Forum Discussion

deprived's avatar
deprived
Explorer
Mar 15, 2017

slide motor DOA?

Over the past few months, it seemed to me that the slide motor was running slower and slower even though the load on the slide remained the same. I regularly apply slide lube to keep everything tip-top.

On our last move, it took the slide out about half way and then stopped.

When I pressed the slide button, I could hear a relay clicking somewhere but that's it.

I have been able to manually run the slide in and out by getting under there and putting a wrench on the main slide drive axle, so I don't believe the slide itself is "stuck". I figure if I can move it with my noodle-arms, then the issue is probably not with the slide assembly itself. Is that reasonable thinking?

I know DC motors can go bad - we've had to replace two vent motors and the main A/C blower motor in the past year, which I think is maybe normal for an 2007 RV with 100k miles on it.

So does it seem plausible, given the apparent gradual slowness of the slide motor, that the motor has crapped out? Is that how DC motors die? Do they just fade away? I hate dropping nearly 750 bucks if I don't have to.

But, honestly, I just don't know that much about the nature of DC motors.

As always, thanks.

7 Replies

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  • deprived's avatar
    deprived
    Explorer
    Apr 05, 2017
    Long story short: it was a bad motor. All voltage tests were more or less good. The new one is nice and quiet. And expensive.

    There were some issues regarding the install that I'd like to detail in another post. Last year the slide was damaged somewhat due to an obstruction that prevented the slide from extending fully. This actually bent the plate upon which the slide motor was bolted, it seems. This, in turn, added a lot of extra stress to the motor, already a veteran of over 100k miles and ten years.

    I have pictures and a blog-post coming soon to help others in this situation, I hope.

    Until then, thanks to all the incredibly helpful people on this forum.
  • myredracer's avatar
    myredracer
    Explorer II
    Mar 16, 2017
    Pull the switch out and use a piece of wire to jumper the switch and see if it runs. If yes, it's the switch. Next I would suspect a bad connection. There should be a mini circuit somewhere connected directly to the battery and these can go bad, esp. if exposed to moisture. You *could* try using some long wire like say battery jumper cables or some #12 min. and connecting the battery directly to the motor wiring at the slide switch which would bypass connections between switch and battery. You could also use a voltmeter and see what happens to the voltage at the switch when you try and run the motor. Last would be to check the motor. If you were to take it out, I'd try jumpering 12 volts directly to it's terminals before you take it to a shop or get a new one.
  • fairway2002's avatar
    fairway2002
    Explorer
    Mar 16, 2017
    Do you keep RV running when running slide? I do notice a huge difference with RV's running.
  • USAFBILL's avatar
    USAFBILL
    Explorer
    Mar 16, 2017
    Take the motor is a motor repair shop that can repair it a lot cheaper than a new motor...only after you verify that the motor is in fact bad...good luck
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Mar 16, 2017
    You really need to do some electrical troubleshooting with a voltmeter before you consider buying a new motor. You would really be unhappy to spend a lot on a new motor only to find out you have a bad switch, a blown fuse, a loose wire connection, etc.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Mar 15, 2017
    A worn out IN/OUT rocker switch is likely the culprit, not the motor. Easy replacement. That's what our problem turned out to be.
  • Johno02's avatar
    Johno02
    Explorer
    Mar 15, 2017
    I would look more at the power to the motor than the motor itself.

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