Bounder: Steps scare me! LOL

[Bob1340]

So we went out a couple weeks ago in our 2017 Bounder 35K. Very nice short trip. We come home, plug in the RV, ( I have full hook ups at home)empty out our junk etc. A couple days later I went out to get something and the stairs didn't go down. Well crud! I got underneath and started checking out stuff. It had power etc. That evening I checked out stuff on the LCI app to figure out what to do. Yesterday I gathered up what I needed to test the motor, controller etc and went out to check it. Opened the door and the stairs worked fine. I hate gremlins like that. The only thing I found that could be the culprit was the ground connection. I didn't like the tiny screw they used through the eyelet so I pulled it out. They had coated the chassis before attaching the ground so the eyelet was laying on black paint. Just the threads of the self tapping screw was making contact. So I put in a new eyelet and larger screw along with grinding off the paint so good contact was being made. I also put dielectric grease in all the plugs I could find. I lubed the steps and called it good.



Anyone have further advice on this? I'd hate to have this happen while I am camping.

[Pillbox]

You did what I would have done, except one thing, I would have sprinkled gremlin dust on the steps, too.
Terry

[Cat320]

My manual says to lube the steps monthly.

[Bob1340]

Originally Posted by Cat320

My manual says to lube the steps monthly.

I thought that was excessive. I do lube them every once in a while. They go up and down very smoothly. I use that garage door silicon spray.

[Bob1340]

Originally Posted by Pillbox

You did what I would have done, except one thing, I would have sprinkled gremlin dust on the steps, too.
Terry

I hate gremlins.

[ga traveler]

Our dealership was a kwickee repair center. I have worked on many, many steps. What happened to you sounds like the steps were closed hard and were tripping the stop limit. There are no stops on the kwickee steps. They open until the steps go as far as they can and when they stop the amps start to rise and the controller sees this and shuts off the power. Sometimes when they go out or in the next time you open the door the steps are binding slightly and the amps rise and shut down the power. To check for this lay next to the steps and close the door. If you hear a very faint click about a second after you close the door, That is the power is shutting off. Clean and lube ALL pivot points on the steps.

[Bob1340]

Originally Posted by ga traveler

Our dealership was a kwickee repair center. I have worked on many, many steps. What happened to you sounds like the steps were closed hard and were tripping the stop limit. There are no stops on the kwickee steps. They open until the steps go as far as they can and when they stop the amps start to rise and the controller sees this and shuts off the power. Sometimes when they go out or in the next time you open the door the steps are binding slightly and the amps rise and shut down the power. To check for this lay next to the steps and close the door. If you hear a very faint click about a second after you close the door, That is the power is shutting off. Clean and lube ALL pivot points on the steps.

Thanks I figured they worked like that. It is very similar to a auto electric window motor with a bit different controller.



My step pivots all appear to be stellar. No rattles ETC. I do lube those pivots. The steps have always sounded very smooth going up and down. I'm fairly new to Motorhomes but I have learned many issues are related to fumble fingered drunks who do all that interface stuff, especially wiring, between the Ford Chassis and the coach. That is why I suspect the ground cable was the issue. They crimped a eyelet to the wire and screwed it (with a very small screw) to the bottom edge of the house battery compartment. I verified they did not sand, grind, scrape off the paint. So just where the threads were in the steel was there a connection. The light would come on, but probably not enough amps there to run the step system. Just a little moisture to those threads and I'm sure there was a bit of oxidation and ground was lost. I washed up the house battery compartment which lives over the steps and the added moisture brought the ground back. As soon as I plugged in the 4 prong plug yesterday morning boom the steps came down.



Just a theory of course.

[ga traveler]

Originally Posted by Bob1340

Thanks I figured they worked like that. It is very similar to a auto electric window motor with a bit different controller.



My step pivots all appear to be stellar. No rattles ETC. I do lube those pivots. The steps have always sounded very smooth going up and down. I'm fairly new to Motorhomes but I have learned many issues are related to fumble fingered drunks who do all that interface stuff, especially wiring, between the Ford Chassis and the coach. That is why I suspect the ground cable was the issue. They crimped a eyelet to the wire and screwed it (with a very small screw) to the bottom edge of the house battery compartment. I verified they did not sand, grind, scrape off the paint. So just where the threads were in the steel was there a connection. The light would come on, but probably not enough amps there to run the step system. Just a little moisture to those threads and I'm sure there was a bit of oxidation and ground was lost. I washed up the house battery compartment which lives over the steps and the added moisture brought the ground back. As soon as I plugged in the 4 prong plug yesterday morning boom the steps came down.



Just a theory of course.

The small ground that you are speaking of is the ground for the step light only. Check under the step and you will find a large green wire. it should run from the step to the frame. That is your step ground. It is very important that it is making good contact.

[Wiffer2020-B]

On my 2003 Fiesta, the ground for the steps runs right to the neg battery terminal. The batteries are right there above the steps....

[Bob1340]

Originally Posted by ga traveler

The small ground that you are speaking of is the ground for the step light only. Check under the step and you will find a large green wire. it should run from the step to the frame. That is your step ground. It is very important that it is making good contact.

That's a huge wire for a little light. I'd guess 10 ga, could be 12 ga. It runs from the step assembly to the house battery compartment frame. I'll look again tomorrow.

[Bob1340]

Originally Posted by Wiffer2020-B

On my 2003 Fiesta, the ground for the steps runs right to the neg battery terminal. The batteries are right there above the steps....

That would make sense. I even thought of re-routing mine. But, I do think the steps are meant to operate off the chassis battery. Hence the frame ground.

[Wiffer2020-B]

Originally Posted by Bob1340

That would make sense. I even thought of re-routing mine. But, I do think the steps are meant to operate off the chassis battery. Hence the frame ground.

When I noticed that ground I hadn’t thought much about the actual circuits. My steps do operate with the chassis battery also. I might move that ground to a chassis ground, not far from the batteries on the F53 frame next time I’m working on stuff. Or I might just not worry about it... [emoji55]

[Bob1340]

Originally Posted by Wiffer2020-B

When I noticed that ground I hadn’t thought much about the actual circuits. My steps do operate with the chassis battery also. I might move that ground to a chassis ground, not far from the batteries on the F53 frame next time I’m working on stuff. Or I might just not worry about it... [emoji55]

I would not worry. Ground is ground. The chassis battery and house batteries are all grounded to the frame. Now mixing the hot side could be interesting.

[AZ RV'r]

Check out my thread... Its about my problems with my steps.

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/hel...ps-470634.html

Probably same steps, same parts and I have pictures.

Hope this helps.... Good luck!