Community Forums

Monaco38 · 09-16-2010, 10:24 AM

On our 2003 Monaco Camelot I am suspecting a possible malfunction of a feature of the Entry Step operation, ...or not! Either I have yet to figure out the operation of the entry step, or it is not operating as designed, (ie., broken,) or it isn't designed to operate as I think it is supposed to operate!

Hoping someone can either explain the entry step operation to this slow learner, tell me it is broken and not working as designed, and suggest the direction to look to remedy the problem, or tell me to quit expecting it to do something it was not designed to do

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Ok, what it is doing...or not doing. The only way I can keep the entry step to stay out in the extended position while parked or camping is to open the door to extend the step and then turn the coach chassis switch off. The step operation described in the owners manual indicates that with the step switch in the on position and then opening the door the step will extend. Then turning the switch to the off position will leave the step extended whether the door is open or closed, right? At least that is how I understand it is supposed to operate. However, the entry step retracts when the door is closed regardless of the position of the entry step switch. Also the little light on the switch does not come on when the switch is turned on. The under-step light does come on when the step switch is turned on however.

RickO · 09-16-2010, 10:41 AM

Mine will behave exactly as you're describing if my key is in the ignition. Otherwise, it sounds as if your step on/off switch is stuck in the "on" position?

rick

Monaco38 · 09-16-2010, 12:08 PM

I should add, ignition off, key out of ignition. Understand that ignition on overrides other step functions and step will always retract when door is closed.

Dutch Star Don · 09-16-2010, 01:28 PM

Yours is not working correctly. What you described in the manual instructions is how mine works. Maybe there is a possibilty the switch has gone bad and is shorting in the on position. The light bulbs in the switches do burn out. You might want to replace the switch first and then go from there.

Robi.1014 · 09-16-2010, 03:06 PM

Below is a complete description of step operation that I offered another RVer that was having a similar problem. In short, your switch-at-the-door, when ON, is not providing the step’s logic module the 12VDC that it needs to keep the steps extended.

“Under your rig, at the rear of the steps, is a 4-pin connector. The RED wire is continuous 12VDC...allowing the step's "logic module" to operate. This red wire is fused at something like 25 amps. A BLUE wire carries 12VDC from the switch-by-the-entry-door that you describe. Without 12VDC on this BLUE wire, the steps will not remain continuously open. A YELLOW wire is the signal from your ignition switch telling the logic module to pull the steps in because you're about to start the engine. Another wire (I forget the color) carries the signal from the magnetic reed switch (this switch is probably on your door jamb just below the door latch). You've confirmed that this magnetic switch is working OK by saying that the steps deploy/retract when the door is open/closed respectively. So I think you need to troubleshoot the BLUE wire's lack of 12VDC (which tells the steps to remain open continuously).

One HUGE caution: These steps open and retract with great force. Suggest disconnecting the 4-pin plug I described or remove the fuse that powers the RED wire so you don't lose a finger when your spouse opens/closes the door exactly at the wrong time.”

Monaco38 · 09-16-2010, 05:33 PM

Robi
Based on the information you provided, have done some exploring. The 20 amp fuse to the step motor and the 5 amp fuse to the step switch were both located and found to be ok. The step switch is in a group of three switches at the right edge of the dash in the stairway. I found that all three switches have little indicator lights that are not working. They appear to be wired together on a separate circuit from the other respective wires that the switches are controlling. There are white and orange wires running between terminals at the top of each of the three switches. Either all three indicator lights are burned out, which is possible, or there is a fuse out on this circuit. Cannot find a wiring diagram in the manual for this switch group. This may be a separate issue from the step operation that I started with, but while I am at it I would like to identify all the issues and fix what I can. The step switch appears to be a SPST switch making and breaking the blue wire circuit. I pulled the blue wires from each switch spade and checked the switch. It is operating properly opening and closing the circuit. I unplugged the four wire group from the controller underneath the step and checked for 12v on the blue wire between the wire and ground while turning the step switch on and off and got none. Tried the red wire and got no reading there either however. Thought I should, but without a schematic am kind of shooting in the dark. Have gone about as far as I can think to go on this without further information/ideas.

Monaco38 · 09-16-2010, 05:58 PM

Ok, disregard the test for 12v on the red and blue wire at the step controller. Just realized I had the chassis battery switch off!! No power to the step. Turned on chassis battery and rechecked for 12v on red wire at step controller. It is hot. Checked blue wire at controller and it goes on and off with step switch! Now what???

ImagineIF · 09-16-2010, 06:09 PM

Based on Robi's information, your last check should be to see if the yellow wire has voltage when the ignition is off. If it does, the step will move with the door opening a closing even if the step switch is off.

Robi.1014 · 09-16-2010, 06:54 PM

I'm wit Gil. You're on a roll.

Monaco38 · 09-16-2010, 07:14 PM

Which it shouldn't do, right? In other words, if I am understanding this correctly, it is operating like the ignition switch is on and retracting in all circumstances controlled by voltage on the yellow wire, which should only be excited with ignition on.

Robi.1014 · 09-16-2010, 07:26 PM

Yes... yellow is only hot during ignition on state.

So if Yellow is also acting predictably, I might re-visit the Blue-wire 12VDC condition. Measuring the Blue at the 4-pin plug confirms it (the voltage) is getting there. But is it getting all the way to the step controller? There is no additional connector before these wires enter the controller. To test this, I use a sewing needle to pierce the insulation of the Blue wire just as it enters the controller. Is the 12VDC arriving there?

Pardon the pun, but you're down to the wire on this one.

wa8yxm · 09-16-2010, 07:31 PM

Assuming your steps are KWIKEE,, IF they are not, Disregard this post

Kwikee has an "Old Style" controller and a "New Style"

The old style is a retangular box... The new one, though still 4 sided, looks more like a right triangle. The controller is under the coach, you would have to extend the steps, then crawl under and look UP to where the controler is.

The old style the "Step Switch" was called a POWER switch. it did, in fact, kill power to the steps.. When I was looking at the motor home I have in 2005 the salesman took us out to one on his lot. same make and model I have only a few months older. IT HAD THE OLDER CONTROLLER. With the Old controller you turn on the step switch, open the door, turn it off and the steps stay put till you start the engine.

Enter the new controller.. Which is on my coach

The switch is now called a "Step Override"

Here is the truth table

Switch off: Steps follow the door.. Open the door, steps extend and step light (The yellow light under motor home) Turns on.. Close the door steps retract and light turns off

Switch ON: Ignition off: Steps EXTEND when you open the door.. and stay there. Lamp follows the door as above.

Ignition on: Steps and light follow door as in SWITCH OFF.

NOTE: IF you close door THEN Start the engine... Steps stay out.

(BAD DESIGN)

It may be you have an "old" manual and a "New" step

LeeB · 09-17-2010, 07:01 AM

I have been reading this thread with great enthusiasm in hopes my steps would be explained. But to my dismay it has not, so here is what my step does.

With the switch "OFF" and coach parked and key removed; I open the door and step extends and stay extended, even when I close the door/screen. (No Light on the switch and step light off)
With the switch "On" and coach parked and key removed; I open the door and the step extends and step light comes "On" close door/screen and the step retracts and the step light goes off (Light on the switch remains on)
F.Y.I. I can do (from the inside) Switch on, off, on, off and the step remains closed when I open the door...

So in other words when my MH is parked at home (batteries on) the step remains out and the step is in the way, in my driveway. In order for me to have the steps retract while at home I have to have the switch on (which kills the battery if I do not turn them off)...
Also when we are camped under normal conditions the step is out but the step light is NOT on. In order for me to have the light on I have to turn on the switch but then the step retracts every time.

Thanks....

Robi.1014 · 09-17-2010, 11:31 AM

LeeB:
I have seldom camped when it was so dark that I needed an exterior light and/or an exterior light illuminating the steps. Or under such conditions, I carry a small flashlight with me just to be safe. So my solution to your battery drain would be to remove the bulbs from the internal switch AND the step lighting lamp (if I read your write-up correctly) and perhaps declare success. Whatchathink?