kwikee electric steps

[janiejdbb01]

I took my steps off for painting and when i put them back on they will not stay out . whenever i shut the door the steps go in . even when i turn the bottom off i can not keep the steps out. I have made sure the wiring is correct . the only way i can keep them out is to take the magnet off the screen door ,any help would be appreciated

[YC_1]

My controller got a bit confused when I did the same thing.

If I remember I think I powered it one way or the other, in or out. Then turned the switch off or on, can't remember. Then reconnected the motor.

I know this sounds goofy but the thing stops when it feels the current go up from hitting the end of travel. The controller does not know if this is the open position or the closed position. You just reconnected things when it was in the opposite position.

You can use the input power and bypass the control box but you have to watch all your appendages. Be very careful.

[dougrainer]

enblethen wrote:
Maybe the fact the two grounds have different functions. Larger ground is for the motor and the small ground is the control.

You are correct. But, as the OP stated, he just removed the steps to paint. He DID NOT replace any parts. So, IF the magnet ground was bad, the steps would not extend or retract when opening and closing the door. IF the steps did NOT function, that would be a fault of the large gauge GREEN GROUND wire for the step motor. NONE of those problems exist. So, the ONLY thing that will cause his steps to NOT stay extended when the door is closed and the wall switch turned to OFF or ON depending on the year model of the step switch, is a POSITIVE from the WHITE wall switch, or the Ignition YELLOW has 12 volts and odds are he mis-wired when he reinstalled the steps. BYW, Kwikee has NOT changed the wiring design from older to new as it pertains to the inside ON/OFF switch to stay extended. What they did was change the lettering on the plate. The old stated ON to stay extended and the new states OFF. People got confused about what was ON and what was OFF for keeping the steps extended. Doug

PS, after 38 years as a RV Tech I would say 75% of electrical problems is the POSITIVE side, not the Ground side. Usually the fuse is blown.

[enblethen]

Maybe the fact the two grounds have different functions. Larger ground is for the motor and the small ground is the control.

[D_E_Bishop]

dougrainer wrote:

enblethen wrote:
Check the two grounds going to the step!

How come NOBODY ever states to check the POSITIVES for the problems?????????????:h In this case, it IS the POSITIVES that are the problem. If grounds, the step would not operate or extend and retract. Doug

I think you and I are the only two who feel that way. Maybe it's a throwback from yesteryear when there were a lot of failures on the negative battery clamps that were never maintained.

[dougrainer]

enblethen wrote:
Check the two grounds going to the step!

How come NOBODY ever states to check the POSITIVES for the problems?????????????:h In this case, it IS the POSITIVES that are the problem. If grounds, the step would not operate or extend and retract. Doug

[D_E_Bishop]

Doug is correct and so was I, the OP needs to read pages 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the manual, Trouble Shooting and Testing Procedures. Page 8 will probably give him the answer. He should carefully look at Figure 10 on page 9.

[wa8yxm]

Kwikee has two different step controllers

OLD one is a retangle
The "STEPS" switch is a power switch. Switch off they don't move save to retract when the engine starts and door is closed in that order.

THe new controller is as i recall a Trapizoid. looks almost trianglular but there really is a 4th side short thou it is. On this one the Switch is labeled OVERRIDE

Switch on (Engine off) steps go out when door is open. stay there.

Switch off. OR Igintion on. Steps follow door.

I'm guessing this is where you messed up.

[dougrainer]

Did you disconnect the 4 wire plug that feeds the step when you removed it? The YELLOW wire goes to the Ignition override. IF that wire has 12 volts on it the steps will do what they are doing. IF the WHITE wire has 12 volts whether the toggle manual switch is OFF or ON, the steps will do what they are doing. Doug

[enblethen]

Check the two grounds going to the step!

[D_E_Bishop]

What year and model of steps?

When the on/off switch is "on" the stairs will close when the screen is shut. Open the screen and if the steps go out turn the switch to off. Shut the door. it should stay open.

Read pages 9 and ten in the manual. Could be 10 and 11 but it will give you your answer.

[MountainAir05]

Sounds like you mix up the magnet wiring backwards.