Step is haunted

[Pillbox]

I just love rving.
Just went out to move the rv, guess what, steps refuse to go in…..
My first though was” Ted is going to say, check grounds you dummy”.
Yep, first step, remove both ground wires and wire brush them, re attached.
Steps worked for about 4 minutes. Hum. Went in to get my test light, first step in the steps retracted back in. Hum. Closed door open door, nothing. Step on stairs they work again. Its haunted. The rv does not want new tires I guess.
Turn on ignition, steps go in….hum thats good. Pull the rv out and dang, the steps were out again. Door still closed. Definitely haunted.
Checked the magnet for broken wires….looked ok.

Question. What test procedure is used to test the door switch.?
I read LCI troubleshooting guide so I’m stuck until my pigtail arrives tomorrow.
Any and I mean any tips, tricks, or usa approved whitch doctors please.
Terry

[lwmcguir]

Does your door utilize the typical metalic contacts?

If so, have you polished them with crocus cloth?

[Pillbox]

Yes, it uses the magnets.
I never thought of polishing them, will try it.
Can I just use emery cloth?

[Pillbox]

Ok, someone here has to have other ideas?
Terry

[dkoldman]

I avoided because the question was specific on testing door switch.

But if you open to other ideas here is what I thought when I 1st read the post.

I recall one time I had the similar if not exact same scenario basically where door was shut and steps were extended and the should have been in (based on switch). Even when engine was running they should have been in. It was under warranty and Kwikee Step diagnosed as a bad controller. But I didn't think it was really a controller just a quirk with the testing of the real problem I had that was chronic and persisted for almost 2 years that dealer could not resolve.

That issue was my steps would randomly retract on it's own. That was when switch was set for steps to stay extended when door was closed. I never put the new replacement motor on, because I was able to prove to myself the issue was NOT the controller. The controller requires a 12vdc as input from the switch to know to NOT retract the steps if door is closed.

One day while on opposite of coach, I shut a compartment door, and then I heard the steps retract For some reason I lost voltage even though the switch was closed and working. So I traced back all the way to the breaker and found no issue I then pulled the wires behind panel that go from 12vdc buss to breaker. I learned that while I had solid power from 12vdc buss to a 9 pin connector, I was not getting 12vdc out the pin from connector that fed the switch. I took the connector apart and found the male pin that fed the switch was not inserted into the female in to get a consistent solid connection, thus the randomness. I reseeded and have not had a problem with the steps since. I have also not been back to the Dealer since as they had charged me a checkout fee because they could not replicate the problem. They said I had no problem, but when it happened again, they were going to charge another checkout fee

[Pillbox]

Dkoldman,
My eyes keep going to the plug under the stairs. The red wire keeps calling me.
Thanks for the lead.
I wanted to look into it more, now I’m convinced I need to.
Still waiting for my test pigtail. I will follow lci test procedures first.
Thanks,
Terry

[lwmcguir]

Originally Posted by Pillbox

Yes, it uses the magnets.
I never thought of polishing them, will try it.
Can I just use emery cloth?

Very light Emory cloth or a dollar bill

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by lwmcguir

Very light Emory cloth or a dollar bill

What exactly are we polishing with this magnetic switch?

[powerboatr]

when my steps did the in out in at random times

i found the magnetic switch on he screen door frame was out of alignment with the second part of switch mounted on the floor near the screen door switch. it was just enough to make steps move if i tapped the screen door frame.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Check grounds you dummy!

[Pillbox]

Thanks Gritz

[Pillbox]

Mystery solved.
Yes, it was a ground issue, but, not at the ground wire connections.
The 4 main nuts that hold the stairs on were loose. I put about 3 complete turns on them.
Stairs now work every time.
Hope this helps someone.
Thank you to all who made suggestions.
Terry

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Originally Posted by Pillbox

I just love rving.
Just went out to move the rv, guess what, steps refuse to go in…..
My first though was” Ted is going to say, check grounds you dummy”.
Yep, first step, remove both ground wires and wire brush them, re attached.
Steps worked for about 4 minutes. Hum. Went in to get my test light, first step in the steps retracted back in. Hum. Closed door open door, nothing. Step on stairs they work again. Its haunted. The rv does not want new tires I guess.
Turn on ignition, steps go in….hum thats good. Pull the rv out and dang, the steps were out again. Door still closed. Definitely haunted.
Checked the magnet for broken wires….looked ok.

Question. What test procedure is used to test the door switch.?
I read LCI troubleshooting guide so I’m stuck until my pigtail arrives tomorrow.
Any and I mean any tips, tricks, or usa approved whitch doctors please.
Terry

I had a similar issue with my steps. It turned out the problem was not an electrical issue of any kind nor a controller issue. Simply put the steps often would not retract when the door is closed. Sometimes the steps would close or start to close only to open back up and then close again in a few more seconds. The problem was always worse in cold weather. It turns out that the magnet on the screen door was not just "out of alignment" it was installed in the correct alignment, just too far from the switch on the doorframe. the solution was to remove the magnet from the screen door clean off the double-sided tape from the door and magnet, position it about 3/8" closer to the magnet using new tape, drill new screw holes and reinstall the mounting screws. See the attachment below.

[Chateau_Nomad]

I might suggest after cleaning electrical contacts including ground points, rub a generous amount of electrical antioxidant grease onto all the surfaces... wires, screws and where ring terminals contact the chassis for grounding. That will eliminate rust, corrosion and nasty cooties which snack on electrons. I use that stuff on every exposed connection - especially battery posts and chassis grounds.

[simidrm]

Lippert has a app on the App Store that covers every product they sell, with user guides, part numbers, step by step troubleshooting guides, and schematics as well, just used it to repair my steps, in my case the switch by the door shorted out and blew both fuses after the lci controller got fried.

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Originally Posted by simidrm

Lippert has a app on the App Store that covers every product they sell, with user guides, part numbers, step by step troubleshooting guides, and schematics as well, just used it to repair my steps, in my case the switch by the door shorted out and blew both fuses after the lci controller got fried.

All steps are infected by gremlins no two step problems are exactly the same.

[simidrm]

Hence the suggestion of the lippert now app.