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WTB · 01-12-2022, 08:13 AM

This is a new one for me, but I'm sure someone here has been down this road before. Here's the issue, 2005 Newmar, Kountry Star:

Small bedroom slide, slide went out, power lock arms extended with the slide out. Thankfully, they went back in when I went to bring the slide in. Someone on this forum said a temporary fix would be once the slide is out to hit the button again to keep the arms from going out. Is this OK to do for the time being?

So, what's going on? Can someone give me detailed steps to troubleshoot and resolve this issue?

Next, can the arms be manually retracted? How would I go about doing this?

Next, once the arms are in, can they be disabled? And if so, how would I go about doing this? If they are disabled, will the slide still work?

Next, if I disable the arms what effect will this have on the slide when driving down the road? In essence are the lock arms essential?

Thanks again for any and all information. This forum has been a great help.

426smartin · 01-12-2022, 06:47 PM

On my 2004 DS the bedroom slide locks have been disconnected over 5 years and 20000 miles. It was that way when I got it-----no problem

WTB · 01-17-2022, 02:13 PM

Thanks for your reply. I'm trying to figure out how to disconnect them while at the same time not disabling the slide. My first attempt was a failure. Unfortunately, it appears that there is no one else on this forum who has had this issue. So, I shall continue to research and try one solution after another.

**"007"** · 01-17-2022, 04:09 PM

If your bedroom slide is retraceable the slide will most likely stay put on your floor with little movement
This link covers many item's about your slides and it comes from this bigger sticky.
What maybe going on the Attenuator is collecting water or moisture on its contacts on its surface and there is links explaining this in first link and whar remedies could solve your problem.

426smartin · 01-17-2022, 04:46 PM

Mine are disconnected at the motor lock and the voice command still prompts 5 second delay and then starts to extend. Just make sure it's in the retracted position before disconnecting the wires.

ziaptrn · 01-17-2022, 06:16 PM

I think that what is happening is an error with the slide position sensor (limit switch). I can't comment on disconnecting the power lock arms or how that might be done.

It is my understanding that the following sequence is followed by the automated slide system. 1. When the command is received for the slide to extend, the controller opens the slide arms and when they are verified as open through the magnetic switch moving more than 1/8" away from the locked sensor, it then verifies that the slide is "in" via the magnetic limit switch - in this case being 1/8" or closer to the sensor. If all conditions are cleared (arms unlocked and open and slide in), the extend motor runs until the slide is fully extended and the power drain exceeds a pre-set limit at which time the slide motor stops. The system also checks a final time that the slide limit switch is "out" or the room extended. If for some reason the limit switch says "in", then the power lock arms will extend. A defective limit switch would cause this.

The opposite situation holds for retracting the slide. When the command is received for the slide to come in, the controller checks for the slide position as "out" or magnet further than 1/8" from the sensor, and also that the power lock arms are still unlocked or magnet greater than 1/8" from the sensor. Once the slide is all the way in and the slide motor power draw exceeds a set limit, the controller verifies the slide room position as "in" and then activates the slide locks.

I hope that what I've written makes sense. Probably not the best technical description but essentially correct. Any deviation from the above as reported by the slide position sensor (aka limit switch) will either activate or fail to active power lock arms.

I suspect that replacing the slide position sensor will fix the problem and restore normal function.

That said - one could also do as others have noted in disconnecting the power lock arms so that the issue is resolved that way and the slide starts/stops based on power use only.

Hope this helps.

John