steps won't retract---PLEASE HELP

[bes]

On my way out of town and can't get the stairs to retract--checked fuses by battery and all seem good--help please

[bob213]

Maybe this will help:

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

[KansasFR3]

We just had this happen to us a couple days ago and its the switch that is faulty. If you pull the panel off via the 4 screws, there will be 3 wires on the switch. On ours, it was the bottom wire, but I can see that there could be instance where someone installed the switch upside down, so it might be the top. Just disconnect that wire and you'll be good. Stair will work normally when you open/close door. But you won't be able to leave them extended till you replace the switch, or you could just plug it back in.

[bubbles]

You say the 25 amp fuse at the battery is good. With the door closed will the steps retract with the ignition switch on? If they do not it is not the steps power switch. It could be the door magnetically actuated switch. It could also be the steps motor has failed and there are other reasons. To check for low battery engage the emergency start switch with the door closed and shore power disconnected.

[conceptumator]

Might also try tapping the motor with a hammer - strange as it sounds, that usually works. The gears sort of get in a bind and it rattles them loose.

[JLeising]

On our 2012 Solera, the step motor shuts off when the power required to move the step gets too high. I understand this is how the step stops at the end of travel, and how it avoids damage when it hits a curb before it is fully extended.
As a result, if the step mechanism gets corroded or dirty and starts to bind, the motor will turn off - without moving the step. I found soaking the mechanism with penetrating oil and "helping" the step retract (push with my foot) and extend (pulling on it) several times mine freed up and started working well again.
Good luck!
Jim

[llscott]

On mine the magnet was attached by double faced tape to the screen door. It fell off and was hiding in the step well. Reattached with screw and all was well. I suppose it saved one minute of construction time.

[BamaBob]

Still having problems BES? Is your step working now?

[poppagary]

I agree with llscott, the first thing to check is the magnets on the door jam and the screen door. If they are even slightly misaligned, you will not get a completed circuit and the steps will not retract.

[brightstar]

Originally Posted by bes

On my way out of town and can't get the stairs to retract--checked fuses by battery and all seem good--help please

I had the same problem but my steps were stuck and would not extend. took a hammer and hit the housing of extend arm mechanism. it started working again.

[bes]

THANK YOU All for the help and suggestions. We now have a 'step free' FR3. Steps didn't retract and I may have tweaked them a bit so four bolts later we have no steps. Again thank you all for jumping to our rescue. Is there a better product than what I just removed? Barry

[drivmsafe]

Originally Posted by bes

THANK YOU All for the help and suggestions. We now have a 'step free' FR3. Steps didn't retract and I may have tweaked them a bit so four bolts later we have no steps. Again thank you all for jumping to our rescue. Is there a better product than what I just removed? Barry

Have you checked with FR or called the mfg. of the steps (probably Lippert/Kwikee). There was a recall on some of these steps a while ago. I see you have a 2015. Might well be worth a phone call for advice and resolve before leaving your coach step-less. With a little bit of honey you may be surprised as to what they'll do for you. JMHO

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by drivmsafe

Have you checked with FR or called the mfg. of the steps (probably Lippert/Kwikee). There was a recall on some of these steps a while ago. I see you have a 2015. Might well be worth a phone call for advice and resolve before leaving your coach step-less. With a little bit of honey you may be surprised as to what they'll do for you. JMHO

The recall was for Lippert steps only and dealt with the pivot bolts breaking. Lippert steps are no longer manufactured. Lippert bought Kwikee and they have no recall. What the OP did sounds quite drastic. Probably something simple causing the issue.

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by bes

THANK YOU All for the help and suggestions. We now have a 'step free' FR3. Steps didn't retract and I may have tweaked them a bit so four bolts later we have no steps. Again thank you all for jumping to our rescue. Is there a better product than what I just removed? Barry

If they're Kwikee, probably not.

[Sandy B]

Kwikee makes a great sprayable grease that once applied lasts a long time. I got it for my steps but have used it on any number of items that seem to require something a little heavier than WD40. It is really fine stuff.