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mfredm · 10-06-2022, 01:01 PM

My steps have suddenly started a strange problem. When extending or retracting them via the magnetic door switch, the orange night light underneath, flashes and all the 12 volt lights in the rig also flash. There is also a distinct clicking noise and the motor is hot. The step override switch does nothing. Right now I got it unplugged.

Bobby Dowdle · 10-06-2022, 01:35 PM

Sound like the controller on the bottom of the step or the motor might be giving you an issue. If the motor is getting hot, it might have a bad connection. Same with the controller. I would check the ground at the step and all connection plugs.

britcon · 10-07-2022, 10:00 AM

Sounds like a problem with motor ( clicking noise ). On our MH, steps would not open or close fully. There is a nylon gear in the motor that fails. Purchased new O E. Motor on Amazon for around $80. Pretty easy install

mfredm · 10-07-2022, 10:30 AM

No, the steps go in and out fine, either with ignition, or with magnet on door. Its after they come in or go all the way out, that the lights in the Rig start flashing, and motor make clicking noise. I can understand all the reasons the wiring or the motor or the controller might be bad. What i don't understand is why the steps cause all my interior 12 volt devices to flash. I'm on shore power and my converter is charging my batteries.

Dutchstar411 · 10-09-2022, 04:34 PM

If your flashing and clicking goes away once the steps are switched off then you know where the problem is, the steps. Most likely the controller is not letting the motor know it's reached it's limit, and keeping the motor trying to either open or close without stopping once the limit is reached. I'd order a new controller and replace it.

alank · 10-09-2022, 07:52 PM

I would agree that the controller isn’t shutting the motor off when the steps reach their end of travel, and probably needs to be replaced.

I don’t think the controller makes a clicking noise, but a motor that continues to run after the steps have reached their end of travel could have stripped gears that click as the motor continues to run. You may need to check the motor gear box also. Most of them have a plastic gear that gets stripped teeth easily.

mfredm · 10-10-2022, 08:47 AM

OK, mystery partially solved. After experiencing strange 12V problems, flickering lights, erratic awning, I found the culprit. The short positive battery cable that connects my 2 house batteries together was broken in half. After fixing this all 12V problems went away. Now however, the steps have decided that they will now work backwards. When I open the door they retract, and when closed, they extend. The override switch will force them in and not re-open, and the ignition over ride does not work. No wiring was changed, but I did tie up some dangling stuff. And yes I double checked and squeezed and prodded everything. Right now I got the magnet taped to the door frame.

mfredm · 10-10-2022, 10:59 AM

Ok, problem solved. In my troubleshooting, I had plugged the motor cable in backwards, hence the backwards ops. Duh! A valuable lesson learned. Always check the simplest things first and then when in doubt, double check it out.