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Kwikee steps intermittent

Yahoo Message Number: 107181
Hi folks

Our Kwikee steps on our CC Inspire Sienna work fine for a while, then NOT>

I have actually seen them go in and out on their own with no one even NEAR the coach. We have cleaned, looked at connections, and lubed.

Could our problem be in the toggle switch? I have NO electrical background...should I just bite it and take it into the service folks?

Ellen

2005 Inspire Sienna 36
Snohomish, WA

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107184
Ellen,

I believe the connections for opening and closing the step is in the door jam of the entry door. Have you cleaned those?

Barney

07 Inspire 52059

---In Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com,  wrote :

Hi folks

Our Kwikee steps on our CC Inspire Sienna work fine for a while, then NOT>

I have actually seen them go in and out on their own with no one even NEAR the coach. We have cleaned, looked at connections, and lubed.

Could our problem be in the toggle switch? I have NO electrical background...should I just bite it and take it into the service folks?

Ellen

2005 Inspire Sienna 36
Snohomish, WA

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107191
I had the same issue with my steps. The coach was new to me (2 years ago), and I couldn't get the problem to happen on a consistent basis. Instead of correctly fixing the problem, I drove the rig several times with the intermittent problem, until it happened one final time when the steps were out and I clipped a concrete road barrier in a construction zone in Louisville, KY. Luckly, the only damage was the steps being severly bent. I managed to straighten all the framwork, and replaced the lower slide bearing.

After that, I replaced the door contact switch, which did not take care of the problem. I then replaced the step controller and gearmotor, and reworked all the wire connections. I now have my fingers crossed that I have the problem fixed.

If I had to do over, I would probably start with cleaning and rewiring the door contact switch, and clean and reconnect all the wiring connections for the controller and gearmotor before I started to replace all the components.

Good luck as it was a chore to replace everything, and Kwikee doesn't make anything easy to work on.

Greg

2007 Inspire 40' Genoa #51977
Bardstown, KY- Polk City, FL

On Tuesday, July 19, 2016 5:18 PM, "barneym@... [Country-Coach-Owners]"  wrote:

Ellen,

I believe the connections for opening and closing the step is in the door jam of the entry door. Have you cleaned those?

Barney

07 Inspire 52059

---In Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com,  wrote :

Hi folks

Our Kwikee steps on our CC Inspire Sienna work fine for a while, then NOT>

I have actually seen them go in and out on their own with no one even NEAR the coach. We have cleaned, looked at connections, and lubed.

Could our problem be in the toggle switch? I have NO electrical background...should I just bite it and take it into the service folks?

Ellen

2005 Inspire Sienna 36
Snohomish, WA

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107194
Hey Greg. We had a similar problem on our 2000 Allure. Our problem was the plastic bumper that is glued to the inside of the door that pushes the plunger of the switch all the way in. The plunger must have gotten off center and slowly slid away from the plunger allowing it to extend enough with the door closed on turns and bumps to let the steps come out and back in. I re centered the bumper and all has been fine since. Yours may not have the bumper but check and see, I could take a pic if you needed to see what it looks like.

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107214
Ellen,

I had the same issue with my Kwikee steps right after purchasing my 2004 Inspire. The issue involved the spring loaded contactors located in the door frame. I removed the plastic casing mounted in the door frame and discovered that the springs inside the contactor were rusted and had lost tension. The weak spring tension allowed the contactors to loose electrical contact to the step every time the coach would hit a bump going down the highway. This resulted in the steps going in and out often while driving down the road. The green light "step out" warning would light up on the instrument panel.

To correct this problem I had to locate a spring approximately the same as installed by the manufacture. I also made sure that the replacement spring was made of stainless steel not iron. The Pilot G-2 ball point pin (Wal-Mart) has a spring that is approximately the same size as the one that came with the original contactor and is made of stainless steel. On my coach 4 springs on the door frame contactor were replaced with the springs from the 4 G-2 Pilot pins. I inspected the 4 door side contactor springs and they were in good shape. The door frame side contactors rusted because they are exposed to atmospheric conditions.

Hope this helps, 
Jon

2004 Inspire #51008

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107260
Thank you for the tips about the door contacts. We have cleaned and adjusted them and now the steps are operational. However, we have discovered ANOTHER issue. The toggle switch for the Entry Step just inside the door does not seem to shut off the steps now. The steps are coming out every time the door opens regardless of the position of the switch.

Can we get a replacement switch for this?

Ellen

2005 Inspire Sienna 36
Snohomish, WA

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107261
Ellen, That's the way the steps are supposed to work. They will always come out when the door is open. The switch will keep the steps out when the door is closed. Barney

---In Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com,  wrote :

Thank you for the tips about the door contacts. We have cleaned and adjusted them and now the steps are operational. However, we have discovered ANOTHER issue. The toggle switch for the Entry Step just inside the door does not seem to shut off the steps now. The steps are coming out every time the door opens regardless of the position of the switch.

Can we get a replacement switch for this?

Ellen

2005 Inspire Sienna 36
Snohomish, WA

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107263
Hi Barney

I did a poor job of explaining the current status of the steps. The steps will go out when the door is opened, but always go back in when the door is closed regardless of the position of the Entry Step switch. So right now, we have no way of keeping the stairs out when parked.

Trying to look at the condition and connection of the ground wire now. Still wondering about getting a new switch.

Ellen

2005 Inspire Sienna 36
Snohomish, WA

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107266
Hi Ellen,

Have you removed the switch from the wall and checked to see if all the wires are connected. It's just a simple on/off switch. While you have it off you can connect a continuity checker (Ohm meter) to make sure the switch is working.

I was just looking at the schematic and the override switch (switch on the wall) should have a fuse somewhere. That could be your problem.

Here's a link to the file.

http://www.rvtechlibrary.com/exterior/kwikee_svc_manual.pdf

Look at page page 62 towards the end.

Barney

07 Inspire 52059

---In Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com,  wrote :

Hi Barney

I did a poor job of explaining the current status of the steps. The steps will go out when the door is opened, but always go back in when the door is closed regardless of the position of the Entry Step switch. So right now, we have no way of keeping the stairs out when parked.

Trying to look at the condition and connection of the ground wire now. Still wondering about getting a new switch.

Ellen

2005 Inspire Sienna 36
Snohomish, WA

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107268
Did you turn the toggle switch to the off position? If so that switch might be the culprit.

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107269
I have the exact same problem with my 2006 Affinity. Curious on solutions as well. Thanks!

Re: Kwikee steps intermittent

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 107272
Good point check the wire at the plug for the controller to make sure that toggles.