Community Forums

Noleman · 09-03-2008, 03:52 PM

My 2003 Alpine Limited 40' step stopped working. The swithch is working and has power. The main power coupler has power. The power to the step motor goes on and off while opening and closing the door. I am assuming it is the step motor but not sure as I can't find any listing for any fuse for this. Would appreciate any suggestions. It is a KwickKee step.

Noleman

Noleman · 09-03-2008, 03:52 PM

My 2003 Alpine Limited 40' step stopped working. The swithch is working and has power. The main power coupler has power. The power to the step motor goes on and off while opening and closing the door. I am assuming it is the step motor but not sure as I can't find any listing for any fuse for this. Would appreciate any suggestions. It is a KwickKee step.

Noleman

Rick Long · 09-03-2008, 04:50 PM

OUCH!!!!! Hopefully yours is NOT the same model as mine. They don't sell JUST a new motor.. they sell an upgrade kit. At Camping World they are $285, but PPL sells them for $209.
IF you are mechanically inclined... the motor is the same as ones on a older Ford electric window and you can get one at several automotive stores if you can find a salesman willing to look.

J R Sprague · 09-03-2008, 05:16 PM

Sorry to hear of the problem. I experienced a similar failure last spring on our 2000 front entry. Was prepared to buy the new motor and gearbox.
Decided to take the motor apart. Cleaned up the armature, end shafts and brushes. Reassembled with new lubrication on the gears, and lubricated the two shafts on each end of the armature assembly. Re-install and it has been working fine. Since the controller stops the step based upon resistance I concluded there was too much resistance in the bushings and shaft of the motor.
Growing up dealing with farm machinery just seems natural to have to find a way to fix the equipment prior to running out and buying a replacement.

Noleman · 09-03-2008, 05:19 PM

Rick,

Thanks for the information. Who is PPL?

Jim
Noleman

OldForester · 09-03-2008, 05:40 PM

Noleman,

Before you do anything to the motor, try recyling the disconnects -- both house and chassis to off, wait about 45 seconds, and then turn them back on. This resets the Vansco system breakers, if you have them. When our step does this, usually because I started the engine and closed the door with the shore power hooked up, it screws up the system. I disconnect shore power, shut down the engine, recycle the disconnects, and move on, and it has always worked to restore the step. Maybe it will work for you.

TerryM has a work-around to this that he's going to show me at our next rally, but this process always works for me.

If it doesn't work for you, then it may be the motor or otherwise, but this is a "cheap" start to checking the problem.

Rick Long · 09-03-2008, 05:59 PM

PPL is an RV dealer in Texas.. very well known for their huge consignment RV listings and very good parts department.. Not a good or easy to use web site though.

PPL Kwikee Step Parts

Hopefuly you'll have a model that the motor can simply be replaced.

Renipladlo · 09-03-2008, 09:44 PM

There is/are a contact on the inside door, toward the bottom. Make sure those two contacts are not shorting out. When we purchased our, the door step would not go out, turned out that contact was shorted out. They fixed it and it has worked in the past. Those contact compress each time the door closes and opens. Check those as well. I am sure there is something about lubricating the mechanism but I'm too tired to look now.