Rangerman375
Michigan
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Joined: 07/13/2009
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Currently on the road and the Kwikee Steps on my 2006 Damon will not extend. Everything was working fine on the entire trip. Stopped for fuel and steps extended and retracted just fine. Arrived at campground and steps will not extend.
The amber light under the coach by the step lights up when the door opens so I think that tells me the door switch/wiring is ok, right? Checked the magnet on the screen door and the switch on the door jamb and they seem to be lined up.
Crawled under the coach and tapped on the motor (being careful not to be near the steps) but that doesn't do anything.
Unscrewed the green ground wire from the frame and cleaned it with sandpaper and reattached.
Anything else that i can try to extend the steps until I can get the motorhome where it can be serviced?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
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RambleOnNW
Pacific Northwest
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Joined: 08/06/2010
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We had that happen on our 2006 a number of years ago. Kwikee steps worked until they didn’t. Picked up a folding chair at Walmart and used that for the rest of the trip as a ‘step’.
The key to getting the steps working was unbolting the motor and verifying the motor would turn both ways when opening/closing door, which it did. Putting the motor back in and the steps started working again. Must have been jammed. The controller limits the max current the motor can draw so if steps are jammed nothing will move. Sprayed a lot of Kwikee Kwiklube on all the joints.
* This post was
edited 08/08/23 09:38am by RambleOnNW *
2006 Jayco 28', E450 6.8L V10, Bilstein HDs,
Roadmaster Anti-Sway Bars, Blue Ox TigerTrak
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bob_nestor
murphy
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Two fairly common causes of the Kwikee steps not extending or retracting. One, it could be the magnetic sensor in the door frame not sensing the door is open or closed. This usually causes the steps to not retract. Testing for this is simple - take a strong magnet and bring it in close proximity with the sensor in the door frame. If the steps retract then this is most likely the issue and either replacing the sensor, the magnet in the door or adjusting the sensor placement solves the problem. (If the gap between the door magnet and the sensor is to large the sensor won't detect door closed. This can happen as the door gets a bit mis-aligned due to vehicle vibration, etc. My fix is to just place a garden hose washer behind the sensor so it protrudes a bit more.)
Second, for the steps no extending. The motor used in the steps can develop a flat spot on the armature from vehicle vibration while traveling down the road. In this case the motor needs to be replaced. One simple test of this is to rap on the step motor a bit to see if it "wakes up" and the steps extend. BE CAREFUL DOING THIS! Watch where to put your arms, hands and fingers while doing this as you can loose body parts if they're in the wrong place when the steps decide to work.
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dougrainer
Carrolton, Texas
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Joined: 06/11/2007
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RUN THE ENGINE. Then have someone open and close the door while banging on the motor. IF bad motor it will eventually operate, but replace it. It will fail again. Running the motor gets an extra volt or 2 to help pop the motor armature to make contact. Doug
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Blaster Man
USA
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Joined: 08/01/2007
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Be sure the steps are well lubricated. My manual says to lube them every month.
2014 American Eagle
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Johnny G1
Clearwater, British Columbia ,Canada
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Blaster Man wrote:Be sure the steps are well lubricated. My manual says to lube them every month. All lube does is gather dust and dirt, never lubed mine in 22 yrs and they still work and are nice and clean, Just my thought's.
98 Mountain Aire 34' 210 Cummins Puller and 2001 dodge dully with all the toy's, 400 + hp pullin a 2001 32.5' Okanogan 5th wheel, new to us after 5 yrs with the 28' Travel Aire. Lots of fun.
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ferndaleflyer
everywhere
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80s Bronco, F-150 truck passenger door window motor was what I got to replace mine. About $40 at autozone and pretty easy to fix, maybe 30 min
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RLS7201
Beautyful Downtown Gladstone, MO
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Between the motor and the controller is a plug in connector. It is exposed to road crud. Clean the connector. Cheap try.
Richard
95 Bounder 32H F53 460
2013 CRV Toad
2 Segways in Toad
First brake job
1941 Hudson
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Yankee Clipper
Cairo, GA
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At the risk of sounding argumentative, I lube my Kwikee step joints with CRC Power Lube w/PTFE. I also use this lube on my slide my slide gears.
BTW - I used a '96 Taurus driver side power window motor on my 97 Coachmen, resulting in the new motor chewing the stuck gears into pot metal rubble.
HTH,
Jack
Yankee Clipper
2014 Winnebago Sightseer 33C on Ford F53 6.8l V10
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ferndaleflyer
everywhere
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Drivers side runs backwards I think. They used the passenger side
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