How to keep steps extended

[2cAmerica]

Trying to have the steps on our 2008 Bounder 35E remain extended during our stay. There is a switch near the exit steps and have tried switch in ON position after door opens. However, when door is closed the steps retract. Also, tried when opening door and steps are extracted, have the switch turned to OFF. Again, when door closes the steps retract. Apprecriate comment(s) what I am failing to do in order to have steps remain extracted regardless of door being opened or closed, until starting engine. Thank-you. :?
Dick

[dougrainer]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
The info you have received so far is pretty much accurate, however, if it were me I would start by going to the following site and downloading the manual #888, Kwikee Manual #888.

Chris Bryant also has it on his site I believe. Now you have the trouble shooting instructions and a schematic of the electrical.

The fuse for my controller was installed by Fleetwood and not in a (in my case)a Chevy panel. It is, however, marked step fuse and comes directly off the battery. There are two fuses and I forget where the other fuse is located. I'm not in my MoHo so I don't have my wiring diagrams.



I will tell you up front, I don't think there is a blown fuse, if there was your steps wouldn't work. With the manual in hand and a test light or a DMM you should be in great shape for finding the problem.

As suggested, the override switch may be near the door, then again like mine, it may be on the dash.

"I will tell you up front, I don't think there is a blown fuse, if there was your steps wouldn't work. With the manual in hand and a test light or a DMM you should be in great shape for finding the problem".

Did you READ my post? There are 2 fuses and the extend step fuse is separate from the step operation fuse. If the Extend step fuse is blown the step will still operate, depending on the year model of the step. Regardless of year model, if the 5 amp fuse is blown and door is closed, it will ALWAYS retract when the ignition is ON. He needs to verify the WHITE wire at the step connections underneath. BEFORE he does anything else. The 5 amp step fuse is NEVER connected to the chassis fuse block on almost all motorhomes. Doug

I Should have explained the difference over the years The old(more than 10 years ago) the WHITE wire when no 12 volt power the steps stayed extended. The newer, when the WHITE wire HAS 12 volt power the steps stay extended. That is the reason you look for that 5 amp fuse.

[rcmiller32]

Check the ground wire connections, very close. Poor grounds can cause weird things.

[D_E_Bishop]

The info you have received so far is pretty much accurate, however, if it were me I would start by going to the following site and downloading the manual #888, Kwikee Manual #888.

Chris Bryant also has it on his site I believe. Now you have the trouble shooting instructions and a schematic of the electrical.

The fuse for my controller was installed by Fleetwood and not in a (in my case)a Chevy panel. It is, however, marked step fuse and comes directly off the battery. There are two fuses and I forget where the other fuse is located. I'm not in my MoHo so I don't have my wiring diagrams.

I will tell you up front, I don't think there is a blown fuse, if there was your steps wouldn't work. With the manual in hand and a test light or a DMM you should be in great shape for finding the problem.

As suggested, the override switch may be near the door, then again like mine, it may be on the dash.

[dougrainer]

Just having the KEY in the ignition does NOTHING on any motorhome or car. You must TURN that key to activate anything.
Steps have just 4 wires
RED----Hot 12 volts all the time
WHITE----This is the wire connected to that ON/Off switch to keep extended
BROWN----goes to the Door Pin/Magnetic Open and close switch
YELLOW--- Goes to the Ignition Key activated override.

IF that white wire has 12 volts(switch) is activated, the steps open and close when the Door opens and closes. Now, Kwikkee changed the way this switch operates a few years ago. It USED to be the switch OFF, the steps stayed extended for camping. Now, the switch when ON the steps stay extended. I know it does not make sense but it does to Kwikee. So, If your steps will not stay extended regardless of where that switch is, THAT is the circuit you are troubleshooting. There are 2 fuses for a Step. A LARGE amp fuse(usually larger than 20 amp) for the main power(RED wire). Then there is that 5 amp fuse that activates this WHITE wire switch for locking the steps extended. 99% of the time, THIS 5 amp fuse is blown. Find it and verify it is OK. Doug

[Tinstar]

I'm not the original poster but mine recently started doing the same thing. I've not checked it out any more than the original poster. Mine has always locked in the out position until 3 or 4 weeks ago. Now it's in all the time unless I turn the key on and open the door. I go outside with the key in my pocket and as soon as I close the door, the steps retract. AGGRAVATION!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll watch the thread.

[FIRE_UP]

rekoj71 wrote:
If the keys are in the ignition it will override the switch.

huh???? If you're saying what I think you're saying, I think you're a bit mistaken. Just having the keys in the ignition has no bearing on anything in the coach. Now, if the ignition is ON, then yes, that overrides the door switch when the door is closed.

As long as the OPs ignition is OFF, the step SHOULD remain extended when the door is open and closed, if things were wired correctly.

Now, generally, on a Kwikee step, the control switch has two positions. In one position, the step will extend, the first time the door is opened after the ignition has been shut down and the coach is parked. And, it (the step) will remain in the extended position, no matter how many times the door is opened or closed.

When the control switch is in the other position, even with the ignition OFF, the step will automatically retract, each time the door is closed. That is setup that way so that in close quarter camping conditions, i.e. little to no room for walking along side the coach, the step is not in the way when things are closed up. And, that also provides for less knee and shin injuries in close camping quarters.

But, since the OP states that, no matter what position the control switch is in, the step retracts. So, to me, just like what's been stated, either something's wrong or, the control switch has been bypassed. I know how they're supposed to work but, I'm not sure how to trouble shoot a problem like this.
Scott

[7ofus]

Ours was mis-wired from the factory and did exactly what you describe. After redoing the connections, it has worked perfectly.

Did this just start or has it always been this way?

[enblethen]

One fuse should be off the chassis battery and the step power is off the coach battery. My fuses are located in the battery control center under the hood on driver's side. (gas coach)
You should have an over ride switch near the entrance door. Have you looked for one?

[rekoj71]

If the keys are in the ignition it will override the switch.

[Trackrig]

Take the keys out of the ignition.

Bill

[2cAmerica]

Great feedback. I will follow through. The step fuse(s) where may I look to check? The control box in the rear driver side of coach?

Thanks to all.

Regards, Dick

[enblethen]

Could be the power to the control switch has a blown fuse.
What is make of the step? There should be two fuses for the step. The 5 amp(5?)is for the control on Kwikee steps.

[Johno02]

Sounds like someone has bypassed the switch, IF that is what it is. If that is the step switch, turning it off while the door is open and steps extended should leave them out until the engine is started. Sounds like time to get out the voltmeter and start tracing. Another temporary fix is to find the magnetic switch on the door that activates the steps, and remove the magnet. Mine is on the screen door edge, and can be just slipped off. Or it might just be inserted in a hole on the edge of the door.

[outofplace]

Hmm on our 05 with the switch off key off steps stay out