20' Thor ACE 30.2 Schwintek Slide Not Working

[Shanks12]

Hey All!

I have a 2020 Thor ACE 30.2 with Super Slide.

I went to pick up my camper from storage and found that the house batteries were dead (I accidentally left the cut off switch on). There wasn't enough juice to fire up Gen or even run the radio/gps. When I started the motor and went to put it into Drive, the auto-level system beeped at me saying jacks down (even though I never put them down). I held down the Emergency Start and was able to push the retract all jacks. It then stopped beeping.

I didn't have my multimeter on me but when I got home the two house batteries were at 12.22. It wouldn't let me use the lower the jacks at home so I plugged the camper into 50a and let it charge for 6 hours. I then was able to lower the jacks and level the camper. At this point while plugged into shore power I was reading 13.36.

I tried to move the Schwintek slide out, but only the rear would move about 4 inches then stop. The front didn't budge (besides start to angle due to being pushed). I then tried to bring it all back in then continued to hold the retract button to try and sync the motors. I did this several times. Front never moved.

I went out to the controller and unplugged the power for a minute (my goodness they put these in the worst places) and tried again. Nothing but the rear worked.

With my RV, the slide only works with the motor running and jacks down. Does it sound like I have enough battery power to run this with being on shore power and motor running with house batteries at 13.36 - or does this sound like I might have a slide motor go bad?

I have a trip I'm supposed to go on tomorrow, but that might not be happening. I called my dealer and they have no appointments open for 4 weeks. But I MAY be able to get a mobile tech out today or tomorrow. Waiting on a call back.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[Pete'sMH]

It doesn’t sound like a battery problem to me. Did you check the controller for a diagnostic code? It should tell you what’s going on with your front motor. If I had to guess I’d think it might be a wiring or ground failure. If you have a second slide you might consider switching the controllers to see if that helps. When mine failed on an earlier coach I learned to enjoy the remainder of my trip without using the slide until it could be repaired! Hope you don’t have to cancel your trip.

[Shanks12]

This is the only slide we have. After I attempted to move the slide I went to check the controller for the flashing lights, but none were flashing.

Could that indicate a bad controller? Is there only a small window of flashing lights that I can't see them before walking out and around the camper.

They put it inside a small storage door that I cannot fit inside and put the power/neg within 1.5" of the wall so trying to pull out the power and put it back was a real pain.

[16ACE27]

Switch the motor connections and try again, you may need to push RETRACT to extend it with the cables switched. If you have the same symptom you have a front motor issue, if the rear now fails to move you have a controller issue.

[EA37TS]

If you have the motorized drop down bunk the controller should be the same as the slide. Swap them out and give it a try.

Did you check the wire connection on the motor not operating?

[Shanks12]

So I thought to go out and put a camera on it to get a video of what it is doing (without switching motor plugins) and this is what it is doing on pushing it out then pulling it back in.

This is the best way i can tell to share a video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H2u...ew?usp=sharing

The lights blink so fast, but I believe it blinks 9 times. which is "HALL PWR SHORT to GND"

Lippert Part #13398-D0

Can anyone help me figure out what to check next? Should I still attempt to swap the motor plugs?

Edit - watching the video at .25 speed, it almost seems as if it blinks 10 times. Which the fault codes only go to 9. Not sure if I am reading that correctly or seeing the correct amount of blinks.

[Shanks12]

Originally Posted by EA37TS

If you have the motorized drop down bunk the controller should be the same as the slide. Swap them out and give it a try.

Did you check the wire connection on the motor not operating?

We do have the drop down bunk. Any idea where that controller would be?

As far as checking the wire connections, do you mean at the motor or the controller? The motor I assume is tucked in the wall, so not able to check visually

[16ACE27]

You don't need the "CODE" tags, just post the link (fixed it for you).

Originally Posted by Troubleshooting Guide

The "9" error code signifies a short in the red or black wire on the motor. Replace the motor.

[Shanks12]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

You don't need the "CODE" tags, just post the link (fixed it for you).

Thank you - I wasn't sure if that type of link was allowed with me only having a small number of posts on this forum.

So if that is 9 blinks, the motor needs to be replaced then? Hopefully it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get it replaced.

[16ACE27]

Just as a "Hail Mary" if you have another person to operate the switch you may try assisting the front of the slide by pushing it out while attempting to extend it with the switch. It may just be stuck from a sticky seal, etc and that may be just enough to get it broke loose. Nothing to lose by trying.

You're above the magic number of 5 posts to post links.

A stalled motor appears as a shorted motor.

[Shanks12]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Just as a "Hail Mary" if you have another person to operate the switch you may try assisting the front of the slide by pushing it out while attempting to extend it with the switch. It may just be stuck from a sticky seal, etc and that may be just enough to get it broke loose. Nothing to lose by trying.

You're above the magic number of 5 posts to post links.

A stalled motor appears as a shorted motor.

^ I did attempt to do this last night. It didn't appear to make any difference. I may still try swapping the plugs for motors and see if that does anything. But its sounding more like I have a motor problem.

[Shanks12]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Switch the motor connections and try again, you may need to push RETRACT to extend it with the cables switched. If you have the same symptom you have a front motor issue, if the rear now fails to move you have a controller issue.

I went out and tested this. The front stayed while the rear still moved. It was indeed backwards, but the result was the same.

I assume this indicates that it is indeed a motor issue?

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Shanks12

I went out and tested this. The front stayed while the rear still moved. It was indeed backwards, but the result was the same.

I assume this indicates that it is indeed a motor issue?

That would be my next step and hope that's the problem. It may also be a cabling problem to that motor. Thing is, it's going to be impossible to change that motor without some exterior damage with the slide in. I think you have to leave this to the people that have the capability to manually move that slide out a few inches. You could access the motor area from the inside and just verify the cable is plugged into the motor.

[Shanks12]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

That would be my next step and hope that's the problem. It may also be a cabling problem to that motor. Thing is, it's going to be impossible to change that motor without some exterior damage with the slide in. I think you have to leave this to the people that have the capability to manually move that slide out a few inches. You could access the motor area from the inside and just verify the cable is plugged into the motor.

Yeah that's what I was worried about. I just went back through my purchase literature and remembered that we did buy the Good Sam Ext Service Plan which says

"Coach Coverage Only" —

Slide-Out Room Unit(s) coverage includes but is not limited to:

»» All Mechanical, electrical and hydraulic components, including generator slide-out

So I am hoping that this is all covered. Sadly its looking more and more like I will miss my camping trip this weekend.

[Kona Tom]

Originally Posted by Shanks12

Hey All!

I have a 2020 Thor ACE 30.2 with Super Slide.

I went to pick up my camper from storage and found that the house batteries were dead (I accidentally left the cut off switch on). There wasn't enough juice to fire up Gen or even run the radio/gps. When I started the motor and went to put it into Drive, the auto-level system beeped at me saying jacks down (even though I never put them down). I held down the Emergency Start and was able to push the retract all jacks. It then stopped beeping.

I didn't have my multimeter on me but when I got home the two house batteries were at 12.22. It wouldn't let me use the lower the jacks at home so I plugged the camper into 50a and let it charge for 6 hours. I then was able to lower the jacks and level the camper. At this point while plugged into shore power I was reading 13.36.

I tried to move the Schwintek slide out, but only the rear would move about 4 inches then stop. The front didn't budge (besides start to angle due to being pushed). I then tried to bring it all back in then continued to hold the retract button to try and sync the motors. I did this several times. Front never moved.

I went out to the controller and unplugged the power for a minute (my goodness they put these in the worst places) and tried again. Nothing but the rear worked.

With my RV, the slide only works with the motor running and jacks down. Does it sound like I have enough battery power to run this with being on shore power and motor running with house batteries at 13.36 - or does this sound like I might have a slide motor go bad?

I have a trip I'm supposed to go on tomorrow, but that might not be happening. I called my dealer and they have no appointments open for 4 weeks. But I MAY be able to get a mobile tech out today or tomorrow. Waiting on a call back.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

I had the exact same problem today on my Thor Windsport. I replaced the two auxiliary batteries and everything started to work. If you replace those batteries make sure you take pictures of the cables and posts. I also marked each battery cable and it’s location.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Kona Tom

I had the exact same problem today on my Thor Windsport. I replaced the two auxiliary batteries and everything started to work. If you replace those batteries make sure you take pictures of the cables and posts. I also marked each battery cable and it’s location.

Why would bad batteries allow one motor to work but not the other?

And in his MH, the engine has to be running to operate the slide so it doesn't rely on battery capability.

[Shanks12]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Why would bad batteries allow one motor to work but not the other?

And in his MH, the engine has to be running to operate the slide so it doesn't rely on battery capability.

Just a thought - When we got it back after sitting for nearly 5-6 months over winter and went to move the slide out. It didnt budge. I then started up the RV and then it allowed me to attempt to push it out.

My wife and I both looked at each other and didn't remember ever NEEDING to MH to be running in order to push the slide out. (in fact I just watched a video of a sales presentation of the same RV we have and it was not running but then again I just watched another and salesmen said it needs to be running).

Could the batteries be at fault? Shore power not pushing enough amps to run them so I need to run the RV's alternator? I really hate to drop $150+ on new batteries if the ones I have are well enough and it is in fact a bad motor.

Any thoughts?

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Shanks12

Just a thought - When we got it back after sitting for nearly 5-6 months over winter and went to move the slide out. It didnt budge. I then started up the RV and then it allowed me to attempt to push it out.

My wife and I both looked at each other and didn't remember ever NEEDING to MH to be running in order to push the slide out. (in fact I just watched a video of a sales presentation of the same RV we have and it was not running).

Could the batteries be at fault? Shore power not pushing enough amps to run them so I need to run the RV's alternator? I really hate to drop $150+ on new batteries if the ones I have are well enough and it is in fact a bad motor.

Any thoughts?

Generally, the ability to operate the slide is interlocked with the ignition. Either:
The slide will not operate with the MH running and/or key in the ignition, or
The slide requires the MH engine to be operating.

Unless the interlock is broken it's one way or the other, I haven't seen a no-interlock slide on a Thor MH.

Either plugged into SP with the converter operating, or with the engine running to charge the house batteries, either should provide more than enough voltage/current to operate the slide.

[Shanks12]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Generally, the ability to operate the slide is interlocked with the ignition. Either:
The slide will not operate with the MH running and/or key in the ignition, or
The slide requires the MH engine to be operating.

Unless the interlock is broken it's one way or the other, I haven't seen a no-interlock slide on a Thor MH.

Either plugged into SP with the converter operating, or with the engine running to charge the house batteries, either should provide more than enough voltage/current to operate the slide.

Thats what I was thinking. I'm still convinced it is a motor or wires at the motor. We are supposed to head out on our first camping trip of the year tomorrow but we may have to go do some camping without being able to use the slide.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by Shanks12

Thats what I was thinking. I'm still convinced it is a motor or wires at the motor. We are supposed to head out on our first camping trip of the year tomorrow but we may have to go do some camping without being able to use the slide.

I had a similar problem that eventually led to me replacing the crappy Schwintek Slide Mechanism with the Vroom Slide Mechanism.

If you possible, see if you can gain access to the motor in question. Since the slide is stuck in you should have relatively easy access if you pull back the bulb seal at the top of the wall.

Check for the follow:

- The motor power wiring harness is plugged in at the top of the motor
- Look for a broken or chaffed wire going into the top of the motor
- Make sure the top plastic cover of the motor and the decoder circuit board is in place at the top of the motor

If the motor is not fully secure when moving the slide, a wire can get pinched or the encoder can get knocked off the top of the motor. It is also possible a wire was pinched somewhere away from the motor depending on how it was routed.

I carry a spare 30' Slide Motor Cable for troubleshooting (available on Amazon or through LCI). You can take the spare cable and connect it to the motor in question and then run it through a window and out to the Controller to connect the other end. This will tell you if you have a bad motor wiring harness cable or of the motor is the problem.