Electrical problems after driving thru rain

gb76087 wrote:
Now I don't know where to start looking. My post "Kwikee steps won't extend" describe my original problems. I failed to mention that we had driven in rain prior. This morning, the first time I opened the door, the steps still did not extend. Unhooked MH, drove a couple of miles, opened door, steps worked.
Stopped this afternoon and jacks(power gear, electric) were in error mode. I was able to override error codes and get the jacks back to operational. Looks and sounds like a grounding problem maybe. How do I find the source of the problem?

First thing I would do is clean all battery connections

If I remember right, on my coach the steps are bolted to the frame of the coach, for obvious stability. This is the ground electrical connection. The wire coming to the mechanism is the positive voltage cable and it has the plug-in electrical connection that is subject to corrosion. The positive electrical connection also goes through the step on/off switch as well as the door magnetic switch.

Someone with the same RV may have had the same problem.

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After 40 years of electrical, what I recommend is getting out your jumper cables and connecting one of them to the negative battery post first.

Then find the negative wire of what is not working, and connect it to the good other end of the jumper cable from the negative post. If that fixes it, then you know it is the negative return, and not the positive feed.

If it doesn't, then reconnect the negative on what is not working, and do the same procedure with a positive jumper cable feed to the device. If that fixes it, it is in the positive feed to the device.

Once you have figured that out, then you start moving the jumper connection to points in between the device and the battery on either the failed positive or the failed negative until you have narrowed it down to the exact spot where the break occurred.

MrWizard wrote:

Usually wired to the engine battery, yeah pita

Found on my MH that they are wired to the house batteries. Best to find the fuse and pull it.

On my pickup truck, there are 2 ground straps connecting the body to the frame. Both of them had corroded away and I started having strange intermittent electrical issues with accessories in the cab. Check continuity from the chassis metal to the frame.

Since they started working again, haven't checked ground. Also,since jacks had problems (indicated open ground in circuit or to motor,not sure if there would be a common ground that should be checked.

Did you check the ground yet?

They have no problems breaking fingers caught in the steps of crank arm
Pull the fuse and disconnect the batteries
Usually wired to the engine battery, yeah pita

There is a plug in connection underneath your steps. You may want to clean it and use some dielectric grease to keep the rain from affecting it as much.
Be sure to turn power off to your steps before you crawl under to clean the connector. If they extend or retract while you are under them it could ruin your whole day.

gb76087 wrote:
Now I don't know where to start looking. My post "Kwikee steps won't extend" describe my original problems. I failed to mention that we had driven in rain prior. This morning, the first time I opened the door, the steps still did not extend. Unhooked MH, drove a couple of miles, opened door, steps worked.
Stopped this afternoon and jacks(power gear, electric) were in error mode. I was able to override error codes and get the jacks back to operational. Looks and sounds like a grounding problem maybe. How do I find the source of the problem?

I am of no help, but try driving in the sunshine and see if that fixes your problems!!! :C