Electric steps Part II Crunchhh!

Two suggestions for when you get the new steps installed.

First: Get a common door switch, this is what is called a PIN switch in my field but the auto parts calls them DOOR switches, JEEP units work well

Get a 90 Degree bend angle bracket big enough to mount the door switch in

Mount it to the step mounting bracket under the motor home positioned so when the steps are FULLY RETRACTED The plunger is plunged

Now... Wire it to a light in the dash (RED of course) labeled STEPS OUT.

Hook other end of light to any ACCESSORY line (fuse optional if hooked to a fused line) the switch is of course ground side.

Second: My steps worked like yours.. I opened the transmission and let the gears move a bit, then put it back together.

The problem: Motor has a dead spot (I'm guessing they bought 2nds) and because of the way things work it's stopping dead on the dead spot.

Re-indixing means it stops elsewhere and when the dead spot comes around eveyr 180 degrees the motor is flying and it sails right past.

Ours have an on off switch so that when we are stopped for the night, the steps stay extended. Even with the switch in the OFF position the steps are supposed to retract when the ignition switch is turned.
One problem that we have seen is when the steps switch is in the ON position and the steps extend and retract every time the door is opened, there is a tendency to be in a hurry and step on the steps prior to them becoming 100% extended. This eventually takes it's toll on the motor and mechanism. The steps also need to have ALL moving joints lubricated on a regular basis since they are usually in a location to catch all kinds of road dirt as you drive down the road. Some have put rubber shields in front of their steps which seems to help a little bit at keeping them cleaner.
Checking to make sure the steps are retracted is one item on my checklist prior to moving the RV.

Ours malfunctioned once also and didn't retract. Sure enough we were reminded the hard way when they did hit something. Lucky for us it wasn't a total loss for the steps but we too had to be reminded to add that to checklist.

Ava wrote:
On my older Bounder if the steps are out with batteries off and I then get in and close the door, then turn batteries on, my steps will stay out.
There is a light that comes on at the steps if they are out. To prevent an accident I have wired a bright LED from that light to the dash next to step switch to remind me the steps are out.

Just as the Jacks have a still extended warning buzzer so should the steps!

AVA, I like the bright LED idea. My 88 Bounder need engine work (carb) and the shop had me wait in the lot next door. I sat there with my door hooked open. When they called me I started the engine and BENT my steps getting over to the shop. I went down the lip at the street/curb area (where you nomally go).
Luckily mine were only bent a little and I easily repaired them.

When my steps got a little slow, getting grease and oil on all the step joints solved that problem.

On my older Bounder if the steps are out with batteries off and I then get in and close the door, then turn batteries on, my steps will stay out.
There is a light that comes on at the steps if they are out. To prevent an accident I have wired a bright LED from that light to the dash next to step switch to remind me the steps are out.

After smashing ours one time, I easily & quickly learned to check that they retract before driving!

DW got in the habit of looking for the steps years ago when we had manual steps and still does it. Saved our steps one day in a parking lot when the steps didn't go in.

The problem turned out to be a broken gear in the actuator mechanism; the motor ran but the steps didn't move. I bungeed them in until we could get them fixed.

et2 wrote:
I don't understand. Don't the steps come in when you start the engine? I beleive ours either retract when the key is on or you can't start it or move it, I could be wrong.

No ignition interlock on ours
and if the key is on, they go out when the door is open ( auto safety )
So a bad door switch connection or failing switch, can cause then to go in and out while driving
Had that happen to us, coming back from Q
Had to pull over and tie up the step with a MC strap and pull the fuse, to keep from burning out the motor
Still ended up replacing it about a month later in Feb because of broken teeth in the gearing
replaced both the motor and the gear box, got the parts on Amazon

Mine failed to retract when engine was started, bent them badly and had to replace. I now look outside through the door window or passenger window before moving.