Rv steps

[LarrysDad]

Hello,

About a month ago my rv steps quit retracting. I took it to a mechanic who ended up "using a special wrench" to retract them manually so I decided to not use them. Then on accident several days later I pushed the entry step button. They did not retract when I shut the door but about a day later they randomly retracted. Just now they extended by themselves on their own when we turned off the rv after charging the batteries for a little while. Two questions,
1. Does anyone have any idea what may cause this?
2. Does anyone know how to manually retract them?

Thank you

[wildmandmc]

Is there a button/switch for them? Had that happen yrs ago on older Class A.
Pain in ass for sure.

[LarrysDad]

Button/switch as in? I have a switch inside the door on the interior steps that I'm aware of and a switch on the dash next to the generator switch. Are one of these what you are referring to?

[Dunrollin]

Mine did the same for a few days, in my case the cure was the copper push contacts on the door and body of the motorhome. They were not conducting electricity when the door closed. I just took some emory cloth and shined them up and everything began working as it should.

On my home the wiring is complex, first the on off switch by the door, second the ignition switch controls how the steps work and third the copper buttons detect whether the door is open or closed. Took me a while to figure all this out.

On mine there are 4 of the copper button on the hinge side of the door, two for the electric door lock and two to control steps in or out.

[HarryStone]

What brand are the steps? Have you performed the monthly lubrication of all the pivot points? Is the battery fully charged? On my rig, the steps are powered from the chassis battery, not the coach battery. Do the steps make any noise when trying to move?

[deandec]

It sounds like your steps move ok when the proper electrical contacts are completed. There are two ground connections for the step controller that should be shiny clean for the steps to work properly. They are under and behind the steps. (I just cleaned mine after 27 years of use.)

a. One is fastened to the underside of the top step on my rig.

b. One from the step controller to the frame of the chassis.

c. Turn off the battery power to the steps when working underneath to avoid shortening your fingers unexpectedly.

d. Use a wire brush or power drill attachment to clean up the contact points.

Do refer to your Kwikee Steps Manual to see the wiring diagram.

[HarryStone]

Originally Posted by deandec

Do refer to your Kwikee Steps Manual to see the wiring diagram.

Not all rv steps are kwikee brand.

[LarrysDad]

I just looked and I have a kwikee products 32 series. My batteries are not fully charged as I need to put a new rotor into my generator to charge the chassis batteries.

[HarryStone]

Chassis batteries should also be charged by shore power also.
Troubleshooting steps are here.

https://lci-support-doc.s3.amazonaws...cd_0001628.pdf

[LarrysDad]

When placing the screw for the top stair ground back in the bolt snapped, does anyone know where to find the bolt sizes for the kwikee 32 series?

[RKins]

You should have enough left of the broken off portion to take to a NAPA to get a replacement.

[deandec]

Mine is just a sheet metal screw as I recall.

Ace hardware would be a good store to find what you need.

[LarrysDad]

New finding, with the chassis ground bolt and top stair ground bolt left unattached the stairs started moving while the rv was running.. does this prove a bad ground or potential for a different problem?

[HarryStone]

Get the grounds fixed first, you can induce all kinds of evil with bad grounds.