Kwikee steps relay

[NovaScotiaRV]

Hello everyone,

I own a 2001 forest river windsong (could be 2002, as indicated inside the coach owner papers say 2001 however).

It has the triple Kwikee steps.

Last November before storage I noticed the steps got stuck in the out position. After lots of research and testing it was the motor at fault. So, me being me, I took the motor apart. I discovered the magnet was absolutely broken into multiple pieces. A friend of mine (by chance) had a magnet that fit perfectly and so I reassembled and the stairs worked wonderfully again!

Fast forward a couple of weeks later: The steps got stuck in the up position. So I thought dang, must be the motor again. I’ll investigate in the spring.

Fast forward to spring: I got my MH home and I couldn’t get the damn motor out for the life of me because the bolts holding it on were too long for the clearance available. So, I took one side of the pivot bolts off and down she went. I took the motor off, brought it inside and hooked it up to a battery and the darn thing worked.

So I thought could it be just spinning but with a load no spin? Nah, that’s not the case. I went and installed it again, carefully lining it up with the gear and battery test allowed my stairs to retract and extend.

My door switch is engaging the amber light under the steps and the most noticeable thing is that there’s no click. So naturally I called my father who is an electrician. He told me it sounds like a relays gone somewhere. I suck at testing anything electrical and he’s a good 6 hours away from me. But despite this, I tried and based on the results he believes it is indeed a relay.

My question: is there a relay inside of the control module? I cannot figure out where on earth this relay is for the life of me. I’ve spent way too much time on this to give up now!

Also, I am open to any and all advice and tips/tricks.

[alank]

Simple answer is YES, there are relays, but probably not the kind you're thinking of. The step motor is operated by a motor controller which has all solid-state electrical components and are sealed into a solid block of plastic. You just replace the motor controller.

[NovaScotiaRV]

Originally Posted by alank

Simple answer is YES, there are relays, but probably not the kind you're thinking of. The step motor is operated by a motor controller which has all solid-state electrical components and are sealed into a solid block of plastic. You just replace the motor controller.

Ah I see. Thanks for that insight.

To your knowledge does this part usually produce a “clicking” sound?

[deandec]

This is way off course from your question about relays.

My steps were very spotty on extension and retraction.

So I bought two different controllers to fix the problem. Both were brand new and neither one fixed the problem.

So, I reinstalled the old controller and applied a wire brush to the ground screws surface contact. The steps moved correctly and still do so today.

Polishing the contact for grounding screws is one of Kwikee's early recommendations in the manual for fixing the electrical problems.

I learned the hard way on my 28 year old rig.

[Ray,IN]

deandec hit it directly. Kwikee steps are always "hot", the controller stops/starts and changes the direction of motor rotation by switching the ground, of which there are two. If they are not clean and tight with good voltage they will not run.


To identify your model of steps then get them working again, download the Kwikee Products Service Training Manual.

[NovaScotiaRV]

Thanks for the insight (both of you).

I was going to ask if anybody has an idea about this on top of the stairs issue I noticed that my battery disconnect isn’t clicking either. I have tried clicking store and use it’s a constant red light but no clicking. The light doesn’t change at all. It is currently hooked up to an older 12V house battery, a brand new battery for the chassis, and is indeed connected to shore power. I noticed that happened a few days ago, it was clicking when I originally took it out of storage. Could these two relate to one another or does it sound like an unrelated issue?

[NovaScotiaRV]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

deandec hit it directly. Kwikee steps are always "hot", the controller stops/starts and changes the direction of motor rotation by switching the ground, of which there are two. If they are not clean and tight with good voltage they will not run.


To identify your model of steps then get them working again, download the Kwikee Products Service Training Manual.

I do see the two grounds coming from the controller on my motorhome and they’re both connected to the part of the stairs mount. I took them off one by one and cleaned the heck out of them still no click from the controller unfortunately :( this has been very stressful. Based on the manual you sent me I have either the series 23 or 25 it’s very difficult to tell for me but I’m leaning more toward 23. (Triple).

[Coarsegold]

I spent hours with a similar problem checking, testing, looking and it turned out to be the screen door relay/sensor. My Kwikee steps were stuck out initially.

[alank]

Originally Posted by NovaScotiaRV

Thanks for the insight (both of you).

I was going to ask if anybody has an idea about this on top of the stairs issue I noticed that my battery disconnect isn’t clicking either. I have tried clicking store and use it’s a constant red light but no clicking. The light doesn’t change at all. It is currently hooked up to an older 12V house battery, a brand new battery for the chassis, and is indeed connected to shore power. I noticed that happened a few days ago, it was clicking when I originally took it out of storage. Could these two relate to one another or does it sound like an unrelated issue?

If your battery disconnect isn't clicking, it may not be functioning. If it's stuck in the "open" position, not passing any power through, and your steps are operating on that battery supply, then the steps won't work. Have you checked for 12V power to the controller?

[NovaScotiaRV]

Originally Posted by Coarsegold

I spent hours with a similar problem checking, testing, looking and it turned out to be the screen door relay/sensor. My Kwikee steps were stuck out initially.

Where did you find this relay/sensor if you don’t mind me asking?

[NovaScotiaRV]

Originally Posted by alank

If your battery disconnect isn't clicking, it may not be functioning. If it's stuck in the "open" position, not passing any power through, and your steps are operating on that battery supply, then the steps won't work. Have you checked for 12V power to the controller?

Would that still cause my stairs not to work with ignition on?

[deandec]

Originally Posted by NovaScotiaRV

Would that still cause my stairs not to work with ignition on?

I believe my Kwikee 42 steps are powered by the Starting battery when the ignition is turned on not the house battery. This is a safety feature to avoid bruising your steps on foreign objects.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by NovaScotiaRV

I do see the two grounds coming from the controller on my motorhome and they’re both connected to the part of the stairs mount. I took them off one by one and cleaned the heck out of them still no click from the controller unfortunately :( this has been very stressful. Based on the manual you sent me I have either the series 23 or 25 it’s very difficult to tell for me but I’m leaning more toward 23. (Triple).

Each step model in that Kwikee manual has measurements on the diagram and each step model has different measurments, that how you can identify the model, compare the measurments to your steps.


The reed switch that tells the controller to extend/retract the steps is on the stepwell wall of the MH. On the screen door is a magnet in the same color cover. The should touch or nearly so when the screen door is closed; the magnet a bit higher than the reed switch when together.
Since the reed switch is not waterproof the 2 wire connections on the side get corroded and loose contact. They should be clean and tight.

[Coarsegold]

Originally Posted by NovaScotiaRV

Where did you find this relay/sensor if you don’t mind me asking?

On the door jam is the sensor and on the edge of the screen door was a magnet.