Community Forums

Chuck Linn · 08-16-2009, 07:46 AM

For the 2nd time in 3 mos went camping and when we got ready to set up the power step wouldn't come out. First time the repair shop said that they needed a dry lube and then they had to unstick the actuator but they worked fine for the next 2 mos. 2 questions
1 How do i as a owner get them to come down when i am on the road and
2 any ideas what might be causing this

Gary RVRoamer · 08-16-2009, 08:20 AM

It's unusual for them to get stuck again in only two months. Some people go years without lubricating them. A can of the Kwikee Spray Lube (an excellent "dry" lubricant for a variety of things) should do the job, but I would guess that something isn't sealed tightly enough and water & road dirt is getting into the gear and causing it to bind up. Hard to guess without seeing it close up and lubricating things step-by-step until you find the thing that makes it start working again.

hondo122 · 08-16-2009, 09:35 AM

Check the ground on the actuator, green wire screwed to the frame, they rust up and lose ground.

chasfm11 · 08-16-2009, 08:33 PM

If you really get stuck on the road, you can:
1. Remove the main power fuse. The steps are dangerous to work around with power
2. Remove the keeper pin and then the connection pin between the arm from the motor and the steps themselves.

I'd strongly recommend doing this procedure and checking how freely the steps move. To me, Kwiki step problems should be quickly isolated between mechanical (i.e. binds in the steps that require lubrication) and a control problem including the motor. If, with the pin removed, your steps go up and down easily, lubrication is not your problem.

I really don't know what your dealer did when they said it was a lubrication problem but it might not be. There are two grounds, one from the controller and one connected to one side of the door switch that are in two different locations. The other possibility is the connector to the controller is getting moisture in it and causing intermittent problems. There are frequent problems with the motor itself. I had the controller on mine die. Any of those are still possible. I agree with Gary, properly lubed steps should not fail in 2 months. I've been using white lithium spray lubricant on mine and they wouldn't have to be lubed but a couple of times a year. I do it more often because I'm under there doing something else and it is easy to give the pivot points a small, quick spray.

**NLOVNIT** · 08-16-2009, 09:46 PM

There was a whole other thread about steps not coming out in the MH-Problems, Solutions & Aftermarket Forum. Here's the link. Maybe something there could help you.

Lori-