Stuck Step

oreddie · 04-05-2015, 06:11 PM

Greetings -

The electric step on our Thor Citation Sprinter 24SR will not retract. It doesn't retract when the engine starts or when the door is closed regardless of the step switch position.

There's no reference to a manual procedure for retracting the step in the Thor Generic Manual for All Motorhomes Thor Builds and I don't see anything short of disconnecting a lot of parts that I can do.

Any thoughts?

oreddie · 04-06-2015, 03:10 PM

I resolved this issue myself. To my surprise I discovered that the step power comes from coach rather than engine. If one removes coach batteries (IE for winter season) or if the batteries otherwise drain the steps will not operate.

Still don't know if there's a manual method to retract. Looking at step manufacturer might find something.

**EA37TS** · 04-06-2015, 03:35 PM

Check out this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkdBVmsi_vY

Beacher · 04-06-2015, 04:22 PM

While on my maiden voyage, and shake down tour, I had the pleasure of purchasing a "2 Bungee Cord Pack" at DisneyWorld's Fort Wilderness camp store for about $19.00!

My coach's step main pinion bolt sheared off on night one! Mine is a Lippert.

oreddie · 04-06-2015, 07:34 PM

Many thanks! Both the video and the bungee on board idea helped. I'll be ready next time.

Ed

w6lmj · 08-08-2017, 11:46 PM

Hi,
I am in the second month of owning a Thor Citation 24SR. During my initial service visit to solve a bathroom faucet problem and to report that the AM radio did not work in the MH, the step failed to come down. When I picked it up a few days later, the step was working fine. The service tech pointed to the two magnet system and implied that had been serviced. Now more than a month later the same problem has occurred again. Steps won't come down. I am about to go out with a stronger magnet and see if that can activate it. Well, a more powerful magnet did not solve the problem. I am in Florida, so called the La Mesa customer service and they connected me with a good fellow in service at La Mesa in San Deigo, CA. He thought there was a reset button and that powe for the steps comes from the vehicle power. But stopped working with me when he discovered I did not buy from La Mesa in San Deigo.

oreddie · 08-09-2017, 12:26 AM

We had stuck step syndrom on our 2015 Citation 24SR twice. In each case it was power to the step that was the issue. After many tries it was finally traced to a bad breaker (fuse/circuit?).

We spent several months manually raising and lowering, securing with a ratcheting cargo strap to keep them up.

Except for the total failure of the gear bolt (subject of a recall and repaired last summer but not before I fell on my a.. entering the coach) the steps have worked fine since the electrical issue was found and repaired.

w6lmj · 08-09-2017, 02:13 AM

Thank you for the feedback. Is there a fuse or part of the circuit I can test?

w6lmj · 08-09-2017, 03:03 AM

Is there a fuse or something that I can check? I have a 2017 Citation 24SR. Now, twice, the step has failed to extend. he first time I was at the dealership for another problem and they fixed it. But now it has failed to extend again and I am due to start a trip in the afternoon. I plan to be at the dealership when they open and ask them to fix it. But the problem is, if it is just a blown fuse, chanes are it will just happen again and again until they identify where the short is or why it happens, and fix the underlying cause.

SuperD · 08-09-2017, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w6lmj

Is there a fuse or something that I can check? I have a 2017 Citation 24SR. Now, twice, the step has failed to extend. he first time I was at the dealership for another problem and they fixed it. But now it has failed to extend again and I am due to start a trip in the afternoon. I plan to be at the dealership when they open and ask them to fix it. But the problem is, if it is just a blown fuse, chanes are it will just happen again and again until they identify where the short is or why it happens, and fix the underlying cause.

The steps and associated wiring are in a very exposed position, vulnerable to lots of road debris. If you can, crawl under the coach and inspect the wiring very throughly. I found several wires loose and dangling, secured everything out of the way with zip ties to lessen the chance of damage.

mikos · 09-03-2017, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oreddie

We had stuck step syndrom on our 2015 Citation 24SR twice. In each case it was power to the step that was the issue. After many tries it was finally traced to a bad breaker (fuse/circuit?).

We spent several months manually raising and lowering, securing with a ratcheting cargo strap to keep them up.

Except for the total failure of the gear bolt (subject of a recall and repaired last summer but not before I fell on my a.. entering the coach) the steps have worked fine since the electrical issue was found and repaired.

Hello, I am having a similar issue on the same RV can you point me to the fuse/breaker that was the issue?

Thanks
Mike

oreddie · 09-03-2017, 04:07 PM

Mike,

I'm not near my rig right now but I recall the tech wrote up the repair as a "Defective House Breaker replaced". Seems the house breaker was shorting or something and causing the coach battery disconnect to fail, wouldn't reconnect.

If your coach has power then I don't think that's your issue. In almost every thread though it suggests an electrical issue/gremlin was the problem behind stuck steps.

Laco · 09-03-2017, 05:17 PM

Haven't had a problem with the step on the Gemini, but did on previous coach. They are a real PITA to deal with. Have to get under the step and disassemble the drive and motor to work it manually. Usually its a loose wire, or packed in dirt at the motor and drive gear. Because of where the step is, its pretty vulnerable to dirt and flying road debris while underway.

mikos · 09-03-2017, 08:03 PM

Thanks everyone.

BFBranin · 02-19-2022, 10:26 PM

Hello my step does not retract when the ignition is turned on. I was told that there may be a blown fuse. I can not find the fuses that control the step. Does anyone know where the fuse panel is? It in part of the fuses for the chassis or is there a separate panel for the coach?

Beau388 · 02-19-2022, 11:23 PM

You need to describe your coach and year as each as each Thor Industries' factory is individually managed. On most plant 750 coaches (class A - gas)the step is powered from the chassis battery through a 100 amp 12 volt DC CB. There power then tuns through a 8 awg cable to as separate control; board with fuses and relays which is usually located by the drivers left foot. From the relays and fuse, power. goes to the step control module located just behind the steps themselves. Trouble shooting and normal operation are explained in the owners manual found on the Internet. <https://support.lci1.com/kwikee-steps>

Pete'sMH · 02-20-2022, 12:04 AM

Mine has a fuse in the power lead near the motor. Use a volt meter at the motor to see if it has power. The steps often fail due to a stripped gear in the drive mechanism although you’d probably hear the motor running if that was your problem. It’s not an expensive or difficult repair if that IS your issue. In the meantime you should be able to operate your steps manually by crawling under and removing the cotter pin that links the operator to the steps. Once the pin is removed you can just lift or extend the steps by hand. Just don’t forget!

paulwadley · 02-20-2022, 02:01 AM

Remember when you are working on the steps to disconnect the power cable/cord from step motor. If you have your hands/fingers in the step mechanism and it should suddenly begin to operate, you could lose a finger or two. That step motor is powerful.

Paul

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