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Entry Steps

Yahoo Message Number: 20441
Anyone have this problem?

As I was driving on the freeway, the "entry steps out" words illuminated. Sure enough they were out. I stopped, flipped the inside switch and they came in then I drove on. During the next 100 miles or so the light came on several times and the steps went in and out without any rhyme or reason.

What is going on?

Shirley, Allure '06, 31290

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20443
If your model has an entry door jam switch, it could need adjustment.

Jim HUghes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: Shirley O'Brien\[br\
] >

Anyone have this problem?

As I was driving on the freeway, the "entry steps out" words > illuminated. Sure enough they were out. I stopped, flipped the > inside switch and they came in then I drove on. During the next 100 > miles or so the light came on several times and the steps went in

and

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20446
We have had this happen ... once while leaving Lazy Days.

Kinda scary when you going thru a narrow toll booth.
I always assumed it was the door switch as was mentioned, but have not done anything about it. I opened and closed the door and watched the step lights go on and off about 1,000 times, and never got it to fail.
Really scary when they didn't come OUT once ... long first step. On our list for next rip to LD.

A agree it is most likely a bad door switch.

John and Terry
2005 Affinity

Quote from: Shirley O'Brien\[br\
]

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20448
Hi Shirly,

We had the problem, a failed door jam switch. It happened just before we crossed over into Canada. I hotfooted it over to the local car parts store and bought a 30 amp toggle switch (an on-off switch), and installed it just inside the door where the inside step light is on our coach. It works great, and I can see it from the driver's seat. There have been lots of complaints about this switch, which seems to fail a little bit at a time. Ours failed in the "open" position, so the steps wouldn't go in or out! The two wires are accessible from under the front of your coach. It's not a hard job.
Good luck,

Claude, currently in San Diego area 1997 Affinity #5448

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20453
I had the same exact problem with my steps. The light would illuminate while traveling and the steps would go out and in continuously. The ground wire had rusted out and caused a short. It was easy to repair and never had the problem since. This happened on my 2000 Intigue. I now have a 2006 Allure.

Grant

31315 '06 Allure

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 20467
I found a poor ground connection under the coach for that switch.
Cleaned it up and things were then OK.

Dean

95 CC Magna

Entry Steps

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63732
We have a 2005 Inspire. The entry steps go in and out as we drive or if we are just camped. Does anyone have any ideas ?

Stan 2005 Inspire

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63734
Make sure the ground wire from the step controller makes good electrical connection to the frame...

buck

k7wn, '99magna5653

===================================================

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63743
Stan,

One easy first step that you could try, would be to shine up the brass door contacts.
I spent a month at ODR Newport, just off the beach, and much of that time the front door was open.
The salt air tarnished the contacts, and I had the exact problem you are now having.
Good luck!
Jim

2005 40' Inspire 51225

Entry Steps

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63744
I won't have the proper words for the parts....use a lot of "watchamacallits" when talking about my Inspire, but...on the door, there are connectors that must connect properly with other connectors on the door jam. Sometimes those connectors get stuck and they are supposed to move in and out. Check them to be certain they are moving in and out and clean them off. That helps when this happens to me.

Carol

'04 Inspire 51046

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63745
You might put a light coating of dielectric grease on those contacts to keep them from corroding. Wiping the corrosion off with a scrub pad is easy enough to do, however. Do not use cooking oil or any product that might have animal fat or salt in it, or you will compound the problem. I use either a good silicone grease I got when working for NASA, or a "distributor rebuild" grease available at hardware stores.
Just being aware of the problem is the key, of course, and not a major maintenance item.

Jack Nichols, 2003 Intrigue 11527

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63749
Ours was a defective door switch. I removed it and took it to an electronics supply house. Needed to find the correct plunger length. Defective sw was a SPST (normally closed, NC, older step controller) That was a tough sw to find so purchased a SPDT and connected as a NC switch. Think the sw cost me $2. Newer coaches have Normally Open, NO switches. Car door light switched are usually NC.

Judy n Joe

98 Intrigue 10578

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63752
my i'st CC had this problem i shimed the switch out with somthing & it worked from then on. you can also put something on the door to push the button on the switch in farther. bob '02Magna6028

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63758

The Inspire doesn't use the standard Quickee door switch. Near the bottom of the door hinge you will see the number of brass contacts. As suggestede already clean these contacts. Don't use anything conductive as you may blow some fuses by shorting therse contacts. I stole the wifes emory (or however that is spelled - the fingernail sandpaper thingy) and that works. Don't overdo it, just clean them up.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63760
Mine did that too and I found the "button" switch on the door jam/frame was loose. Tightening the two screws solved the problem. I had to remove the plastic trim on the door jam/frame to gain access to the screws.

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63761
Hd tha tproblem on our '06 Allure.
When it was new we had it at both a Coach Care and at the CC factory but they could never find a fault.
I removed the protective plate underneath and found that the ground wire was "pinched" under the controller. After replacing it the problem would still occur but more rarely.
I then disconnected the ignition wire to the controller (at the controller) and in the last couple of years and have only ha dit re-occur once. But once can be enough so we're going install a complete power off switch so that when we're underway it can't deploy.
Based upon our experience I would re-do the ground to the controller and maybe even the power -- both from ignition and battery -- just to be safe.

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63762
I also have issues with an erratic 42 series Kiwikee step on my 2000 Affinity, which I suspect is due to a "controller" issue. Since my door-jam switch is of the "normally open" type and thus when the door opens the contact closes providing "ground" both to the quikee steps sensor lead and to my step-well light via common wiring. Virtually 100% of the time, when the door opens, the light comes on and the steps go out. This tells me the that the controller to frame ground is also making at least adequate contact to allow the motor to have operating power. It is when I close the door and the switch contact "opens" thus ending the "ground" contact on this lead that the step light always goes off - but the steps now more often than not - remain open until I push the door-jam switch in the 5th or 6th time. Sometimes more! I can always hear the switch "click" and get the proper response from the light. Just not from the stepswhen it is time to come in. My "steps-on/off" switch on the dash seems to have no bearing on when to expect a failure and the "ignition-on" switch may or may not bring the steps in. Additionally, the steps will go out or out and immediately in either in "park" or running down the road. It may be my imagination, but I think the steps are more likely to go out on their own as my speed slows. However they will go out on their own at highway speeds and rarely return on their own. It can't hurt to clean my controller to frame ground, but you can probably see why I think my problem is in thwe controller itself.

Apparently Kiwikee ownership has changed hands, moved to Indiana, and stopped all means of direct customer support. I'm also told they no longer offer a controller supporting a "normally-open" door jam switch so you now have to buy a conversion package for over $300 which includes a new controller and motor and a change-out of the door jam switch. I'll advise the group as I have more to report. I still have trouble understanding why a new motor has to be purchased just because kwikee changed their lead for a "ground" contact from normally open to normally closed.

Kent & Dale '00 Affinity 5801

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63767
Ok you can get a new controller kit from Kwikee supplied from several dealers. I got one for a 95 intrigue and a 200 Holida rambler from a company in Ca. The price was 148 dollars in June of this year. A rv parts supplier in Elkhart wanted 280 for the same kit. The magnetic switch will be in the package. here is one for 179.00 http://www.rvsupplydepot.com/Kwikee-Control-Unit-New-Style-W-905323-_AND-905327-Switch-Kit/Kwikee/909506003/Product.htm?ProductID=136&CategoryID=-1 Jerry Wessel
10120 intrigue

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63769
There is a section in the Kwikee manual for checking out the step functions. I unplugged the controller connector and "Jerry Rigged" connection to the controller. I was able to verify all the functions and know the problem was not in the controller. Way back when Kwikee had tech support, had the controller go out in our 98 intrigue. At that point Kwikee did not sell the controller that accommodated the NC door switch, so I used a relay to change the output of the switch. It would have been easier to change the switch. The door switch was covered with RTV, I didn't have the switch and had a relay. Think the controller cost me about $120.

Judy n Joe

98 Intrigue 10578

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63869
I've read all the response and haven't seen the one I used. We also got a coach that had been sitting for a year or so. When we got it, the step would go in and out on its own. I just sprayed the door frame switch with contact cleaner. It got better; so I did it a few more times and that took care of the problem. I assume the contacts just needed cleaning and were jamming.

Brian

Allure #30507

Shirley O'Brien wrote:

Entry Steps

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77493
Hi All.

My entry steps on my 2004 Inspire will not extend. The fuse is good, what could the issue be?

Help
Walt

2004 Inspire
51010

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77501
Possible broken ground wire inside entry door. Recently happened to me.
2008 Intrigue 42 ft. 12234

Roy Simmons

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77506
That happened to my 2006 Inspire. The controller was defective and both the motor and controller had to be replaced because they come as a set now.

Robert Braun
2006 Inspire
Robert Braun
2006 CC Inspire

Re: Entry Steps

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 77507
Walt - Not sure if your bus is setup like mine but perhaps there are parallels that will be helpful. Here's a shot of the interior of the door and the cable run that snakes through the hinge area. http://muniac.smugmug.com/Maintenance/Entry-Step-Repair/i-2JCL5dc/0/M/img1252-M.jpg In my case, the steps wouldn't retract but I don't think that matters much. In the infinite wisdom of the designers, the cable type isn't high flex wire and the cable run and its restraints are ill conceived. I had two failures, one for the alarm and the other for the entry steps. In both cases it was traced to a broken wire. The wires broke as a result of fatigue from repeated pulling and flexing. Each door open/close cycle caused the cable to bend. Conductors can break (and did in my case) inside the insulation which makes visual inspection tricky. You'll need to look very carefully at each wire to include moving it at its logical point of flexure. Make sure it looks and feels like a proper wire. If you are lucky an individual wire (usually black with a cryptic # marking) outside the grey vinyl sheath will be broken. That one is easy to spot. That same wire can be broken inside the grey sheath making detection somewhat more difficult. Look for flex marks (or a flat out break) on the grey sheath as a clue to where a conductor might be broken.
In my case I had enough extra cable left in the run to pull it through (toward the door) beyond the breaks. I cut the bad cable off, skinned the wires and installed crimp connectors. This effectively gave me new undamaged cable. Be very careful to do this one wire at a time so as not to screw up the wiring. I then secured the cable with a tie wrap to prevent flex at (or near) the terminal block. I also lubricated the cable's sheath with silicon grease to allow the door grommet to slide over the cable. This keeps the cable's flex to a minimum.
I didn't really solve the problem I just delayed the next repair. The wire isn't proper for the service it's being used for and the cable run isn't correct either. One only need look at door jamb cable runs on cars, trucks and vans to see how to do it correctly. My van doors have been open/closed probably 10 thousand times and the cable runs are fine. This example wasn't followed, however.
You may have another problem but the broken wire(s) is common and a good place to start. There is an electronic control module on my steps that could be bad. There is also a door switch (see photo above). I think these are less likely failures. Here's a shot of me inspecting and checking the control module and associated connectors: http://muniac.smugmug.com/Maintenance/Entry-Step-Repair/i-4MkWCWX/0/M/img1256-M.jpg It's another way I enjoy the RV lifestyle. In your tech manual there is a complete circuit diagram of the entry step wiring. It includes the door switch (SPDT micro switch) which should be checked. Good luck and I hope this helps you.

At 05:15 PM 2/19/2012, you wrote: