Electric step, again October 16, 2019, 07:07:54 pm I have a 2014 27Mid Bath with the Quickie Electric Step. I replaced the motor in 2016 and have kept all of the rails lubed with white lithium grease. It worked great until a few days ago, but now is dead in the retracted position. No warning, it just doesn't extend. The amber light is on when I open the screen door.There is no rat damage or droppings and all of the wiring is intact. I would like to check all the fuses first, but am unable to get to the 5 amp fuse behind the over-ride switch at the entry way. How does one get to it? Is it behind the drawer under the hanging locker? What is the secret removing the drawer?I figure I'll check the 5A fuse at the switch, the 5A fuse under the dash, and the 20A fuse in the battery compartment. If they are all good, I'll see if I am getting a signal at the connector from the magnetic switch at the screen door, and if so, pull the motor and replace it again.Am I missing anything?Harold
Re: Electric step, again Reply #1 – October 16, 2019, 07:45:25 pm Harold, there are two magnets that should be visible. One on the bottom of the door frame and one on the inside of the screen door. These signal that the door is open so the step extends. If either magnet is missing, the step will not work.I have no idea what "drawer under a hanging locker" you are referring to.Steve K.
Re: Electric step, again Reply #2 – October 16, 2019, 07:47:45 pm Quote from: Blueox25 - October 16, 2019, 07:07:54 pmbut now is dead in the retracted position. No warning, it just doesn't extend. The amber light is on when I open the screen door. I would like to check all the fuses first, but am unable to get to the 5 amp fuse behind the over-ride switch at the entry way. I'll see if I am getting a signal at the connector from the magnetic switch at the screen door, and if so, pull the motor and replace it again.Problems I have seen and experienced and the fixes.-Corroded main power plug- Clean contacts and coating them coat dielectric grease.-Bad magnet reed switch- With LD's ability pull electrical wires tight, there is very little wire available to splice a new switch onto. On our Front Lounge, there is no way way to pull new wire, only less than inch of wire was left to splice to.Found the switch at Radio Shack.-The 5-amp fuse is often hidden behind the over-ride switch. Remove the switch to find the inline fuse connected to the switch's wiring, inside the wall.-Electric motor jammed- Filled with silt, needed disassembled and cleaning. The step's motor looks like a repurposed power window motor and was not sealed for exterior exposure.-Gear box jammed- Filled with silt and dirt. The gearbox is not sealed which allows dirt to easily enter. The gearbox needs to be be removed, opened up and cleaned.-Linkage broken- Replace broken parts.I have never seen a control box go bad, evidently they are well sealed.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Electric step, again Reply #3 – October 16, 2019, 08:01:20 pm Thanks Steve and Larry. I'll go for the mechanical possibilities tomorrow morning and report back.Harold
Re: Electric step, again Reply #4 – October 17, 2019, 01:40:34 am My steps have quit twice - just stopped working. Both times I lubed them carefully and they came back to life. You said you used a grease which may not get as far into some areas as needed. Try a good spray lube - generously applied to blow out grime that may be causing a jam.Frank
Re: Electric step, again Reply #5 – October 17, 2019, 10:30:59 am Why all the heart ache over the 'right' lube to use? Perhaps you may want to get the very lube that the Kwikee Company recommends! Amazon.com: Kwikee 905068000 KwikLube 11 oz. Can: Automotive 1 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Electric step, again Reply #6 – October 17, 2019, 12:07:54 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - October 17, 2019, 10:30:59 amWhy all the heart ache over the 'right' lube to use? Perhaps you may want to get the very lube that the Kwikee Company recommends! ::) Amazon.com: Kwikee 905068000 KwikLube 11 oz. Can: AutomotiveKwikee lube is a spray grease that sticks to the surface. Other common spray grease lubricants can be used.Here are a couple greases I have used that have similar characteristics to Kwikee lube and are widely available https://www.wd40.com/products/spray-gel/https://www.homedepot.com/p/Blaster-11-oz-High-Performance-White-Lithium-Grease-16-LG/202529735The most important thing is to actually use the spray lube regularly, whatever the brand .I doubt Blueox's problem is a lack of lubrication, even if jammed, the step will make noises if it is trying to move, if still operational.Larry As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Electric step, again Reply #7 – October 17, 2019, 02:29:51 pm "Kwikee lube is a spray grease that sticks to the surface."My rig is going on 16 years of age! My electric step has utilized Kwikee Lube from day number one. During that time I have not had one issue with the operation of the step. I don't argue with success (knock on wood). 1 Likes
Re: Electric step, again Reply #8 – October 17, 2019, 05:01:36 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - October 17, 2019, 02:29:51 pmMy rig is going on 16 years of age! My electric step has utilized Kwikee Lube from day number one. During that time I have not had one issue with the operation of the step. I don't argue with success (knock on wood). SteveYou live a charmed life, our electric step has been well lubricated and still has a long list of problems .Larry
Re: Electric step, again Reply #9 – October 17, 2019, 06:35:15 pm Luck of the draw, Larry!Maybe I'll have to get your help when it finally goes under!
Re: Electric step, again Reply #10 – October 17, 2019, 07:30:42 pm Hi Gang,Here is the rest of the story:1. The step was stuck in the retracted position.2. Opened and closed the door and the motor/step didn't make any noise at all.3. When the screen was opened the light under the step turned on. When the screen door was shut, the light turned off. This lead me to assume that the magnetic switch was working.4. Disconnected the 4 pin plug behind the step and all of the terminals were still cleaned and lubed from the application of dielectric grease that I applied when I repaired it last time.5. Battery voltage is 13.4V. Using a VOM, there was no voltage between ground and any of the terminals when the screen was closed. When the door was opened, 13.4V at two of the connections, likely the light and the motor. With this information, I skipped looking for fuses and assumed the problem was mechanical. Kept connector disconnected to eliminate surprises.6. With the step retracted, there isn't much room to work. I removed the three long bolts holding the motor to the actuator and the motor wouldn't budge. I assumed it was gear bind at the motor-gear /mechanism-gear inside the actuator. Gently pried the motor loose and the step easily fell to the extended position. The interior gears were well lubed and no crud inside.7. The step easily extended and retracted by hand, so I assumed it was a bad motor.8. Connected the 4 pin plug and opened the screen and the motor ran. Closed the screen and the motor ran the opposite direction. There was now a possibility that motor might be OK.9. Carefully cleaned every hinge pin, slider, etc. in the entire step and actuator, re-greased the internal gears with lithium red grease, re-greased all of the moving hinges and pivots for the step and the mechanism with white lithium grease. I have been using the PB Blaster white lithium spray grease that Larry cited in his post.10. Opened the screen door with the plug connected to run the motor in the correct direction. Disconnect the plug to eliminate unintended motor actuation and finger squeezing. Extended the step and re-attached the motor to the mechanism.11. Diaelectric grease to the plug terminals and connect plug. Open and close the screen to check.12. It all works as it should, in and out.I suspect that this indicates that either I need to lube the step more often (I lube it before each trip), or use a different grease, or both. I'll try the Quickie Grease, but I suspect that climbing under the motorhome and playing with the failed step will be a regular event. This is the second failed step event in the three years we have owned the LD. The powered step is one option that I would not have ordered, had we bought the coach new.If I got paid by the job, I would starve. If I got paid by the hour, I would be fired.Harold 2 Likes
Re: Electric step, again Reply #11 – October 17, 2019, 08:17:49 pm Too much lube? I've lubed our Kwikee steps every 5 to 8 years, usually when it squeaks, no problems otherwise. My steps have both been ahead of the rear wheels - are yours behind the wheels?
Re: Electric step, again Reply #12 – October 17, 2019, 09:14:32 pm Quote from: Blueox25 - October 17, 2019, 07:30:42 pm1. The step was stuck in the retracted position.2. Opened and closed the door and the motor/step didn't make any noise at all.12. It all works as it should, in and out.I suspect that this indicates that either I need to lube the step more often (I lube it before each trip), or use a different grease, or both. Since the gearbox was clean and well lubed and you regularly lube the exterior linkage, there is a good chance the problem is still present and occurs intermittently.Other possibilities are the motor is binding, needing cleaning and/or lubrication . The other is the plug has an iffy pin.The motor can be difficult to clean and lube, getting to the back bearing usually requires pulling the armature out. When reassembling the motor, holding the brushes back, to clear the commutator, can be next to impossible, depending on the motor and the access to the brushes. Kwikee has used different motors through the years.If the motor cannot overcome the initial resistance to start moving, the step's controller immediately shuts the power off. It can happen so quickly that there is no noticeable noise.The controller monitors amperage draw and automatically shut the motor's power off when it reaches a preset point, this why the steps stops if the step hits a curb or other solid object, when opening. There are no limits switches used to control how far the step extends or retracts, it's done electronically in the controller by monitoring amperage draw.You mentioned you had applied dielectric grease to the 4-pin plug previously,indicating you have had problems before . One or more of the plug's pins could be damaged and barely touching, causing an intermittent problem, the hardest to find. Maybe the plug was not fully closed. When filled with dielectric grease, it can take a bit of force for the pins to push the grease out of the way, the first time it is assembled. Larry
Re: Electric step, again Reply #13 – October 17, 2019, 10:21:18 pm Larry,Thanks for the suggestions. We will be leaving on a three week trip in a week, so we will get a chance to see if it is an intermittent problem. They are sure the hardest ones to solve.As for the dielectric grease on the connector pins, the last time I had that apart was when I replaced the step motor three years ago.Harold
Re: Electric step, again Reply #14 – October 18, 2019, 12:54:23 am Not having much technical ability and no longer being an owner, I would offer:Have you checked the house batteries? How old are they? We only had troubles with our electric steps when the house batteries failed due to age.Do everything everyone else suggests, but go back to Step One...the batteries.TinaP2006 MB
Re: Electric step, again Reply #15 – October 18, 2019, 10:41:53 am Thanks for the suggestion Tina. In our case, the batteries are good.Harold
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