Just picked up the 2003 Moutain Aire by Newmar today. Stairs worked when we were there but when I got home after going in and out and having the stairs going in and out a few times when I closed the door the stairs only went in half way. IF I push with my foot I can get them in 3/4 of the way in. 1) is it the motor? 2) anything I can do? Right now parked in my yard and wanted to make sure that the stairs will go in when I store it, I can switch so the stairs keep out when parked but in the storage lot it needs to be all the way in (stairs). Disheartening since we just picked it up today. ALSO one of the storage bins will not shut tight, the tongue seems to not latch over the bar. I have sprayed it, banged it etc but it will not stay shut and cannot drive with it opening or spilling its contents all over the place. HELP! I did lubricate all the tongues on the doors because some were stuck in and not springing out. I noticed on this one that the tongues springs in and out if I push on it but if I life the handle it stays in so not sure what to spray. Engine seems great, home seems great!!

They need to be lubricated. Oil to get them working right, then maybe some light grease that will last.Dusty

Thanks I used some WD40 but same thing was happening. I lubricated the joints of the stairs, anywhere else?

Can you hear the motor running each time when it moves? If not check the electrical plug. Sometimes they will corrode. There will be a pin on the linkage as well. You can take out the pin and disconnect the motor to check the step. After you disconnect it you should be able to move the step in and out easily by hand. If not you can spray the pivot points to free them up.

RVER wrote:Thanks I used some WD40 but same thing was happening. I lubricated the joints of the stairs, anywhere else?There's a Lever/Bellcrank looking thing at the motor. Get under and look up. I sprayed ours with WD40 several years ago as a quick fix for failing to retract. Never went back with a better lube and the step has worked fine ever since. I bought some Blaster brand Chain and Cable Lube for my bike chains. Should be good for the Step. Oughta do it.DO NOT DO NOT mess with that linkage with the POWER connected!!! That motor can shear a finger slap off! Spray from a distance. If you want to tinker with it, DISCONNECT!

Do not use WD-40!Clean good with brake clean then use good quality grease. I use a spray can style for chains.

Stairs won't go all the way back in | Good Sam Community

30 Replies

Byrogie
Explorer
Dec 13, 2016
The battery/power supply and connections/measurements should always be the first checkpoint for troubleshooting powered items.
Many, many topics have shown this to be the solution, yet not checked early on.
dougrainer
Nomad
Dec 13, 2016
RVER wrote:
BATTERIES were DRY so water now in the cells and have plugged in to charge the house batteries and how that does the trick!!! THANKS y'all for all the help. The linkage and such on stairs was pretty dry as well. It say for a while so will get her in shape.

IF DRY, the batteries are NO GOOD. Replace them. Doug
westend
Explorer
Dec 13, 2016
If electrolyte was below the top of the plates in the batteries, be prepared to buy new ones. 6V golf cart batteries from Sam's Club or Costco are good bang for the buck and are durable. Trojan T-105, sold at golf car distributors are a level up and the cost rise isn't that bad.

Keep the juice flowing to those poorly maintained batteries and monitor the electrolyte levels. You may have an old scholl converter in that rig and it may have the voltage too high for good maintaining. A hand held meter is a good tool to have when working on the 12V system and the devices it powers.
RVER
Explorer
Dec 13, 2016
BATTERIES were DRY so water now in the cells and have plugged in to charge the house batteries and how that does the trick!!! THANKS y'all for all the help. The linkage and such on stairs was pretty dry as well. It say for a while so will get her in shape.
enblethen
Nomad
Dec 10, 2016
While you are looking, check to see that the ground is connected to one battery and the positive is connected to the other battery positive.
RVER
Explorer
Dec 10, 2016
Enblethen NO I have two batteries what I was saying is that one is in front of the other and there are two batteries in total. sorry for the confusion. I am going out to see if they are in fact on a pull out tray, THAT would make things much easier!!
Thanks for your help!!!
enblethen
Nomad
Dec 10, 2016
OP:
It sounds like you have three batteries. Is this correct? How are they connected? Are they all 12 volters?
Seems odd! do you have an inverter running off a pair?
j-d
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2016
Source for the POS Plastic Gear... In Chris' link about repairing the motors with new plastic plugs, he shows the plugs in a package from HELP! line. HELP! is from Dorman Products and sold in many auto supply stores.

That step motor corresponds to a Ford product, certain side, certain year(s) so the whole thing can be new with a LT warranty for around $50. Ford motors used to be round, and there seemed to be more HELP! parts for those than the newer square motor versions of window lift motors.

If this coach has two 6V batteries, the GC2 offers good capability at a reasonable price. COSTCO, Sam's Club, WalMart... Not the very best but if you aren't a boondocker, should be more than adequate.
STBRetired
Explorer
Dec 10, 2016
Those batteries should be in a slide out tray that will come out far enough to access both batteries easily.
RVER
Explorer
Dec 09, 2016
I found the house batteries and found that one of them has some white gunk on the positive pole and luckily it is the battery that is in the front of the other(2 batteries) so will get someone to help me but will clean that pole. Will check the grounds on the stairs and will check water level of the batteries but in a tight spot to unscrew and screw on the cables. Sucks but ...
I have a new problem with a storage door or two that I will post.

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Stairs won't go all the way back in

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