Thor Ace 30.1 Neither slide will retract. HELP!

Mrjimbo · 07-12-2017, 09:45 PM

Help! I can not get either of my slides to come in on my ACE 30.1
The overhead bed is up, the engine is off. Power everywhere, but I can not retract either slide. I'm scratching my head here, just moved to dump on Sunday, set up went without an issue. I can only find one controller, roadside storage rear, I push the button on controller to manuallly override, the led flashes, but slides won't move.
Any suggestions? Is there a safety switch on this overhead bed? Need to move again on Sunday.........HELP!
Thanks, Jim

**EA37TS** · 07-12-2017, 09:52 PM

Not to insult your intelligence but did you shut off the engine and ensure the ignition switch is not in the on position?

Also, do all other systems using 12VDC power operate?

Mrjimbo · 07-12-2017, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstankov

Not to insult your intelligence but did you shut off the engine and ensure the ignition switch is not in the on position?

Also, do all other systems using 12VDC power operate?

As I mentioned, engine is off. The keys are out of ignition so it's in the off position. All 12V systems work. I have Power everywhere, I'm stumped.

JamJanTan · 07-12-2017, 10:18 PM

https://youtu.be/YzqbvwCJpNU I hope this link works. If they are Schwintek slides you have to press the button 6 times and hold it on the 7th I think.

JamieGeek · 07-12-2017, 10:34 PM

Here is the Lippert video on manual overriding the Schwintek system:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGL4aILZYcY

**EA37TS** · 07-12-2017, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrjimbo

As I mentioned, engine is off. The keys are out of ignition so it's in the off position. All 12V systems work. I have Power everywhere, I'm stumped.

Another ACE owner had an issue about a year or year and a half ago where something similar happened. His leveling Jacks would not work either. His issue was a tripped blade type breaker in the engine compartment. He had checked the breaker located around the batteries but was not aware of the second breaker in the engine compartment. Once he reset that breaker everything worked.

Mrjimbo · 07-12-2017, 11:58 PM

Jaime geek- I can get the controller to flash leds but goes right out. There are no error codes.

Dstankov- I've looked for other breakers but can't find any that are tripped. Definitely a power issue.

Shouldn't there be a controller for each slide? I can only find one controller.
Feels like a safety switch not working as there is no power to either slide. Not wanting to call a mobile repairman......

Dragon70 · 07-13-2017, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstankov

Not to insult your intelligence but did you shut off the engine and ensure the ignition switch is not in the on position?

Also, do all other systems using 12VDC power operate?

I don't think it has anything to do with this but I put my slides out/in with the engine running and it makes no difference but I do have to have the emergency brake on.

JamieGeek · 07-13-2017, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrjimbo

Jaime geek- I can get the controller to flash leds but goes right out. There are no error codes.

Dstankov- I've looked for other breakers but can't find any that are tripped. Definitely a power issue.

Shouldn't there be a controller for each slide? I can only find one controller.
Feels like a safety switch not working as there is no power to either slide. Not wanting to call a mobile repairman......

Yeah if the LEDs go out I would suspect a power problem or a short when something gets turned on.

gmc · 07-13-2017, 01:42 AM

Sounds similar to what I had on my 2014 hurricane (without Rapid camp)...
You didn't indicate the year of your Ace.

Neither of my slides would come in... Everything else on the rig worked... couldn't find blown fuses...

Check with a voltmeter at the controller and insure you have 12v coming to the controller.
There are two additional tabs on the controller labeled EXT and RET - that get 12v applied to them from the slide switch - telling the slide to EXTend or RETract... I was not getting any voltage here when the switch was depressed.

Quick workaround - jump 12v from another source (nearby light, etc) to the RET pin and see if slide rolls in... No current draw here - just a 'signal' voltage - the current draw is on the main input lines.
(On mine - was wired backward - power to the EXT tab caused the slide to retract...)

Haven't figured out the true cause yet - assume it is a 'safety switch' of some kind gone bad... I rigged a jumper behind the control panel jumping available 12v (bathroom light hot side of switch) to the center of each slide switch - and they work fine... Had to do a similar jump for the overhead bed (which I expect also won't move for you.)

Beau388 · 07-13-2017, 01:47 AM

The bed lift fuse in just in front of the drivers left foot. This fuse panel is powered by the chassis battery and associated 100 amp circuit breaker near the chassis battery. This fuse panel supplies electrical power to everything in the front cap installed by Thor Motor Coach. The Ford stuff goes through the fuses under the hood (12 V dash plugs excepted). The bed controller is located in the far left overhead compartment in front of the driver. It is identical to the slide controllers. The slides are powered by the coach batteries through a 100 amp circuit breaker in the battery compartment. The slides fuse is #10 on the coach fuse panel under the bed on the 30.1 and 31S. Each slide has it own slide controller. The rear slide is located in the aft compartment under the bedroom slide and the living room slide controller is is located in the compartment just aft of the generator in the center of the slide. Both controllers are high on the sidewall near the center of the coach. In my coach, a Hurricane, the ignition has to be off and the generator running or shore power connected for the slides to work, either manually or with the rapid camp.

If the controller is in the emergency mode, the LED will alternate rapidly and no codes will be displayed

Beau388 · 07-13-2017, 01:52 AM

There have been some reports of the rapid camp module failing. If it fails nothing it can control, works - light generator, awning & slides. Easy check is see if the awning moves. If it does it is probably not the rapid camp module.

Mrjimbo · 07-13-2017, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmc

Sounds similar to what I had on my 2014 hurricane (without Rapid camp)...
You didn't indicate the year of your Ace.

GMC, great info and I was wondering about jumping to the switch on controller.
Our Ace is a 2014 30.1, we love/hate it. Actually has been an ok rig, considering it's a boat with wheels. The overhead door and Awning both work. That's what's weird, just the slides are inop on rig, Everything else works. Still can't locate rear slide controller.

Mrjimbo · 07-13-2017, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beau388

There have been some reports of the rapid camp module failing. If it fails nothing it can control, works - light generator, awning & slides. Easy check is see if the awning moves. If it does it is probably not the rapid camp module.

Beau, Everything in rig works except either slide. I'm stumped. Going to try GMC's suggestion and I'll get back.

Thanks all so far for the group troubleshoot

gmc · 07-13-2017, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrjimbo

... Still can't locate rear slide controller.

On Hurricane - the rear slide controller is located under the bed with all the other electrical gear... It will be identical to the other two (front slide and overhead bunk).

At the time - I pushed the rear slide in manually - still need to find the controller though. Disconnect motor from controller - then PUSH with several people...
Took 4 of us to do the bedroom slide... 7 couldn't move the dining/couch slide - that's when I kept digging and used the jumper after talking with Thor...

Mrjimbo · 07-13-2017, 03:05 PM

GMC- I went and jumpered power to the switches, cheap easy fix and they work! Thanks, appreciate the input.

gmc · 07-13-2017, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrjimbo

GMC- I went and jumpered power to the switches, cheap easy fix and they work! Thanks, appreciate the input.

GREAT!! When I figure out WHY I need to jump power - I'll let you know... Sounds like we both have the same issue.

Buckeye7756 · 06-05-2019, 10:42 PM

I have a Thor ACE 29.3 with a full side slide. This morning I could not retract the slide. After ensuring there were no obstructions and trying EVERYTHING the THOR manual and help desk prescribed, I decided to manually adjust the leveling jacks to raise the SLIDE side of my coach above level. WHA LA! The slide finally retracted normally.

My conclusion - Full side slides are nice. BUT, the motors used on them are marginally able to produce the torque necessary to move them. YOU MUST BE LEVEL OR SLIGHTLY OFF LEVEL TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE SLIDE. In my case, despite being certain I was level, I had to get unlevel to help the motors bring the slide back.

javelin · 06-06-2019, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmc

GREAT!! When I figure out WHY I need to jump power - I'll let you know... Sounds like we both have the same issue.

GMC and Mrjimbo, after reading this whole thread again, I am curious if you folks found out why just your slides had no power? Was it a bad slide ignition lockout relay (mounted under the bed in my old ACE 30.1, along with awning lockout and water pump relays) ?

Regarding the slide not moving easily, my 30.1 ACE has relatively small slides (thankfully), but soon after purchasing the coach and reading stories on this forum about people having slide issues with Schwintek, I immediately de-loaded the heaviest items (tool box etc) from my slide storage areas. Have not regretted doing that yet (knock on wood).

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