Electric step won't deploy on my 2009 Navion! HELP!!!

[synergy_58]

My 2009 Navion's electric two step Kwikstep won't deploy. :E
I'm up here in Alaska getting ready to drive out to FL at the end of August (if all the stars line up and we don't have global war) and now my steps won't work. I have mobility issues and a 78 lb service dog, a yellow lab named Violet, and we can't access the Navie easily enough for life to be kind. 😞

I crawled underneath and prayed, but that didn't help. I hit the darn thing a few times but only bruised my hand ; should have known better, but. I checked power, fuses and they are good to go. I pulled and pushed, grunted and farted but still nothing!! :?

So I called a few RV places, I should have known better, ...they want $1,000 to $2,000 to replace step unit!!!!!! Most will not repair them. Parts will take 2 weeks to get and they will have to schedule the repairs after the parts arrive, which could be several days later depending on work load. Every dealer I called had the same story. HM? Strange? Are they ALL in Kahoots? YES they are, its ALASKA!!!!! :M

HELP!!!

Yes, I did search around the internet some...man, it is confusing to read some of the info out there. There must be a link here that this has been done already but I can;t seem to find it.

I need the straight scoop PLEASE! Just tell me what to get and what to do..FAST! :R

PLEASE! Its raining up here and the fishing is running out! :E
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2009 Navion 24J

[jtbr3]

I have been having similar issue and find that hitting motor with hammer and spraying with good lube seems to work most of time. The stairs seem to always work fine in my driveway but after driving a few hours, they will not extend yet the step light comes on. I can hear the override with the ignition switch working too. I have found nothing loose. I have pulled out cotter pin and tried to pull out to no avail. Sometimes hitting it works and other times, I leave it alone and it then magically works. I really think it is a heat issue since exhaust pipe runs right behind the steps. I recently insulated all wires and tied them to the underfloor so we shall see how works on next trip. Most frustrating problem since comes and goes for kiwi 2 step model.

[synergy_58]

First, I have a volt meter and know how to use it to ck for voltage mainly. I have checked all the wires and plugs, and have disconnected and reconnected several times, but not the one to the motor because I can't reach it with the steps in the way. I have not yet found the cotter in and control arm, it seems to be hidden by the steps, which I can't move.

Thanks.

[chinrv]

I've had similar problems in the past. One thing that's worked is to get underneath, and VERY IMPORTANT...position yourself that when the steps go out your head or arms aren't in the way!!....then unplug any connection that you can find and check for good contact and plug back in. This is especially true with the square looking plug which has 4 wires in it. I've tried a quick squirt with WD-40, and also used a small amount of dielectric grease. Sometimes I've had to do the unplug/plug dance several times, and then it worked. If I'm on a trip and this happens, when I get them working I leave the 4-wire plug unplugged with the steps in the open position until I get home, and then play around with it in the driveway.

[Jim_Shoe]

First, make sure you have the power switch to the step turned on. When staying in the same CG spot for several days, I sometimes turn off the power switch to keep it from closing and opening every time the door is opened or closed. Its noisy. That's a real easy fix.

[bsinmich]

For those who said to unhook the motor and use it that way you should be aware that the motor linkage also holds the step in the open position. Without the motor hooked up they are not stable enough to step on. Don't hit the motor with your hand. Use a small hammer. You are trying to get something loose inside to get to the proper position. (like motor brushes)

[Handbasket]

This is where a little knowledge & a cheap tool would be pretty near priceless. Get a cheap volt-ohm meter, aka VOM. Harbor Fright has 'adequate' ones for under $10. Learn to use the 'DC Volts' setting.

Check the power supply starting at the motor, and working back toward the source (house battery?). You can also use the continuity ('tone') setting to check that the switch is functioning if the motor isn't getting power. You can also use the tone to actually check the fuses. They can be blown without showing it sometimes.

Really, every thrifty RV'er ought to have one in his tool box. It + knowing how to use those two functions can save you $$$ thousands over its life.

Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

[klutchdust]

synergy_58 wrote:

hl remington wrote:
I used a needle nose pliers and removed the cotter pin that held the arm
to the motor and that will free the steps

Hm? I have looked for that cotter pin and don't see it anywhere. Where is it?

If you can see the motor then you should be able to see the arm and the pin at the end. There may be a pin with a cotter pin

holding it together.

[synergy_58]

hl remington wrote:
I used a needle nose pliers and removed the cotter pin that held the arm
to the motor and that will free the steps

Hm? I have looked for that cotter pin and don't see it anywhere. Where is it?

[hl_remington]

I used a needle nose pliers and removed the cotter pin that held the arm
to the motor and that will free the steps

[Bordercollie]

Contact factory, explain your plight, get instructions on fix, if that doesn't help, call a mobile RV service guy when you get to a city. Hope this helps.

http://www.powergearus.com/contact

[synergy_58]

GrumpyandGrandma wrote:
Did you tap on the magnetic switch? There may also be an inline fuse under the MH near the steps to check. You could also unbolt the arm from the motor and let the steps down and then tie them up with a bungee when you go to move.

Yeah I tapped the switch, beat the steps, knocked on the motor and spit on it, but it just sat there starring at me like I'm an idiot...and, well, I guess I .... hm?

Anyway, I can't get to the arm becasue the steps are blocking everything and I can't figure out how to release them, to get them to come out, so I can see up there.

[Islandman]

Get on Google or some search engine and enter Kwikee, I had problems last winter and got excellent info on troubleshooting the step. Mine would only come out 1/3 of the way, turns out spraying all the pivot points with WD40 solved the problem, took a few days for the WD40 to soak loose the binding spots. Let's hope it's something simple; but the troubleshooting message I got off the computer had all the different things to check and look for. Good Luck

[GrumpyandGrandm]

Did you tap on the magnetic switch? There may also be an inline fuse under the MH near the steps to check. You could also unbolt the arm from the motor and let the steps down and then tie them up with a bungee when you go to move.

[klutchdust]

On my brother in laws Monaco Dynasty he had the same problem. We found the motor to be burned out. A replacement motor from the manufacturer was a few hundred dollars. A poster here told me that the motor I needed was

the same as an electric window motor from a certain model Ford. A call to NAPA and 45 dollars later it has worked fine. Hopefully you have someone other than a rip off RV dealer that you trust, maybe a backyard mechanic that

can crawl under there and unhook that motor arm for you so you can use it manually until you get to a place down South. I haven't seen a picture of the step you speak of but my experience has shown them to be very similar.

A motor needs to power the arm to go in or out, depending on how the motor is mounted it could have the arm go up or down, as is the case in a power window. I wish you the best and hope you find a mechanic to help you.