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04-29-2018, 04:31 PM
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#1
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Member
Winnebago Owners Club Coastal Campers
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 88
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Do you think we need new coach batteries?
Ok here's the problem. We've had a ton of problems with the steps on our 2013 Sunstar, but the mobile rv tech finally got it straightened out ... or so we thought. We haven't used the rv since December but we go out and start it every other week and run it etc. Today the steps came out like they are supposed to but then the wind blew the door shut and the steps "shuddered" to a crawl when they came in. When we opened the door again, they didn't budge, although we could hear the motor running. When we left and I tried to turn off the coach batteries, the light stayed on like they wouldn't shut off. Since I'm pretty sure they are probably the original batteries, I was wondering if that could be the problem? If so, we can just buy new ones and install them. We had to replace the chassis battery a few months ago ... that's why I suspect the coach batteries.
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04-29-2018, 04:36 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 246
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starfire5
Ok here's the problem. We've had a ton of problems with the steps on our 2013 Sunstar, but the mobile rv tech finally got it straightened out ... or so we thought. We haven't used the rv since December but we go out and start it every other week and run it etc. Today the steps came out like they are supposed to but then the wind blew the door shut and the steps "shuddered" to a crawl when they came in. When we opened the door again, they didn't budge, although we could hear the motor running. When we left and I tried to turn off the coach batteries, the light stayed on like they wouldn't shut off. Since I'm pretty sure they are probably the original batteries, I was wondering if that could be the problem? If so, we can just buy new ones and install them. We had to replace the chassis battery a few months ago ... that's why I suspect the coach batteries.
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Your best bet is an amp test on the batteries. From the door slamming it could be the magnet sensor out of alignment. If the batteries and magnet sensor is good, detach the cotter pin holding the steps to the motor and do a test by closing and opening the door. Sometimes depending on the motor model the gears are plastic and you can be grinding them dull. It's an easy fix by just moving the plastic gear to the back and let the motor run on fresh teeth.
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04-29-2018, 04:37 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 246
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcarden75
Your best bet is an amp test on the batteries. From the door slamming it could be the magnet sensor out of alignment. If the batteries and magnet sensor is good, detach the cotter pin holding the steps to the motor and do a test by closing and opening the door. Sometimes depending on the motor model the gears are plastic and you can be grinding them dull. It's an easy fix by just moving the plastic gear to the back and let the motor run on fresh teeth.
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One more thing.. Make sure the batteries are fully charged prior to the app test.
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04-29-2018, 04:43 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starfire5
Ok here's the problem. We've had a ton of problems with the steps on our 2013 Sunstar, but the mobile rv tech finally got it straightened out ... or so we thought. We haven't used the rv since December but we go out and start it every other week and run it etc. Today the steps came out like they are supposed to but then the wind blew the door shut and the steps "shuddered" to a crawl when they came in. When we opened the door again, they didn't budge, although we could hear the motor running. When we left and I tried to turn off the coach batteries, the light stayed on like they wouldn't shut off. Since I'm pretty sure they are probably the original batteries, I was wondering if that could be the problem? If so, we can just buy new ones and install them. We had to replace the chassis battery a few months ago ... that's why I suspect the coach batteries.
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99.99% of RV step problems begin because the mechanism is not lubricated on a regular basis. At least once or twice a year, give EVERY joint a squirt of a good spray lube. WD40 is NOT one of these.
https://www.amazon.ca/Boeshield-T-9-...OoL&ref=plSrch
__________________
2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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04-29-2018, 05:28 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Motor City, Mich
Posts: 3,367
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I believe your steps are wired to the chassis battery. Do the engine start ok? Do the steps work better with the engine running?
__________________
Tim.
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04-29-2018, 05:29 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Sun city,ca
Posts: 405
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From my experience electric steps have been a PIA,
I finally just disconnected the arm and drilled holes pinning the step up and down ...
Works for us..
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04-29-2018, 06:42 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 698
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You have a problem with your steps. Why would you think you need new batteries? That doesn’t make sense...
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04-29-2018, 06:50 PM
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#8
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Member
Winnebago Owners Club Coastal Campers
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A Traveler
You have a problem with your steps. Why would you think you need new batteries? That doesn’t make sense...
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Because we just had a brand new step motor and actuator installed, that's why.
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04-29-2018, 06:52 PM
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#9
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Member
Winnebago Owners Club Coastal Campers
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 88
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That seriously sounds like a good idea at this point!
__________________
Janet & Jim and the camping cats
Canton, GA
2013 Itasca Sunstar 30T
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04-29-2018, 06:57 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Posts: 3,542
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If the steps haven't been lubed recently that's where I'd start.
There several moving parts under there that you can't really see from beside the steps. So wiggle your way underneath and spray everything that looks like a pivot point under there. Be sure and NOT lay underneath the steps themselves, you don't want to be there if they suddenly come down.
__________________
2013 Winnebago Sightseer 36V
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04-29-2018, 11:38 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Horse Town USA, CA.
Posts: 3,781
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Lube every pivot point of the steps. You can use WD-40 to free them up, follow it with a good lube.
__________________
1999 35 ft. Dolphin 5350, F53, Banks System, 5 Stars Tune, Air Lift Air Bags, Koni Shocks, Blue OX TruCenter, TigerTrak track bars F&R, Roadmaster 1-3/4" rear auxiliary sway bar, 2004 F450 Lariat Pickup 6.0 Diesel Crew Cab DRW, 4X4, GVWR 15,000, Front GAWR 6,000, Rear GAWR 11,000, GCWR 26,000,1994 36ft Avion 5er, GVWR 13,700, 2,740 Pin Weight.
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04-30-2018, 07:03 AM
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#12
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Member
Winnebago Owners Club Coastal Campers
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tderonne
I believe your steps are wired to the chassis battery. Do the engine start ok? Do the steps work better with the engine running?
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Yep engine starts right up. That battery was just replaced a couple months ago. Steps do not work with engine running.
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04-30-2018, 07:58 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: High up in Arizona
Posts: 2,050
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starfire5
Yep engine starts right up. That battery was just replaced a couple months ago. Steps do not work with engine running.
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Then it is safe to say it is not a battery problem. I can not imagine steps not working at all simply because they need some lubrication so I believe you have another problem with the motor or a short somewhere in the step system.
__________________
2019 Allegro Bus 37AP towing a Jeep JK Rubicon Wrangler
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04-30-2018, 08:06 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Bayfield, Ontario
Posts: 5,456
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Do you have a multimeter to put on the house batteries to see what voltage they are at? Do the lights inside the RV work?
__________________
Don & Gerri
2014 Entegra Anthem 44B
2014 Honda CRV Touring
1300W Solar, 1200AH LiFePO4 FMCA F443497
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