Kwikee Step magnetic switch and magnet

Mine was on the left side frame, but all that was visible was the small thin passive magnet. Hardly noticeable. Like you I couldn't find it initially because the previous owner had folded the other half of the magnet switch with the wire back and wrapped tape all over it.

If yours has been cut off or whatever, you can just get another one and wire it in using the color code in the Kwikee literature.

There are 3 types of step switches and they do NOT have to be magnetic.
1. The standard Magnetic switch installed on the metal door frame with the self adhesive tape
2. The Magnetic ROUND switch that is installed in a 5/8 hole drilled into the door frame with the other magnet drilled and installed into the door to match the frame switch
3. The NON magnetic standard PIN switch installed in the hinge side door frame. Doug

dougrainer wrote:
There are 3 types of step switches and they do NOT have to be magnetic.
1. The standard Magnetic switch installed on the metal door frame with the self adhesive tape
2. The Magnetic ROUND switch that is installed in a 5/8 hole drilled into the door frame with the other magnet drilled and installed into the door to match the frame switch
3. The NON magnetic standard PIN switch installed in the hinge side door frame. Doug

I misunderstood. I thought he was talking about the switch that turns on the step light not the one that activates the step. My step had a magnetic switch located under the RV that turned on the light, but had the switch at the bottom of the door on the hinge side that activated the mechanism.

My Damon Outlaw of similar vintage has the switch activated by a magnet ON THE SCREEN part of the door.

It broke loose and my eventual fix was two plastic tie wraps.

The sensor is a small strip of black plastic mounted inside the edge of the frame.

Travelin2 wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
There are 3 types of step switches and they do NOT have to be magnetic.
1. The standard Magnetic switch installed on the metal door frame with the self adhesive tape
2. The Magnetic ROUND switch that is installed in a 5/8 hole drilled into the door frame with the other magnet drilled and installed into the door to match the frame switch
3. The NON magnetic standard PIN switch installed in the hinge side door frame. Doug

I misunderstood. I thought he was talking about the switch that turns on the step light not the one that activates the step. My step had a magnetic switch located under the RV that turned on the light, but had the switch at the bottom of the door on the hinge side that activated the mechanism.

If you had 2 magnets that is extremely rare. The Kwikee 1 magnet controls both the steps and the under light. Doug

Thanks for the quick response. To clarify... I am trying to locate a switch that makes the stairs retract when the ignition is on and the door is closed.

My door has either 4 or 5 plunger type contact "pins" on the hinge side of the door that align with copper or brass "pins" on the frame. I suspect at least a couple of the "pins" are part of the auto door lock when the coach is taken out of Neutral.

The steps have a main operating switch. On position operates the steps based on the door position only.
With the main switch in the on position and with the door open you can find the magnetic switch by using a magnet in in your hand and moving it around to suspected magnet switch location.

The same magnetic switch is used to operate the steps with the main switch on or off. Off position makes the stairs retract when the ignition is on and the door is closed.

randco wrote:
Thanks for the quick response. To clarify... I am trying to locate a switch that makes the stairs retract when the ignition is on and the door is closed.

My door has either 4 or 5 plunger type contact "pins" on the hinge side of the door that align with copper or brass "pins" on the frame. I suspect at least a couple of the "pins" are part of the auto door lock when the coach is taken out of Neutral.

Most door electric lock systems the door hinge side plunger pins there are only 2. Even with the Brake system. So, if you have 4 pins, the other 2 pins are the ground to and from the door to the step control. To determine, electrical tape the 2 top pins and then close the door. See if the Auto lock works. IF IT DOES NOT, those 2 pins are the step switch pins. IF IT DOES, the bottom 2 pins are the Step switch pins. What makes you think the Step magnetic switch is your problem? Doug

dougrainer wrote:
What makes you think the Step magnetic switch is your problem? Doug

I always thought that the steps would retract when the engine is ON (or in gear) without regard to the magnetic switch in the door OR the position of the "step over-ride" switch.

Doug... We returned from a trip on Sunday. While driving a motorist that had been following me informed me that the step was extended. When I got home, I downloaded a Series 38 Kwikee manual and followed their test procedures. First I tested the motor, and it was okay. Next I checked the 4-way connector from the motorhome was okay. Then I checked the other half of the 4-way connector that goes to the step control module. It didn't test, so I concluded that the control module needs to be replaced. As for the Step magnet... I was more curious than anything as to the location.