control switch for automatic steps

[komac]

I have a new Hurricane 30Q, bought a little over two months ago. This is my fourth motorhome, so I'm not new to motorhoming, but am new to the Hurricane. I had to have it towed a little more than a week ago because of a engine shut-down while we were traveling on the Gulf Coast. The tow truck driver wanted me to put the automatic steps in, but I couldn't do it unless I got in the motorhome, put the key in the ignition, and shut the door to retract the steps, then turned off the coach and chassis batteries with the battery disconnect switches at the left of the door entrance. Only then, could I exit the coach without having the steps extend. What am I doing wrong? When I tried to stop the steps from extending by using the step control switch, also located at the left of the coach entrance, the steps would still extend. This has caused me a problem several times, especially when I pull up close to a curb and want to exit the coach without having the steps extend. I'd appreciate any tutoring! Thanks. Komac

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by komac I'd appreciate any tutoring! Thanks. Komac

With the switch ON the steps will open and close anytime you open or close the door. With the switch OFF the door will not activate the steps. With the key ON and the engine starting, this will cause the steps to retract even if the switch is OFF. If the engine is running and you open the door the steps will come down regardless if the switch is ON or OFF.

[komac]

Thanks Driver, but I'm in a "catch 22." My steps will extend whenever I have the key in the ignition. I was asked to keep the transmission in neutral when I had to be towed because of a recent breakdown. However, I can't remove the key while the transmission is in neutral. The only way I was able to solve the problem was to keep the key in the ignition and shut off the battery disconnect switch at the coach entrance before I exited the coach. That kept the steps retracted. I'm considering whether I can or should re-wire the step control switch or add another switch which would disconnect the battery power from the step motor if a similar situation occurs. There are times when I want to keep the engine running and still open the door, especially when I want to make a quick check to see whether there is enough clearance near a curb or other obstruction for the steps to extend. Perhaps you or others have some thoughts about this. Thanks again. Komac

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by komac Thanks Driver, but I'm in a "catch 22." My steps will extend whenever I have the key in the ignition.

Komac, Respectfully, the system was mis-wired or its broke. When the key is in the ignition and the door is closed the steps are NOT supposed to open unless you physically open the door.

And that's the way it is .....

[komac]

Perhaps I've not been clear enough in stating the problem I'm having with the automatic steps. If I have the key in the ignition and the engine is not running, my steps will extend when I open the door even if I have the inside control switch off. That may be a safety feature, I'm not sure. However, there are times when I do not want the steps to extend as I open the coach door. For example, when I was towed recently, I had to put my transmission in neutral and therefore leave the key in the ignition, but my steps would extend when I exited the coach. To solve the problem, I had to get back in the coach, shut the door so the steps would retract, and then turn off the battery disconnect switch before I opened the door to exit. Only then could I get the steps to stay retracted. I want to be able to override that so-called safety function, either by adding another switch to control power to the steps or by re-wiring the existing control switch. Does anyone have an idea about this? Thanks. Komac (2010 Hurricane with W-18 chassis)

[dcmiller]

I have the same situation in my Windsport. There is no real off switch for the step other than the chassis battery disconnect switch. This is considered a safety feature, but I agree, there are circumstances when the step should be shut off completely. As you said, if you are up against a curb that would interfere you don't want the step slamming into it.

Even if there was an "off switch" for the step, I can also see where there ought to be an "extend/retract" switch without relying on the door position. I used to have a MH that had only a manual "extend/retract" switch and in many respects it was easier. "Automatic" does not always cover all situations.

[jcthorne]

Yes the steps will extend when you open the door, with the ignition key in the on position. They will also retract as soon as you close the door again, even with the key in the ignition. THere is no need to bypass anything regarding the steps to tow the vehicle. They are designed to accomodate this.

[komac]

Thanks Jcthorne. What I want to do, though, is open the door of the coach while the engine is running in order to make a quick check to see whether the steps can extend when I'm about to park next to a curb. I want to do this quickly. It takes too long to turn the ignition off and then use the battery disconnect switch in order to get a direct visual check of the curb or any other obstruction. On my coach, the steps extend if I open the door even if the ignition is off, unless I use the battery disconnect switch. Komac

[komac]

I now know why the steps would not retract when I exited the coach and closed the door in order to get the coach ready to be towed! It was obviously an intermittent problem. An RV technician said he found a loose wire to the door sensor. That's the reason I had to use my battery disconnect switch to keep the steps re-tracted. Now, however, I'd still like to know a simple way to disable the steps to keep them from extending while I open the door to make a visual check to see whether there is enough clearance for them to fully extend. Perhaps I just need to add a master switch that will disconnect the power to the steps. If anyone has made such a modificaion, I'd like to know about it. Komac