Community Forums

Hoss7 · 07-10-2020, 02:14 PM

We're STUCK awaiting to leave and I have a 2005 Monaco Signature and our entry steps won't retract. I have checked the fuse in the passenger armrest, and the fuse in the rear run bay inside the engine compartment. Both fuses are good. The "step" switch on the dash has no function, and does not light itself up. How do we fix this? Thank you!

Dsallach · 07-10-2020, 02:32 PM

I’m not sure if yours is the same as mine was but, the step was activated buy a magnet in the door frame. My magnet broke once and the step would not retract.

On mine, on the door frame there was a black plastic blank cover held on with two screws just above the latch strike plate. That blank plate was a magnet. The magnet fell off of the plastic plate.
That magnet activated the switch inside the door itself. Without the magnet the system thought the door was open.

If you have a magnet (like a magnetic door catch) you can easily test this out. Simply put the magnet onto the door where that plate would meet up. If that’s it the step will retract if it’s set to the auto position on the step control.

Hope that’s your issue.

vito.a · 07-10-2020, 04:08 PM

This is a good guide for troubleshooting Kwikee steps.
https://bobsguides.com/step-motor.html
Hope this helps.

Hoss7 · 07-10-2020, 08:05 PM

Gave the motor a good whack with a rubber mallet underneath and it started working again! Why did this happen and can I do anything to it to prevent it from seizing up again? Thanks, everyone!!

777 Driver · 07-10-2020, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vito.a

This is a good guide for troubleshooting Kwikee steps.
https://bobsguides.com/step-motor.html
Hope this helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoss7

Why did this happen and can I do anything to it to prevent it from seizing up again? Thanks, everyone!!

It looks like vito.a has given you a good source to start your quest for knowledge.

The fact that a quick whack to the motor freed it suggests that it's not a magnetic door closed sensor issue. Could be a loose electrical connection, could be lack of lubricant on the step mechanism, could be a failing motor.

Probably good to dive in and figure it out, because, next time a quick whack might not fix it.

There are a variety of non-Lippert/Kwikee sources for the various components that aren't as expensive as Lippert/Kwikee.

Good luck.

Take care,
Stu

Outbound · 07-10-2020, 08:48 PM

Might think about having it rebuilt between future trips.

onechaddude · 07-10-2020, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 777 Driver

It looks like vito.a has given you a good source to start your quest for knowledge.

The fact that a quick whack to the motor freed it suggests that it's not a magnetic door closed sensor issue. Could be a loose electrical connection, could be lack of lubricant on the step mechanism, could be a failing motor.

Probably good to dive in and figure it out, because, next time a quick whack might not fix it.

There are a variety of non-Lippert/Kwikee sources for the various components that aren't as expensive as Lippert/Kwikee.

Good luck.

Take care,
Stu

Mine did the same thing a couple years ago. A quick whack and started working. I nursed it whacking it occasionally to keep it working til we got home from the trip. Got to the point I really had to whack it to work but luckily made it home. My suggestion would be to change it soon because it won't be long til it stops working and there you'll be.

Chad

jacwjames · 07-11-2020, 06:00 AM

MIne started to act up so I bought a replacement motor assembly. Price was a lot cheaper then a new complete step and it was an easy change.

Cj D · 07-11-2020, 09:01 AM

Same here. Our steps got finicky after 6 years. Sometimes they would not retract...or worse, sometimes they would not extend and we would almost bust our a$$e$ if we weren't paying attention getting out of the coach. I finally got tired of having to lay on my back in gas stations and parks wiggling the step wires, so I let them retract and unplugged them. I then ordered and replaced the step motor from a Camping World down the road, and have not had an issue since...almost 6 years later.

cry42 · 07-11-2020, 05:18 PM

Whack on the motor, one brush most likely were not touching the armature, jarred it loose . When I changed my motor, took the old one apart and found the issue. Cleaned up brush holder, added a bit of dielectric grease and kept it as a spare. Old motor worked just fine afterward.

vito.a · 07-11-2020, 06:15 PM

The motor is fairly easy to replace. Do not buy the motor from an RV place as they are expensive. Take it down to a good auto parts store and have them match it up. It is actually a power window motor and gear assembly.

Arch Hoagland · 07-11-2020, 06:28 PM

Hoss7...how often do you lubricate your steps?

I use spray-on while lithium grease on all the pivot points every year.

Jyrocharlie · 07-11-2020, 06:48 PM

Knowledge of how to get the steps up is kinda vital. with the steps down, there is a pin that connects the arm to the shaft that rotates, connected to the actual steps. The pin has a cotter key. Remove the cotter key and the jiggle the steps to remove the pin. Keep a couple lengths of rope or heavy zip ties to tie the steps up on the sides. I think the motor might be a 82 Ford Taurus right side door window. Going from memory so double check.

docj · 07-11-2020, 06:58 PM

After 20 years ours also stopped retracting. Since they were also suffering serious rust damage, I decided to replace the entire assembly rather that trying to repair the motor. To my surprise the entire assembly cost <$700 which I thought was a fair price. Had I been a bit more limber, it would have been something I could have installed myself. At my age, however, I decided it was worth a couple of hours of technician time! JMO

FWIW, the color code on the wiring harness matched the original colors, even though the new harness used a connector that wasn't part of the original setup. Just needed to wire the new cable connector into the wire bundle.