Slide Locks Not Working

[Chickadee]

G'morning Newmar Gurus!!

Finally on the road heading from Tampa to Nappanee and now near Atlanta, BUT, got a question I need help with.

On our 4502 Essex, the lock out tabs on our long psngr. side slide out seem to have quit working. Once the slide comes in and appears to be fully seated in place, these tabs rotated out and locked the slide in the IN position.....however now neither the fwd. lock tab nor the aft lock tab rotate into the lock position when the slide is in. We drove all day yesterday without locks engaged and slide seemed alright, but we were a little uncomfortable.

Anyone have an idea what I might check???? Thanks for any help.

Steve & Lynette

[racer0624]

Steve,
We had the same problem on our curb side LR slide. There's a switch(either pressure or limit can't remember) that needs to be replaced. Be cautious when bringing in that slide as you now control the closing pressure. We continued a week with no problems before getting the problem fixed.

[DonnaB]

Hi Steve,

We had the forward lock arm break on the driver's side slide. We were very nervous as this is the kitchen slide and the biggest/heaviest one. However we were assured by "Brent" the Newmar master tech on the Yahoo Newmarowners group that the slide lock arms are not superfluous, but not required for safe travel. They do however pull the top of the slide up tight and if you were in heavy rains while traveling it is possible you might have some seepage around the gasket. But nothing that would be a safety issue.

Nonetheless, we took it easy as we travelled about 300+ miles with it that way until we could get to a dealer in NC. Unfortunately that dealer was just too busy to see us (after asking if we bought it there), but did refer us to a general RV repair shop. That guy was absolutely great and worked with Newmar, received the parts, replaced and shipped back the old part. We did have to pony up a credit card to have the part shipped since he wasn't a Newmar dealer, but Newmar reimbursed us via the snail mail check route.

If you are on your way to Nappanee, just wait and let them do the work. Your slide will stay in even though it makes you nervous. We did travel in rain during the time it was broken and had no issues with water leaking in either.

[RVDude]

Check the controllers.
The slide controllers are in the basement up on the frame rail in the rear basement bay on the DS (Door Side - Newmar speak) for the DS slides (and 2 more on the ODS basement frame rail -Off Door Side - again toward the back compartment) . The forward controller is for the forward slide and vice verse. Just switch the wires. If the forward locks now operate you know it's the controller. Just maybe it was just a loose wire.

[sjcaldal11]

Hi Steve,
I had this problem on a couple of my coaches. There is a magnetic sensor that tells the lock bars to engage once they are in position. They are almost like the magnets you would see on a window alarm on your house. Mine was to to the far right side as your looking from the coach out to the curb. I would look there.
Thanks, Daryl

[Latitude]

Hi Steve

sjc has it 'Right' they are a Proximity Switch and out of adjustment or need to be replaced!!

I had 2 that would engage the arms when the slide was Out!!!

Newmar replaced them!!

Rick