Power steps and keypad correlation?

[Orangecrush]

Hey all,

So of course I’m out in the sticks and my key pad quit working (last time the pad had to be replaced)

The keypad quit working again so I used the key to manually lock it. Because the RV was parked for several days, the steps were down so I never noticed they weren’t working until I pulled into a truck stop and noticed the steps were down.

I checked the fuse under the steps and cleaned the contact on the door frame. Clearly the steps get a signal from when the contact is broken when the door opens.

My question before I start tearing into diagnostics, do you think these are related or am I looking at two separate issues?

I don’t want to start checking on the steps only to realize they’re not working because the keypad or contact switch.

I disconnected the linkage and strapped the steps up as far as I can to get home but trying to save myself some time.

Thanks,

Mark

[halla]

The steps and the keypad are on different contact switches, I believe the steps is that black magnet bar on the screen door, the keypad is a silver contact towards the bottom of the main door.

I also believe there is a separate fuse in the fuse panel in the storage compartment for the steps.

Others will chime in, I am going from memory. I thought the fuse up under the steps in the wire loom is for the keypad, the fuse I described is for the steps.

I replaced two keypads so far, and I carry a spare.

Good Luck Mark.

Aaron

[vlamgat]

My guess is that these are 2 different issues. Both failures have happened to me (2 key panels, 2 step transmissions and 1 motor) and they were never related.

The panel is a badly manufactured and the contacts fail; the steps cannot take any load other than the step itself when extending or retracting including excess friction because the slides are contaminated. So if you leap in and out of the RV and touch that step before the motor/transmission has finished all its grinding, whether its moving or not, you will destroy its workings.

[Orangecrush]

Thanks for the reply. I’m definitely guilty of jumping in and out of the coach using the steps before they have extended themselves.

On a side note, I just noticed I have no power to the little amber light for the steps.

When I get home, I’ll put power to the step motor and see if it works.

Thanks!

[vlamgat]

I have carried a set of those folding plastic one-step thingees just because of the reliability issue of the electric ones. Have to be careful putting weight on them too as they are prone to twist and collapse if you rush at them. The aluminum ones are better but need more space.

[joet19711]

Originally Posted by halla

The steps and the keypad are on different contact switches, I believe the steps is that black magnet bar on the screen door, the keypad is a silver contact towards the bottom of the main door.

I also believe there is a separate fuse in the fuse panel in the storage compartment for the steps.

Others will chime in, I am going from memory. I thought the fuse up under the steps in the wire loom is for the keypad, the fuse I described is for the steps.

I replaced two keypads so far, and I carry a spare.

Good Luck Mark.

Aaron

Mark here is the fuse schedule, fuses are in the elec bay and unmarked

[LandKKnight]

The panel is a badly manufactured and the contacts fail; the steps cannot take any load other than the step itself when extending or retracting including excess friction because the slides are contaminated. So if you leap in and out of the RV and touch that step before the motor/transmission has finished all its grinding, whether its moving or not, you will destroy its workings.[/QUOTE]

This ^^. I stepped on the step one time while they were moving (I am only 120# so has not much to do with the weight I would guess) and they stopped working. DH had to take the whole mechanism out but did nothing else to it, simply put it back and they have worked ever since. But you can be sure I wait till there is no movement before I step again.

[vlamgat]

Your DH got lucky...the steps sometimes can be restored to life because the stop alignments are out of sync as a result of an opening resistance by someone or something. Removing the transmission and motor resets these but I have not been so lucky in my step adventures.

[TRN]

My steps were driving me crazy, would work, then not work, then work. I cleaned all the connectors and grounds and it has been fine since then.

[F.R.O.G.]

Just yesterday our steps wouldn't go in on our Berkshire. After checking the fuse in the main panel and finding it was good, I also noticed that the light under the steps wasn't working when the exterior lights were on. It turned out that a line just under the steps had become unplugged. Cindy got it plugged in (she fits tight places better than I do) and we were good to go.

CAUTION: Be sure to remove the fuse and leave the door open, and NEVER reach through the steps to try to work on them in case they should suddenly retract.

[Orangecrush]

Originally Posted by F.R.O.G.

Just yesterday our steps wouldn't go in on our Berkshire. After checking the fuse in the main panel and finding it was good, I also noticed that the light under the steps wasn't working when the exterior lights were on. It turned out that a line just under the steps had become unplugged. Cindy got it plugged in (she fits tight places better than I do) and we were good to go.

CAUTION: Be sure to remove the fuse and leave the door open, and NEVER reach through the steps to try to work on them in case they should suddenly retract.

Yeah, I noticed my light wasn't working neither but I checked all the connections. I was going to start checking it out this week but my manager is out all week so I actually have to, ugh, work...

Point is, I dropped it off at the dealer last night. Hopefully they'll knock it out before 2022.


Mark