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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stairs not working | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

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.
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 !
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
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
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.
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.
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.
joelc
Nomad
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.
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

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Stairs not working

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