you have it but, one time I forgot about it and could not figure out until my wife looked at the switch and told me that I had the steps in the do not extend mode.

Just a thought.

peter griffin · 06-07-2007, 06:16 PM

do you have the manual for the steps?...i belive there is a workout sheet in it for problems...if you dont have it let me know and I will try to pdf it to you.

Snowbirds from Kingston · 06-08-2007, 02:02 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Kazoo Tom:
I have been getting the motorhome ready for a weekend trip. Everything seemed to be going fine when today the steps won't extend. They had been working must great until this point. I have checked the battery and it is up just fine (I have been plugged in to shore power with Trik-L-Start to keep it up). It has been very rainy and stormy the past several days, but I can't see any problems in the wiring.

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Our Kwikee steps failed in Texas last winter. The problem was a faulty relay feeding power to the steps. It was replaced and they have been working fine since.

Cheers....Bill

Tenn.Vol. · 06-08-2007, 05:14 AM

If it turn our to be the motor-gear, I have the # for the
replacement somewhere... as it is motor-regulator for a FORD
power window. And you can pick it up at AUTO-ZONE for for alot
less than at a camper store.... I have been told???? TENN.

Kazoo Tom · 06-08-2007, 08:06 AM

Well, as of NOW they are not working. We are leaving in less than an hour for the weekend. We will use a portable step until I get back and can get to it more fully. Thanks for all the suggestions and I will try to keep everyone informed as to what I find.

Kazoo Tom · 06-16-2007, 05:42 PM

Took it in today and had the steps repaired. As I thought the control unit was toast. Had the control unit and a new motor installed. They work perfectly now.