Auto step just stopped working

j-d wrote:
Doug, Have you autopsied any failed motors? When we had a couple older (1980's) Fords, there were continuing issues with window motors getting wet. The brushes would stick so they didn't put pressure on the commutator segments, or the segments themselves would get corroded. I could salvage those, the round motors. I don't recall needing to figure out if an armature winding had failed. Then Ford came up with the square motors, and I haven't figured out how to get the brushes back in, since they're at the other end of the motor...

No, do not waste my time doing that:) Just an easy way to determine if you have a defective motor. I believe lack of maintenance is the cause on older steps. Not cleaning them and lubing the pivot points. Newer steps(last 4 or 5 years) just a failure of the motors. Probably due to cutting the cost of the motors. I replace a LOT of Kwikee motors that are less than 2 years old and the linkages are not binding. Also, since Kwikee is the ONLY maker now, there is a larger numbers of steps out there and the failures will appear to be more common. When you had Coach Step AND Kwikee as the only 2, you did not notice the failures as much. What is interesting is, Coach Step(LCI) had a larger number of Motor failures than Kwikee, so I believe that once LCI purchased Kwikee and dropped the Coach Step brand, LCI told the Motor makers to cut costs. Doug