Slide opened by itself

[L2R]

Found kitchen slide open one morning a few weeks ago.

The dealer told me that a controller was the problem, it was replaced and problem solved.

'BTW', the tech saw a leak in the same compartment as the controller and he put some silicone to seal it up.

Today, I took the RV out and after filling it with gas, the auto step was acting weird, I turned on the house battery to get it to retract.

100' later and 1/2 block from the highway, the slide opened under power while I was driving 5 mph and E brake was not engaged.

It is still under warranty but called the dealer as they said it was safe.
They sent a tech to help get it closed so I could drive it back to them.

Just 20 minutes of holding open the door and wiping off the water from condensation inside the storage area allowed the slide to close under power. Now the slide is tilted with the bottom not totally closed.
They pulled the wires so it could not move.


Come to find out, the "oh by the way, the compartment has a leak" was actually the problem. FR told them that this is the 2nd time that excessive condensation (water) was the conductor that caused the slide to move without power. They recommended that silicone be used to seal up the gaps, add a vent and replace the rubber seal around the door.

In effect, the tech made it worse by sealing it up so it was getting no ventilation.

So I have them lying about the root cause.
They made the problem worse.
They sent me out on the highway with a very real safety issue.

In the morning, I will have their attention, they know I know what happened.

My concern is whether there is any structural damage to the slide, the motors, teeth or rack. I don't want to find out 3 years from now that something finally fails only to find out they didn't this right.

I am also suggesting a 12v fan be installed instead of just a vent so it runs with the ignition key on.

Anything else that I should be concerned about would be appreciated.

[L2R]

2014 coachmen

[ArchHoagland]

L2R...What year and make of motorhome is it?

[L2R]

Yep, we discussed pulling the fuse, it is easy and quick so peace of mind.

[dougrainer]

TechWriter wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
Running a 12 gauge Ground wire from the controller to a FRAME ground usually fixed this issue. Doug

Pulling the fuse always works.

Fine, but would you not rather have it FIXED????? Besides, using your smarts, you would install a toggle switch in line with the fuse and just turn the toggle on and off instead of pulling a fuse each time, especially if you have 2 or more slides. Doug(Newmar dealer service tech)

[TechWriter]

dougrainer wrote:
Running a 12 gauge Ground wire from the controller to a FRAME ground usually fixed this issue. Doug

Pulling the fuse always works.

[dougrainer]

TechWriter wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:

L2R wrote:

100' later and 1/2 block from the highway, the slide opened under power while I was driving 5 mph and E brake was not engaged.

They sent me out on the highway with a very real safety issue.

this would be a great worry to me. a wet control compartment, why would a coach manufacturer make such a thing.

Thank God Newmar places all the slide mechanism in the basement storage over head. ( high and dry)

Funny you mention Newmar as there's a known issue with older Newmar slide out controllers -- they can activate the slide motor "spontaneously".

Apparently, an electrical or RF transient can trigger a controller to open/close a slide out. After it happened to me once, I now pull the slide out motor fuse after extending/retracting my slides,

Running a 12 gauge Ground wire from the controller to a FRAME ground usually fixed this issue. Doug

[spadoctor]

That is NOT why slide locks use to be used....they were there because the movement of traveling would allow them to open slightly. If he had the bars in place the slide and or motor would be damaged and NOT covered under warranty since the manufacturer did not supply them.

[TechWriter]

Tom/Barb wrote:

L2R wrote:

100' later and 1/2 block from the highway, the slide opened under power while I was driving 5 mph and E brake was not engaged.

They sent me out on the highway with a very real safety issue.

this would be a great worry to me. a wet control compartment, why would a coach manufacturer make such a thing.

Thank God Newmar places all the slide mechanism in the basement storage over head. ( high and dry)

Funny you mention Newmar as there's a known issue with older Newmar slide out controllers -- they can activate the slide motor "spontaneously".

Apparently, an electrical or RF transient can trigger a controller to open/close a slide out. After it happened to me once, I now pull the slide out motor fuse after extending/retracting my slides,

[Tom_Barb]

PastorCharlie wrote:
My Newmar has factory installed locks built into the slides. Perhaps they can be retrofitted for your application.

If he puts over center lock bars on his rig, and the electronics selects to run, bye bye motor.

[jwmII]

Wait until the middle of the night when the slide starts arbitrarily going in and out. Again normally caused by moisture entering the control. This was common in the early days of slides. Doesn't look like the industry has learned anything and Dealers, well they never learn.

[wallynm]

Now you know why we always use slide locks. A few years ago on a rural two lane road in NM a slide came out and sliced a bus lad of church camp kids.

[PastorCharlie]

My Newmar has factory installed locks built into the slides. Perhaps they can be retrofitted for your application.

[Tom_Barb]

L2R wrote:

100' later and 1/2 block from the highway, the slide opened under power while I was driving 5 mph and E brake was not engaged.

They sent me out on the highway with a very real safety issue.

this would be a great worry to me. a wet control compartment, why would a coach manufacturer make such a thing.

Thank God Newmar places all the slide mechanism in the basement storage over head. ( high and dry)

[Crazy_Ray]

What TYPE of MH are you talking about. Would HELP????