Community Forums

fansill · 06-07-2011, 06:24 PM

Hello All,

Has anyone else had this problem and been able to solve it??? Our entry steps will not completely retract and fold flat against each other. When the door is closed, the steps retract almost all the way but not quite. They will retract completely if while closing the door, I nudge the steps along with my foot. They then fold up completely and flatly. This is fine unless I am planning on traveling with the coach and I close the door from the inside...LOL!!!

I have lubricated the steps quite well and it seems to make no difference in their movement. It happens in every circumstance...when the coach engine is running, not running, gennie operating, or plugged in to shore power.

Any ideas???

Thanks in advance.

Faith

Monacoach · 06-07-2011, 06:30 PM

Had same problem before replacing house batteries. So I presume it was a low voltage issue in my case. How are your batteries?

fansill · 06-07-2011, 06:36 PM

Batteries are less than a year old and the steps operate this way even when engine is running or plugged in to shore power. Wouldn't that give the coach and steps full power?

Faith

Monacoach · 06-07-2011, 06:49 PM

Well I'm no expert but I can comment on my situation in that the steps reacted in the same manner that you described with the engine running ( cant recall how they worked while plugged in). Batteries can go bad in one year but most likely not. It just seems so similar, I used to give the steps a little nudge to help them along ( in and out). You will have to wait for the step motor experts to chime in.

Tom Cook · 06-07-2011, 07:05 PM

I'm not an expert! I did notice on my unit that the "step control unit" as far as I can determine is nothing more than an an overcurrent shutoff device. When it detects a certain current in the circuit it shuts off. So if there is some kind of bind or if the voltage at the step unit is too low (poor connection) it might cause this.

njs42 · 06-07-2011, 07:11 PM

I'll second or third the low voltage motion. Bad or low battery caused the same thing for me. Have you checked the voltage on the battery and at the step. There can be multiple reasons for a drop in voltage but it would be a good thing to rule it in or out first.

fletch460 · 06-07-2011, 07:34 PM

Try cleaning the ground at the motor. Type in kwikee steps in the search at the top of page. Check Irv2 and search. Should find every thing there. Good Luck

Hikerdogs · 06-09-2011, 06:55 AM

Try lubing all the linkage on the steps one more time. To get the most critical ones you'll have to crawl under and spray them from the back side. You might want to try using some type of penetrating oil. Once they get a good coating of rust light oil like WD40 doesn't do a very good job.

The controller looks for a certain amount of amperage draw then shuts off the motor. When the linkage gets dry or rusty it takes more current for the motor to move the steps. Consequently the amperage rises to the point where the controller shuts it off before the steps are fully retracted.

Another thing that could have some effect is if you have aftermarket carpeting on the steps. Some carpets are so thick they cause the steps to bind on one another before they fully close. Just like the rust the added friction causes a bigger amperage draw and shuts down the motor.

Shuttung down the motor actually saves it from burning itself out. Earlier models used a limit switch. If the switch wasn't made in either direction the motor tried to continually close or open the steps. Eventually it would overheat and burn out the motor or break the linkage.

ga traveler · 06-09-2011, 07:45 AM

hikerdogs is right on about the operation. At our lot we found that the problem was either rust or a buildup of grease on all the hinge points. spray well with WD40 Or PB Blaster. This is not to lube but to clean the area. Leave this on for several days and operate the steps often. After a couple of weeks, lube with a light spay grease. You can buy kwikee step lube, but it is just overpriced light spray grease. Make sure you lube the points where step support rods go thru the steps and the motor linkage.

Conquest102 · 06-09-2011, 08:15 AM

I agree with the clean all the joints also watch the steps move to see if anything is bent since this has been on going. I would suspect something is a little out of alignement. Me personally for oiling I bought an old fashion oil can(think wizard of OZ) and put 10w40 in it and use it to lube road exposed areas.

burfurd · 06-10-2011, 09:54 PM

Lube, check ground connection to chassis, if problem still there, I would start checking all electrical connections including the inline fuse. Has to be a binding or voltage problem if motor is ok. You could put your foot against the steps as they run out and see how much torque the motor has. This should give you some kind of idea if the motor is working correctly.

Good Luck....burfurd

observer · 06-11-2011, 07:49 PM

You did not say what brand of step you had. If you have the Coach Step steps the drive motor can give you those symtoms. The motor can be replaced by a Ford part.
ACI P/N 83094 (fits 89-97 FORDS

Kicknbak · 06-14-2011, 09:43 AM

For what it's worth, I was able to cure this perplexing phenomenon with a high jet of water from the hose sprayer. I credited the bind or drag to ordinary highway dust and crud being thrown up there in routine travels. A shot of oil on each joint, carefully wiping up any excess so it didn't attract even more future dust. I then added the steps to my mental (every so often) list, or whenever I'm standing close by with a water hose.
Keep the good tips coming. Roger

bsnolt · 06-16-2011, 06:58 PM

I have an 03 Kountry Star, gas, that I have intermittent problems with the steps retracting completely. I have sprayed all joints with W-D 40 and crawled underneath to look for binding. I have not tried to clean all the joints and re-oiling, that will be my next move. It is on a Workhorse chassis if that helps.