Forum Discussion

jdubya's avatar
jdubya
Explorer
May 06, 2018

Power Gear Slide-out System is failing

Whoa! I just hauled my Fleetwood Flair 2004 down for new tires, getting ready for a major trip. Got back and went to open the slides and 'nothing' - I can't find the controller for the slides. The book says its a Power Gear - it has two slides each with a single motor. The large one is accessible, but neither works. I was able to apply 12 vdc to the large motor and it turned out a couple of turns so I stopped and turned it back in. All fuses I can find are good and I checked all the wiring that I can find/get to.

Last time that I tried it was last fall when I stored it. I usually store it open, but this year I closed it.

I should probably mention that I have another electrical problem where 12 vdc is not reaching the switcher that runs the overhead panel's electronics such as the rear camera and the tv switcher. The camera lost power when the cable wore through and shorted things out. I didn't know about it until the camera quit, but the slides worked for several times in/out after that. I can't find anything wrong there either.

I see that others have experienced motor problems, but I cannot find any reason to suspect them. They usually do not just quit. This is affecting both slides. The one is under the bed and the other is a large one on the driver side. I exercised the big slide's motor, but I'm getting concerned because we have reservations starting Mon May 7

I cannot find a controller anywhere, all the fuses appear to be ok, the automatic levelers by the same company appear to work ok. The slides will not actuate with or without the levelers - I am usually able to operate them without the levelers.

The fuses for the 12 vdc are above the desk in the bedroom. Power is there but measures 10.6 vdc. All automotive fuses are in a cubby in the top of the front panel. All check out and measure 12.6 vdc (all measurements are sitting with engine off). The other main fuse box is in the engine compartment and has many fuses and some relays, also the cut-off solenoids. All of this stuff appears to be working, the engine starts and everything else appears to work except the two items mentioned.

There is a separate fuse box with huge fuses and some relays above the larger one. It also appears to be ok - all of the fuses check out and the voltage is 12.8 vdc within a few inches of the battery - which itself is brand new and starts the big vortec without hesitation. I have to have the engine running to get the levelers to operate, so I ran them but didn't recheck the voltages - the 10.6 is surprisingly low and I double-checked it.

I looked through all of these switches and fuses and I find no mention of slideouts though auto levelers are indicated.

Any suggestions?
  • newman_fulltime's avatar
    newman_fulltime
    Explorer II
    May 06, 2018
    jdubya wrote:
    newman fulltimer wrote:
    Your batteries are to low for them to work is all it is

    Then why does it operate the levelers? I will see if I can get the voltage up but that is the first thing I checked. Though the 10.6 does bother me, it is on the mains way in the back - to get it down that far suggests a load somewhere. I will try to check them with the engine running - if it stays there, something is wrong. But the slides should take their power from the front stuff nearer the battery I would think, but I can't find any controller to check for voltage. I am fairly certain that no voltage is getting to the motors at all but I'll try to check that too

    The battery was dead when I pulled it out of storage - it wouldn't recharge, so I replaced it. It starts the engine fine, but I think I will reseat a few grounds and other connections.
    because slide motors take a lot of amps and at 10.4 volts the amps are not there. Possibletge landing gear runs off chasis batteries
  • Kit_Carson's avatar
    Kit_Carson
    Explorer
    May 06, 2018
    On my Winnebago I found my controllers in a bag hidden behind a black plastic protector. Really a mobile tech found it for me. He is on this forum so he may reply to you. Newman chloride is his name.
  • jdubya's avatar
    jdubya
    Explorer
    May 06, 2018
    wa8yxm wrote:
    Most likely eats off a Circuit breaker (Self resetting thermal)

    I have not yet found the fried controller for my slides eitehr

    I built a new one out of a pair of SPDT relays. Someone else posted a schematic on one of the forums I visit but here are the basics

    The motor has two wires.. These go to the moving contacts on teh relays (Armature)

    The Normally closed is ground
    The normally open is HOT
    THe switch (And not an RF controller as well) feed the relays.

    NOTE: this is a NON protected systemk holding the switch closed can fry the motor.. I do shut off power to the system when not sliding.


    Well that is interesting - I could do that but it means wiring new runs - I was hoping to get it running without rebuilding - but like I told my wife, this thing is going to operate if I have to make my own control board.

    Not a single word about the controller in the Fleetwood manual except to say that it comes with a manual. Big deal. Where did they put the fool thing! I have relays and some experience wiring them so the only thing you get from the controller is automatic stop without overload. There is also a hold feature, but I think that it is in the motor itself.

    In order to get the bedroom to run, I have to get the wires to it and they are under the mattress which is under the cabinets - not impossible, but ... Be better if I could get to them at the old controller - but where is it?
  • jdubya's avatar
    jdubya
    Explorer
    May 06, 2018
    newman fulltimer wrote:
    Your batteries are to low for them to work is all it is

    Then why does it operate the levelers? I will see if I can get the voltage up but that is the first thing I checked. Though the 10.6 does bother me, it is on the mains way in the back - to get it down that far suggests a load somewhere. I will try to check them with the engine running - if it stays there, something is wrong. But the slides should take their power from the front stuff nearer the battery I would think, but I can't find any controller to check for voltage. I am fairly certain that no voltage is getting to the motors at all but I'll try to check that too

    The battery was dead when I pulled it out of storage - it wouldn't recharge, so I replaced it. It starts the engine fine, but I think I will reseat a few grounds and other connections.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    May 06, 2018
    Most likely eats off a Circuit breaker (Self resetting thermal)

    I have not yet found the fried controller for my slides eitehr

    I built a new one out of a pair of SPDT relays. Someone else posted a schematic on one of the forums I visit but here are the basics

    The motor has two wires.. These go to the moving contacts on teh relays (Armature)

    The Normally closed is ground
    The normally open is HOT
    THe switch (And not an RF controller as well) feed the relays.

    NOTE: this is a NON protected systemk holding the switch closed can fry the motor.. I do shut off power to the system when not sliding.
  • jdubya's avatar
    jdubya
    Explorer
    May 06, 2018
    I have two slides - the bedroom and the main cabin. Both slides don't work. I checked the main cabin - at least the motor works, it turned a couple of turns until I stopped it and reversed it.

    As I said, the slides usually operate without the automatic levelers - the automatic levelers require voltage level, parking brake, etc. So I operated the auto levelers to see. They work. But the slides still don't. They require level and parking brake and voltage. I have never had a problem with them before this running without the engine running and without the levelers, but I did both and they don't even make a sound, though the levelers appear to be working (leveled the camper at least). I can't find the controller - it is supposed to have an auto resetting breaker which I would like to check along with its wiring. Do you know where it is located (was located on yours)?

    Update: the manual with the coach is listed as 82-S0010-01 dated January 18, 1999 (reference 81-1295) but the manual is different than my system. I do not have a switch with a key. The switches are located above the door and has a panel with two switches - the left one (toward the front) has a fwd pointing arrow and a rear pointing arrow to indicate main vs bedroom. The other switch has press up for IN and press down is OUT. There is nothing else on the cable till it disappears into the wall. Where does it go? Front, back middle? The picture on the 'wrong' manual shows a controller board with an automatic circuit breaker and a box which I assume is a relay that operates the motors but I cannot find anything like it - they claim it has 10 gauge wiring on a connector. I found a 141098 in a catalog but it claims to not have the relay or delayed fuse installed. If this is the same, it doesn't sound like what is on the diagram. The 141098 is from Kwikee which I understand was an intermediate owner of the Power Gear system.
  • JoeH's avatar
    JoeH
    Explorer III
    May 06, 2018
    jdubya wrote:
    .... This is affecting both slides. The one is under the bed and the other is a large one on the driver side. I exercised the big slide's motor, but I'm getting concerned because we have reservations starting Mon May 7



    Any suggestions?


    So, is it both slides or just the one bedroom ? You state it's both , then say the large one works ????

    A simple thing to look at--- on my old Fleetwood, you needed to have the jacks down AND the emergency brake on for the slides to work. I know some don't have those lock out, but mine did.
    Check that and try again.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,212 PostsLatest Activity: Mar 12, 2025