Resolved Electric Steps Stopped Working

[BigRig]

Here is some mfg information Kwikee® Steps | Lippert Customer Care Center

Or how to find model #

Joe,
Thanks for the help!

 

[BigRig]

No problem... In addition to the motor, and controller spare...I did purchase these wire dongles. I think you'll find that guide you referenced has you use these in troubleshooting. I have them...hope not to have to dive that deep to get things sorted.

Charles,
Just wanted to say thanks again for all the assistance.
Motor & Controller ordered!
Good news is all the "4-Pin trouble shooting" has been accomplished and it all checked out. For example, the red wire has 12 volts, etc. (each wire has its own positive results) and all grounds checked for continuity.
Has to be the motor or controller. So now we wait for parts.
Controller will be here Friday (from Amazon).
AM Equipment sent e-mail confirming receipt of order and processing. but no delivery estimates. Wrote back and asked if they could provide delivery date or tracking information. Have not received a reply.
Do you recall delivery time when you ordered from them?

 

[Scooterfan]

Recently I had the same issue. So after some expert consultation (YOUTUBE) I thought I would simply cover all the bases. I ordered a new motor, a new screen door contact switch, a new controller, etc. Received via AMAZON then went to work replacing the items. I used shrink wrap and neatly ran all new wiring. I was proud of myself to such a professional installation. I managed to crawl out from under the step and gave it a try. Nothing. I finally had to call in a professional. At $80.00 per hour, and after a brief looksie he discovered that my controller was no good. My brand new controller, made in China, didn't work right out of the box. I purchased one from the RV repair man and it worked flawlessly. I pray your installation is flawless. Just wanted to share so you may want to check new parts if necessary. Blessings

 

[Chuggs]

Charles,
Just wanted to say thanks again for all the assistance.
Motor & Controller ordered!
Good news is all the "4-Pin trouble shooting" has been accomplished and it all checked out. For example, the red wire has 12 volts, etc. (each wire has its own positive results) and all grounds checked for continuity.
Has to be the motor or controller. So now we wait for parts.
Controller will be here Friday (from Amazon).
AM Equipment sent e-mail confirming receipt of order and processing. but no delivery estimates. Wrote back and asked if they could provide delivery date or tracking information. Have not received a reply.
Do you recall delivery time when you ordered from them?

I'm always happy to hang out and talk rv stuff. Sorry, I do not remember how long it took for the part to arrive. One motor ( I have ordered a couple of them) I used to replace a friends motor...and he just ordered one and shipped it to my home. Never know what kind of parts a few Newmars parked nearby might have.

 

[BigRig]

Recently I had the same issue. So after some expert consultation (YOUTUBE) I thought I would simply cover all the bases. I ordered a new motor, a new screen door contact switch, a new controller, etc. Received via AMAZON then went to work replacing the items. I used shrink wrap and neatly ran all new wiring. I was proud of myself to such a professional installation. I managed to crawl out from under the step and gave it a try. Nothing. I finally had to call in a professional. At $80.00 per hour, and after a brief looksie he discovered that my controller was no good. My brand new controller, made in China, didn't work right out of the box. I purchased one from the RV repair man and it worked flawlessly. I pray your installation is flawless. Just wanted to share so you may want to check new parts if necessary. Blessings

Thanks for the heads up! Fingers crossed!!

 

[flyboy013]

Late to the game, but have you pulled the motor off yet? I believe its just 3 bolts (don't loose the spacers). The motor is easy to test. Just jumper the two wire connector to a 12V battery. Doesn't matter which is positive and negative. One way will run the motor in one direction and the other will run it in the other direction. Just use some alligator clips to hook up to a 12V battery.

As for the controller, the one I bought off of Amazon came with the other half of the 4 pin connector which made it easy to test the existing controller. Just apply 12V and/or ground according to the troublelshooting manual.

I bought a controller off of Amazon and found that the override function did perform correctly. It retracted the steps when the engine was started but did not extend when I opened the door. Anyway, just make sure you thoroughly test after installation.

 

[BigRig]

Thanks for the tips!
Curious what you did after you found out the controller from Amazon did not function properly? Did you purchase one from Kwikee/Lippert?

 

[BigRig]

I'm always happy to hang out and talk rv stuff. Sorry, I do not remember how long it took for the part to arrive. One motor ( I have ordered a couple of them) I used to replace a friends motor...and he just ordered one and shipped it to my home. Never know what kind of parts a few Newmars parked nearby might have.

Charles,
Switching Gears On You!
While I am waiting on parts I wanted to get your input on another issue.
Last night I saw a photo, on Facebook, of a terrible RV accident. There were actually several photos of an RV that was blown to smithereens. The accompany story was the campers were experiencing some trouble lighting their gas stovetop. Which made me think of something the previous owner of my coach told me. His story was his family came back to the RV after being out for a while and one of the stovetop knobs had gotten bumped to the on position on the way out. The coach was filled with propane. I asked, "you mean there is no thermocouple?" He said no. Just does not seem like Newmar would not have some type of built-in safety mechanism to keep this from happening? I have not researched it and just keep my gas off. Thoughts?

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

When we leave our rig, we turn off both water and propane to avoid any potential issues from water damage or gas leaks.

 

[BigRig]

When we leave our rig, we turn off both water and propane to avoid any potential issues from water damage or gas leaks.

Sounds like a sound practice. Thanks!

 

[flyboy013]

Thanks for the tips!
Curious what you did after you found out the controller from Amazon did not function properly? Did you purchase one from Kwikee/Lippert?

I made it work good enough. I ended up adding a relay so that when it sensed the correct condition in the override or door wire, it would open or close or whatever I needed. It was a few years ago, so I don’t recall the exact configuration. The change was on the controller side of the 4 pin connector, so if I ever have to change the controller again, the changes I made will be removed along with the old controller.

 

[BigRig]

I made it work good enough. I ended up adding a relay so that when it sensed the correct condition in the override or door wire, it would open or close or whatever I needed. It was a few years ago, so I don’t recall the exact configuration. The change was on the controller side of the 4 pin connector, so if I ever have to change the controller again, the changes I made will be removed along with the old controller.

 

[BigRig]

Got it!
Thanks

 

[Chuggs]

Our Ventana is all electric. However, we do carry a gallon sized propane cylinder for camp cooking. Our previous fifth wheel has propane.

It is NRVIA requirement to have a detector if propane is installed.

I believe only three things can save us.

Annual maintenance.
Pre and post trip checklists
LUCK!

Most of the ones I have seen online seemed to have winds blowing up the exhaust...or leaking dometic fridges operating on Propane. The refrigerant lines are filled with Ammonia, Hydrogen Gas, and a zinc chromate rust inhibitor. The hydrogen gas is most likely to release first if a line leaks or ruptures...and there would be an open flame very handy if operating on propane.

Most of today's valves have a built-in limit setting...at which time it sets a fuse and stops the flow of propane. This basically a protection if you have a burst line...causing excessive loss of gas.

 

[BigRig]

Gentlemen, I am Happy To Report - Kwikee Electric Step In Now WORKING!
The culprit was the controller. Coupled with all the help from you guys and following the trouble shooting instructions in the Kwikee Step Owner's Manual we are good to go. Just in time for our departure, Monday. Full disclosure, I order both a controller and a motor. The Amazon sourced controller showed up in two days. Ordered the motor from AM Equipment the day before I ordered controller and it's not here. The AM Equipment product is an exact OEM replacement, so it was the right thing to do. But if the motor was the issue, I would be in a pickle.

Fortunately, I did figure out a way to get the step out and lock into place. But it was truly "backyard" engineering!

Thanks again for all the suggestions/recommendations and personal experiences.