Kwikee Electric Steps

Had exactly the same problem this year. Step would work fine for a while then get stuck... they always seemed to get stuck out when we were trying to leave. Finally they just quit altogether. It would click but wouldn't budge. I went the Napa route. Took the motor out and they matched it up. But it wasn't available for about a week, so the guy at Napa suggested pulling it apart and cleaning it,said in the past he's been able to get them working by blowing them out and wiping it out with a rag. Well cleaning didn't do anything. But we did find that in the motor housing there we're 2 magnets and one of them had come loose...thus the clicking I was hearing. When energized the magnet would snap against the motor shaft instead of staying put and creating a field to spin the motor. Used some 2 part epoxy glue from Lowes to epoxy the magnet back to the housing where it belonged. Put it back together and it worked! There's actually not much to these motors so it went well. Hardest part was reassembling the motor. Been working great!!

We had a spontaneous failure to extend on our 2-step Kwikee steps during a recent outing also and I am part way through the troubleshooting. There had been no issues otherwise and it operated smoothly up until 1 hour before failure, with regular applications of KwikLube

The step lights light when the door is open, so the door switch is good.

I am waiting for a response from Powergear for a 4-wire connector pigtail that is required for part of the troubleshooting procedure.

So far I've verified one side of the 4-wire connector, that verifies that the 12 volt power to the step is good with a good ground, that the ignition switch lock-out is working correctly, and the door switch bypass is working correctly. The 4-wire pigtail is required to manually drive the other side of the 4-wire connector. Another step is to disconnect a 2-wire connector from the control module and connect directly to a battery to verify that the motor is good, ie the steps will extend, reverse the connection and they will retract.

I suspect the control module failed but have a couple more steps to complete to verify.

And BTW, a 2-step stepladder is a good work-around in the meantime.

Mine didn't work when I got the RV. Then I fixed the motor and it worked for a couple months. Then I got pissed and just redesigned the whole damned thing. Still have to see how reliable it will be in the long run.

Jose

I have same exact frustrating problem. Sometimes works and sometimes does not after driving. No pattern. I hear it click on and off with ignition, light goes on and off when opening/closing door, spray with lubricant but still nothing. The only suggestion I found that works every time is to hit the square motor box(not the arm) with a hammer from under RV and then open/close door few times and then it works. Sometimes it takes just a few hits and other times, it takes over 10 hits but I finally get it to come out. No idea what causes the randomness but this solution works at least for me...

I scrapped my factory controller/motor assembly and just used a linear actuator. Cost was $75 and a day's work. If I ever have problems, repair will be a breeze.

Jose

luvztheoutdoorz1 wrote:
Mine wouldn't work and I was told to use WD-40 in all the moving parts. It has worked like a charm since.

The OP's issue sounds more like electrical than mechanical but since you mentioned it you should use a lubricate that leaves a protective coating on the joints to reduce oxidation.

Kwikee makes a lubricant, spray on white lithium also works well. WD40, silicone, and other cleaners/lubricates that dry out are useless over the long term, your steps will eventually need repair if you continue using it.

So the light for the steps come on when I open the door, I think I hear a click like its telling the steps to open, so I assume something is stuck. I sprayed everything with lube, nothing yet :(

Mine wouldn't work and I was told to use WD-40 in all the moving parts. It has worked like a charm since.

I don't recall the brand of my electric step, but it malfunctioned last trip. There is a push button switch mounted in the frame of the door that activates the step, much like found on a car door for interior lights to go on when you open the door. The switch is too subject to dirt and moisture. Simply taking my fingers and rotating the switch button a few times was sufficient to clean the contacts a little and it worked well after that. Also, I sprayed a little WD40 silicon (not oil) into the mechanism.

Mine has been problematic since I got my unit. But, mine always stuck out... which is more inconvenient. The problem each time has been the magnet/sensor reading.