RV Kwik Step Not coming IN

[vjswhippet]

So now what ? Is there a way to retract the step manually ?

[vjswhippet]

well after we got it working again and I drove it again (trying to get it to the Dodge dealer for the air bag recall) the step randomly came out again while driving and scraped the road. I wasn't far from home so drove it slowly and carefully home. It is completely dead now. I don't understand what made it extend while driving ?? I also found the part number underneath. 903109000 I can see replacing the motor if it's froze up, but does that remedy it extending the step while driving ?

[mgirardo]

I used White Lithium Grease on our steps, just make sure you get every joint, even the ones you can't see. White Lithium Grease does get dirty, so clean you any over spray.

This is the motor I bought in April of 2017 for $65: motor from Amazon. (Can't believe it's almost $20 more now). It was a direct replacement and worked like a charm. Our Motorhome was 8 years old when I replaced the motor.

-Michael

[D_E_Bishop]

In referring to it as a step motor I believe you will learn that it is not a motor made for operating a step but as a type of motor. It is also call a stepper motor or stepping motor. It is a brushless DC permanent magnet motor that is divided into sever equal steps or divisions and can be moved one step at a time.

Being a 2008 motor is was probably made by American Machinery in Oregon. (It is AM Industries in Eugene, OR)

If the wire that was not connected was Purple, that is for a switch to light the under step light.

Use this link to obtain a copy of the owners manual. Use the Forum Search function and search for Kwikee Step and you'll find lots and lots of posts about motor failures.

[wa8yxm]

If you need to replace the motor it is easy to do (3 bolts one plug)but the motor many think works is wrong.. I have the correct motor (I think) on order should be in I hope tomorrow and can post the make (Siemens is close) and model tomorrow. Or dig it out of my archive. Took me a week to find it.
Thought I had a copy of the order in my archive but ... alas can't find it.

Whwn I ordered it it actually mentioned it was a step motor.

YOURS MAY BE DIFFERENT

Stay tuned for more info on the step motor when it arrives

[vjswhippet]

PROBLEM SOLVED
Hubby came home and cut the wire we had connected thinking it was a lose wire to the step light. As soon as I started the engine it tried to move. He had to straighten it some and I sprayed with with some white lithium grease. I thought I read some where that was good to use but I don't like it. I'll stop by my local Camping World and see if the have the Kwik Lube for the step

thank you all for your responses ....

[vjswhippet]

ksg5000 wrote:
The swing arm of the motor which connects to the step is held in place with a round metal bar which has a cotter pin on the end .. remove the cotter pin and bar and the step can be moved manually. Sometimes rapping the motor will resolve problem with dead spot on the motor.

Thank you !! That's what I'd need to know to do if I was out by myself.....

[ksg5000]

The swing arm of the motor which connects to the step is held in place with a round metal bar which has a cotter pin on the end .. remove the cotter pin and bar and the step can be moved manually. Sometimes rapping the motor will resolve problem with dead spot on the motor.

[vjswhippet]

dougrainer wrote:
That wire is NOT connected to anything. It is for the OEM optional wall switch control for the step light. Odds are the motor has a dead spot. Open and close the door with the engine running. IF the under amber step light goes ON and OFF when opening and closing the door. the wiring and control are OK, You have a bad motor. Doug

The amber step light was what we were initially trying to fix when we found the loose wire. It wasn't working in the first place.

[DFord]

If it is the motor as Doug suggests, often you can get a few more operations from it by striking the gear motor with a hammer. If it starts working after doing that, it would be a sure sign the brushes in the motor are worn out. If that's the case, you can get a replacement motor through an auto parts store. It's the same motor as used for power windows in older cars built by Ford. If you can figure out the model number of your steps, we might be able to give you a part number for the replacement. Or you could go to an RV supply store and pay about 5 times more for it.

[DFord]

Look through this webpage for information about your steps:
https://support.lci1.com/kwikee-steps

[dougrainer]

That wire is NOT connected to anything. It is for the OEM optional wall switch control for the step light. Odds are the motor has a dead spot. Open and close the door with the engine running. IF the under amber step light goes ON and OFF when opening and closing the door. the wiring and control are OK, You have a bad motor. Doug

[vjswhippet]

DFord wrote:
More info needed to give a good answer. Does the step try to move at all? Can you hear the motor trying to move the step?

Push comes to shove, you'll need to get under the step and remove the cotter key on the linkage so the step will move and then push it in and tie them up with a rope or bungie cord.

it's not doing anything. I'm wondering .... we found a lose wire thinking it was to the under the step light that did not work. That didn't fix the light, nor trying a new bulb. Could it be that wire didn't go to the light and has overridden something? When hubby gets home he'll undo that wire since it worked before we connected it ?

[DFord]

More info needed to give a good answer. Does the step try to move at all? Can you hear the motor trying to move the step?

Push comes to shove, you'll need to get under the step and remove the cotter key on the linkage so the step will move and then push it in and tie them up with a rope or bungie cord.