Question Kwikee steps acting up again

[TJ&LadyDi]

I am self-imposing a "time out!" Gonna step back and take a few deep breaths. I'll be off for a bit, but will continue to track things on this great forum.

TJ

 

[Old-RV'er]

RV verses houses, hmmm, hard choice. My concern is who wins election, wrong guy/gal combination and won't be able to afford fuel for RV. But this summer, we have done several projects around the S&B. When young, nothing to it, now older, everything takes twice as long, and costs 5 times as much. So having two houses is not for me, one always needs work. Steps issues is simple, buy new controller, and before installing, make sure you seal it up in all the places it looks suspect. The gear issues is another thing entirely. Having two houses which constantly need something, and all the yardwork which goes along with that, well we got house and own lot up the street, and between the two, never have time for RV'ing.

 

[Neemer]

It appears I must find a way to get to Polson soon. No way is TJ exiting without my getting to at least shake his hand.

 

[sheridany]

@TJ&LadyDi is spot on. It’s ridiculous what we put up with for the money we spend that cost more than a house in many parts of the US to enjoy this lifestyle. We deserve better quality than the industry is giving us.

I have the same challenge with a quality service center 550 miles away. I know it’s not automotive that we are used to but at some point something has to give. Mind you there is a newmar service dealer less than 1/2 mile from where I store. Why can’t they be held to a standard because their quality is abysmal compounded with the question “Did you buy it from us?” Don’t walk. Run when you hear that.

I know one thing I like the lifestyle and seeing the country. I am searching for my next RV right now but I won’t repeat what I have already experienced. It will be interesting to see where I land when I go forward.

megaphone turned off.....

 

[Kevin D Pem]

This may help, understand that you may not want to tackle the job but you might.

 

[flyboy013]

And, I wonder if it is possible to retrofit the HWH hydraulic steps to the MADP?

TJ

I looked into the HWH step for my MADP and it was a non-starter. The design of the interior steps is completely different. With the HWH steps the storage area doesn’t exist. Plus, while I would love the more durable HWH steps, they have had their own set of issues.

 

[Neal]

@TJ&LadyDi didn't you just get a coach detail before leaving? Sounds like the pressure washer could be the culprit. Think back to other times this problem occurred, was rain or a detail involved?

I believe your VTLE was pre-owned. Your MADP you bought new. I know you've been doing this far longer than I but I have to say this is the pain of new coach shakedown. While we have a 1 year warranty on our Newmars, which is an exhausting first year getting the coach figured out, looking at everything under a magnifying glass to ensure every item is addressed while free, it doesn't end there. Year two for me was also exhausting but much of that was my tinkering but problems did occur, although don't think anything took me back to Newmar, wait, the windshield replacement, that was it. Even after two years my learning continued, probably up to year 3. The moral of this story is a new coach takes time to shakedown and figure out. Once that's done, it's a pleasure but the pleasure doesn't come until all the kinks are ironed out.

Nothing says you have to take your coach to a Newmar approved service center. Warranty items is one thing but after that I think we'll find anyone can work on our RV's, there's not much different in them and I am amazed at the knowledge of the RV mobile techs. The one I dealt with in Naples, FL was great.

Hang in there, you're probably on the verge of getting this thing nailed down. But I get it regarding at some point RVing has to come to an end, I see it when at Palm Creek where people are transitioning to the park models at their favorite destination. RVing is no fun when things aren't working right and this can be a far too frequent occurrence at times. Take a breather, get that pellet grill you've been looking for and enjoy a new hobby of cooking with a pellet grill.

Your annual leave expires at noon. Return to duty ?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Well, I guess I'm back on "limited duty" for a bit. The bad news/good news thing is that a phone call to Newmar confirmed that the step system is NOT included in the 5-year Spartan chassis warranty (bad news, though expected). And, Newmar declined to fix the problem under warranty (bad news again, and not totally unexpected on a 2+ year-old coach with a one-year warranty). At some future time, we can debate the appropriateness of a one-year warranty on a $600K+ (MSRP) coach.

Now, for the good news. Newmar did agree to send me a replacement step controller module as "a gesture of goodwill to a customer we value." OK; that's a start. The new module should be here in a few days. I will have to install it myself, or stand the cost of having it done. Not everything I would have liked, but I can live with it.

When the module gets here, I am going to call Lippert/Kwikee and see if the part number matches up with an "improved" version with better water seals. If not (and there is actually an "improved version"), I am going to request an exchange. We'll see how that goes.

Depending on what's involved, I intend to do the module swap out myself so that I can take as many precautions as possible to prevent future water intrusion into the module. We'll see how that goes too.

TJ

 

[MapNerd]

Arrived at our overnight stopover on the way home from Polson, got parked and now, the Kwikee steps are continually extending and retracting with a herky-jerky motion.

Don’t worry @TJ&LadyDi, I’ve heard of this before.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

UPDATE

Received the new step controller from Newmar yesterday. A pretty thorough inspection did not reveal any obvious water intrusion points in the controller box itself. All wires entering the box appeared to be well "potted."

There are three inline connectors on short cables that don't appear to be as well sealed and I will be generous in applying silicone sealer at all wire entry points before installing the new controller. I'm guessing this may be the source of the water entry. Once the back side is sealed, the connectors will be installed with conductive grease on the contact pins and dielectric grease on the mated housings. A final wrap with Rescue Tape or a slathering of silicone sealer (as appropriate) will be applied. And, I plan to fabricate and install some kind of water shield to keep as much direct water spray away from the controller as possible.

I did manage to contact the Lippert/Kwikee technical support folks this afternoon and they were quite willing to help, but were unable to find any indication that there is a new, more waterproof step controller available. The part number on the controller I received from Newmar is appropriate for the Series 47 step and the date code indicates that it is a 2020-manufactured unit. The P/N has not changed in the past several years and no reference was found regarding an "improved," or "redesigned" step controller module. Their take was that the part is simply the same as it has been for several years.

And, they told me that the "failure rate" on that particular step controller module has been "less than 2%." I guess my two failures are driving the averages up.

Since it is raining today (and predicted to continue doing so for the next several days), the actual step controller module replacement project is temporarily on hold.

TJ

 

[Hawkeye]

Jim, I hope your waterproofing of the controller works for you, I know all these small ($300) glitches can drive one nuts. Is my Dutchstar steps the same as your MA ? I've had the opposite problem as yours, my step wants to stay in all the time when parked, the key off and the step switch in the correct position. Of course it is intermittent, and I have worked on the ground wires numerous times. What has worked to keep it out when we are at a campsite, is to remove the door jamb magnet so that it doesn't activate the step. I wonder if you could be having some kind of magnet problem also but in reverse. When we get ready to leave I pop the jamb magnet back in, and at the next site it may work fine for a while. I have been hauling a spare controller around for a year now for when it totally fails. I wish someone would just make a simple retro fit drive motor without the auto feature and a simple in-out switch by the door. Good Luck

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Jim, I hope your waterproofing of the controller works for you, I know all these small ($300) glitches can drive one nuts. Is my Dutchstar steps the same as your MA ? I've had the opposite problem as yours, my step wants to stay in all the time when parked, the key off and the step switch in the correct position. Of course it is intermittent, and I have worked on the ground wires numerous times. What has worked to keep it out when we are at a campsite, is to remove the door jamb magnet so that it doesn't activate the step. I wonder if you could be having some kind of magnet problem also but in reverse. When we get ready to leave I pop the jamb magnet back in, and at the next site it may work fine for a while. I have been hauling a spare controller around for a year now for when it totally fails. I wish someone would just make a simple retro fit drive motor without the auto feature and a simple in-out switch by the door. Good Luck

Hi, Loren.

I'm pretty sure it is the controller module causing our step issue as it cycles itself in and out continuously. I am aware of the magnet issue as well.

My best guess (right now) is that water is getting into one (or more) of the connectors that link the controller module to the step motor. Each time we have had problems with the step misbehaving, water was involved. And, after a period of time to dry out, the step returned to normal operation.

TJ

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Hi, Loren.

I'm pretty sure it is the controller module causing our step issue as it cycles itself in and out continuously. I am aware of the magnet issue as well.

My best guess (right now) is that water is getting into one (or more) of the connectors that link the controller module to the step motor. Each time we have had problems with the step misbehaving, water was involved. And, after a period of time to dry out, the step returned to normal operation.

TJ

maybe the best mod would be move the control modual into one of the bays. You could replace the connectors to water tight connectors like those used in the auto industry for the computer.

 

[Jim]

And, Newmar declined to fix the problem under warranty (bad news again, and not totally unexpected on a 2+ year-old coach with a one-year warranty). At some future time, we can debate the appropriateness of a one-year warranty on a $600K+ (MSRP) coach.

It strikes me that Newmar is forgetting that its their clients that got them where they are today. Or is it the purchase by Winnebago that has changed things? But seriously, there shouldn't even be a discussion on the steps given this is a high-end coach. I'm not in the market for a coach of this scale, but if I was, this kind of nonsense would find disfavor with me.

 

[Neal]

Newmar has to draw the line somewhere on warranty and Kwikee steps are minuscule in the grand scheme of things. Granted if you have a problem while under warranty and that problem continues then it should be covered, and usually is. But again the high failure rate of the crap product that Kwikee is we all just have to be armed with a spare motor and controller and be ready to fix on our own.

They didn't have to step up for the upholstery issue and they did which is huge and I'm thankful for that. They probably go farther than most which is why many of us stick with them for 2 and 3 coaches in a purchase history.