Forum Discussion

retiredhfd's avatar
retiredhfd
Explorer
Jan 29, 2014

Slide will slide out but not slide in?

The bedroom slide will slide out just fine but won't slide in. This happened before and I replaced the switch. It worked about 3 times and now it is failing again. I have a 2003 Fleetwood Excursion with Power Gear slides. I manually wrench it in to get to our next spot but just wondering if anyone has had this same problem. Any suggestions ?
Thanks
  • Some years ago, my POWERGEAR slide would not go out...but seemed to try to go back in. Fortuatley, my layout enables me to use the motorhome with the slideout in or out. So...for one weekend we put up with it. The in/out switch was OK...it was something else. Checking the diagram that came with the coach, there seemed to be two fuses. Changing one didn't help. Changing two didn't help.
    Off to the dealer. He verified the switch was good. Also verified my 2 fuses...and they were good. Another of the RV mechanics came over to help...said in mid-production, the electrical system was changed. One master fuse...but TWO fuses. One for "out" the other for "in". Once we found where the third one was (burned out), that got replaced. And...so far, haven't had a problem since. While my dealer did not charge me labor (about 90 minits)...he did charge me 85 cents for the fuse.
  • Depending on make of slide, some have a slide control board. Fleetwood puts some in the compartment with the power cord. Small circuit board that has the relays on it. The connector could be loose or relay bad.
    This is what they look like;
    Circuit board

    More circuit boards
  • Before you go to the trouble of re-wiring the slide, get access to the motor, under the bed. Check all the wires in the connectors to the motor. This happened to us once. After taking the bed base apart for access to the motor, I found a wire that was not seated in one half of the connector. After re-inserting the wire, and connecting the connection, everything worked as it should, and has been since the original problem. I originally started trouble-shooting from the slide switches to the motor, when I found the problem. It was also the bedroom slide.
  • BTPO1 wrote:
    ScottG wrote:
    If it keeps taking out switches then you may want to add a couple of relays so they carry the load instead of the switch.


    I agree with having relays. I do not have slides, but I would think that the manufacturers would of installed relays due to the high current draw by the motors. JMO


    You would sure think so but they run little wires all over the place and finally end up at a little switch that gets maxed out under the slightest extra strain.
    I've always wanted to add them to mine but just haven't gotten around to it. Probably will do it when the switch pukes.
  • ScottG wrote:
    If it keeps taking out switches then you may want to add a couple of relays so they carry the load instead of the switch.


    I agree with having relays. I do not have slides, but I would think that the manufacturers would of installed relays due to the high current draw by the motors. JMO
  • If it keeps taking out switches then you may want to add a couple of relays so they carry the load instead of the switch.
  • The switch is pushed one direction for out and the other direction for in??? If so you have an internal switch failure or an external wire connection problem. You can also bypass the switch by taking it out of the wall and apply the (POWER 12V ) direct to the IN side of the switch. If that moves the slide in you have a bad switch.
    Try it and let us know please,