Slideouts suddenly not working

[Craig95005]

We have a 2012 Thor Challenger with three slideouts. All was working fine until we took it to a shop for a routine service (plus re-caulking of the roof). Now even when plugged in to shore power, or running the generator, the three slideouts don't work - and in fact I don't even hear the slide motors come on and try. I think everything else is working - the AC, microwave oven, and electric fireplace. The breakers and fuses in the panel look okay. I should mention that we did replace the two six volt batteries for house power just recently - but the slides worked fine after that. Any ideas of what might be going on, or how to track down this problem?

[toolttime]

Check ground wire from the house batteries to the body

[Johno02]

Thanks for the follow-up. It may help someone else that encounters the same type problem. So many get their problems, and never let us know what they did to fix it, or even want the actual problems was. Thanks.

[Craig95005]

Problem solved. It was the slide key lock. I'd never had reason to use that before, and when I had checked it visually yesterday, it looked to be in the Off position. But after Fourmat's post, I turned it on, then off again, and after a little click, the slides started working again. My guess is that the shop had tested that, then turned the key toward Off, but not far enough.

Thanks, all.

[fourmat]

Engine off shifter in park all the way? Do you have a key lock on slides?

[JoeH]

Craig95005 wrote:
We have a 2012 Thor Challenger with three slideouts. All was working fine until we took it to a shop for a routine service (plus re-caulking of the roof). Now even when plugged in to shore power, or running the generator, the three slideouts don't work - and in fact I don't even hear the slide motors come on and try. I think everything else is working - the AC, microwave oven, and electric fireplace. The breakers and fuses in the panel look okay. I should mention that we did replace the two six volt batteries for house power just recently - but the slides worked fine after that. Any ideas of what might be going on, or how to track down this problem?

What was the "routine service" that you had done... it may provide a clue as to the cause of the failure.

[jerseyjim]

On my motorhome, to activate the slides, the parking brake does not have to be engaged.

However, changes are sometimes made within the production year that no one (dealer?) knows about...and/or are not in the owners' manual or even in the schematic supplied.

With me...once, my slide would not extend. However, turning the switch the other way (retract) the motor would sound....like it was trying. The slide is controlled by a (main) 30AMP fuse. I checked it...it looked good...but I replaced it anyway. Same thing. Took it to my dealer, he checked exactly what I did and came up with nothing....until a fellow mechanic said that there might be TWO MORE fuses...a mid year design change. Found them...hidden behind a large wiring harness (where the converter,inverter and main fuse box are. One 30AMP fuse to extend...One 30AM fuse to retract.
The 30AMP fuse to extend had blown.

That's how y'learn.

[Craig95005]

F1bNorm wrote:
The parking brake is on? Maybe the switch, sensor or fuse related to the parking brake?

That's a possibility. I'll get into the Ford chassis fuses tomorrow.

[xctraveler]

gutfelt wrote:

xctraveler wrote:
Assume your slides are electric motor as opposed to hydraulic. If hydraulic look for solenoid to trigger high voltage to hyd pump. If not Hyd ignore this message 🙂

It wont be "high voltage" it will be 12Volts just like slide motors and everything else on the 12 V side
however if there all hydraulic and if the pump does not activate none will work ;; also newer multi slide systems work off a main controller
it maybe gone bad or the power to it has died

I did misstype, I meant higher amperage. Had a relay failure that took out the hydraulic slides The '12 Phaeton has two Hydraulic and two electric motor - go figure. I was able to close the slides by jumping the two contacts on the relay. yeah that was another mistype, should have said relay to begin with 😞

In any event my post is useless if he doesn't have hyd slide operation.

[gutfelt]

xctraveler wrote:
Assume your slides are electric motor as opposed to hydraulic. If hydraulic look for solenoid to trigger high voltage to hyd pump. If not Hyd ignore this message 🙂

It wont be "high voltage" it will be 12Volts just like slide motors and everything else on the 12 V side
however if there all hydraulic and if the pump does not activate none will work ;; also newer multi slide systems work off a main controller
it maybe gone bad or the power to it has died

[xctraveler]

Assume your slides are electric motor as opposed to hydraulic. If hydraulic look for solenoid to trigger high voltage to hyd pump. If not Hyd ignore this message 🙂

[maddog348]

Oops double post

[maddog348]

F1bNorm ~~ My 1st thought also. I am a bit short on one end ~~ I really gotta work at getting the brake on hard enough. JM2¢ YMMV

[F1bNorm]

The parking brake is on? Maybe the switch, sensor or fuse related to the parking brake?

[egrove]

This happens to us occasionally. It's always been a fuse.