Forum Discussion

MetalGator's avatar
MetalGator
Nomad
Sep 15, 2020

Stairs not working

In the 3 years I have had this motorhome, I have had problems with the stairs 4 times now. I have had the motor replaced, the controller replaced, some type of gear replaced, etc. Now they are messed up again. I have included a picture. We took a trip last weekend and when I got to the RV park, the stairs extended but wouldn't retract all the way. Once they get stuck like this, most of the time the stairs won't come out again but about every 10th opening of the door, they will extend. But when they retract, they only retract part way. The stairs are lubricated and I can push them up easy to the fully retracted position.

I am about to give up on them and disconnect them preeminently and just use a step that we recently purchase but I'd like to fix them one more time. Any suggestions on how to go about troubleshooting?

Class A
  • navigator2346's avatar
    navigator2346
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2020
    I had trouble with steps like that. I found that the manufacturer had grounded the steps to the steps!. Moved ground to a good chassis ground and no more problems
  • joelc's avatar
    joelc
    Explorer III
    Sep 15, 2020
    I am not familiar with auto-stairs, but you seemed to be replacing a lot of parts. Are there and micro switches on the steps that might be sticking and shutting the stair off prematurely? Any binds in the guides or supports? Do you have a fuse or a circuit breaker? If a breaker, perhaps it is drawing too much current, overheating and shutting down. Like a thermal fuse. All else fails, get steps or manual stairs.
  • crawford's avatar
    crawford
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2020
    It sounds like you should have replaced the whole unit with that much problems. My C class 13 years never a problem now the A class 4 year so far so good.
  • ksg5000's avatar
    ksg5000
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2020
    Over many yrs I have found that almost all of my step issues have been related to corroded/bad grounds, loose wires, and low/bad batteries. Kwikee used to have a pretty good diagnostic PDF on their website .. not sure new owner has the same.

    You can remove a cotter pin and the bar that connects the step linkage to the motor .. that should allow you to readily move the steps in/out and determine whether there is a bindage issue.
  • Jim1eddoc's avatar
    Jim1eddoc
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2020
    Same problem.. drove me nuts and went thru parts and service folks. Finally found a shop that drove the rig and found that when the coated wiring loom was jiggled (over a bump) a wire inside the loom would move enough to cause the steps to activate. Replaced the factory loom and all was well.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Sep 15, 2020
    1. Step control module was not needed to be replaced. They RARELY fail.
    2. Motors do fail, even new ones
    3. "gear" ? sounds like you used a Service Shop and they had no idea what they were doing. SEE item 1
    4. Take the cotter pin out of the trans linkage and the drive pin out. With the steps released, you should be able to retract and it will drop down and extend with minimum effort. If it does NOT, then the arm linkages are NOT correctly lubed and need lube. If this is OK you need a new motor. Doug
  • Yankee_Clipper's avatar
    Yankee_Clipper
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2020
    We had Kwikee steps on our 97 Coachmen. They are notorious for being unreliable when their moving parts are not lubed. Try CRC with PFTE on the moving parts, and see whether that cures it. The next issue, mentioned above, is that the controller needs a REALLY good ground. Third, the gearbox can get water in it and the input quill will begin to grind down. Ours was ground to a nub when I finally replaced it. The integrated motor-gearbox is not hard to replace.
    HTH
  • robatthelake's avatar
    robatthelake
    Explorer
    Sep 17, 2020
    Biggest issue is and has been lack of grease! Silicone spray is just not enough for these things!
    If your rig is older than 1999 almost everyone in the business will tell you that there are no parts!
    If this happens to you try E Trailer ! They are easy to deal with and likely have the correct parts in stock!
    Grease them well !
  • Coach_Cleats's avatar
    Coach_Cleats
    Explorer
    Sep 17, 2020
    Did u check the magnets on the screen door and/or front door. Sometimes they are located on the door frame. If they broke or fell off that could be the problem.
  • bob_nestor's avatar
    bob_nestor
    Explorer III
    Sep 17, 2020
    Coach Cleats wrote:
    Did u check the magnets on the screen door and/or front door. Sometimes they are located on the door frame. If they broke or fell off that could be the problem.


    That's typical for the case where the steps won't retract when the door is closed. But if the steps won't extend when the door is opened it's most likely some other issue since the open door will break the "closed door" circuit informing the controller to extend the steps.

    A friend had this "steps won't extend" issue on his Class A. We discovered that if I banged on the motor a bit with a rock, they'd work. Most likely cause was a flat spot on the motor armature which he then replaced fixing the problem. The motor used by Kwikee is a Ford electric window motor as I recall.

About Motorhome Group

38,705 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 14, 2025