Years ago, I had a Class C with switch by the coach door that allowed me to extend or retract the electric step. Now in my current 2005 Lexington 255, the switch is still there but nothing happens when I press it. The steps only retract when I start the engine and extend only when I open the screen door.
I would like to use the switch because I sometimes want to retract the steps without having to start the engine.
Is there something I am missing? Perhaps the switch is NOT meant to function as a step extender/closer. Maybe the switch is meant for an exterior light. There is another switch next to it that operates the porch light. Is there someway I can check the switch to see if it is broken or disconnected? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Don't know if this will help you or not, but on our coach the switch works this way. When in the off position the steps stay out when the door is opened or closed unless you turn the key to the on position, then they will still come in. Safety feature.
When the switch is in the on position, the steps come in and out each time the door is opened and closed.
The steps in our MH will extend or retract with the opening/closing of the door. The switch seems to just disconnect the motor....so that if we want to keep the steps retracted (when we use a different step system for the dogs) or extended (same reason). It's been so long, since I really paid attention to it, I'm not exactly sure, but I do know that they go in/out with the door, and it doesn't matter what I do with the key (though maybe it does automatically retract when the engine starts?)
Bill & Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris / GS MJ Dogs: Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie, Annie, Maggie, Tugger & Beau RIP: Cookie, Foxy & Gidget @ Rainbow Bridge.
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April 2008 FMCA# F407293 The Pets
trickyvic3 wrote: Don't know if this will help you or not, but on our coach the switch works this way. When in the off position the steps stay out when the door is opened or closed unless you turn the key to the on position, then they will still come in. Safety feature.
When the switch is in the on position, the steps come in and out each time the door is opened and closed.
Vic
+1
Bobbo, Linda and the furry kids (1&1/2 German Shepherds)
2007 Winnebago Outlook WF331C on a Ford E450 Super Duty Chassis
2010 Subaru Forester w/BlueOx baseplate & Ready Brute Elite towbar
trickyvic3 wrote: Don't know if this will help you or not, but on our coach the switch works this way. When in the off position the steps stay out when the door is opened or closed unless you turn the key to the on position, then they will still come in. Safety feature.
When the switch is in the on position, the steps come in and out each time the door is opened and closed.
The standard Kwikee controller in use today works as follows.
Ignition off:
Switch off: Steps follow door, extending when door is opened. Retracting when closed.
Switch on: Steps extend first time door is open.. And remain extended.
Start the engine:
Switch ON, steps remain where they are till the door is closed, after that they follow the door
Switch off: Same as as they do with ignition off. Follow the door.
To override and retract steps with door open:
Locate the wires to the door switch. Remove a bit of insulation from each wire, about 1-2 inches apart, hook a twin wire (like house door bell wire) on and run it to an additional switch you can hide in the step well side carpet (in my case).
Switch open.. Steps work as above
Switch closed: Act like DOOR CLOSED.
If you have an older Kwikee controller.. The rules (And wiring of that switch) are different. Ask and I will explain, however I do not think you have an older controller.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
We have an '02 Georgetown and it took me a while to figure out the logic. I think in recent years, the safety gurus have insisted it be changed.
On ours, the steps will open and close with the door if the switch is in one position and when it gets switched they stay where they were when you switched it. When you turn the ignition on, they retract if they were out.
We travel on the Washington State Ferries fairly often and it's useful to be able to keep them retracted with the house door opens, as the vehicles are very close together and you could ding the car next to you if the steps came out.
Later models (maybe '08 and on?) don't have the feature, and the steps are tied to door position and can't be kept in with it open. I think it was an NHTSA requirement.
Frank Damp, DW - Eileen
Anacortes, WA
'02 Georgetown 325, F53, V-10, bought used in 2010 at 13,000 miles.
Dogs - 2 Labs again, both yellow males, both 9 yrs old and both adopted.
The step should extend any time you open the door for safety reasons. To rewire it to not open when you open the door is irresposible. If you have seen someone open the door and walk out and the step was not there, you would see why. It is not a pretty sight, that is a long way down without that step being there. Just an opinion, I know it does not answer the original posters question but offered as food for thought to those who advocate making these changes.
Othertonka
2004 Southwind 32VS 8.1 Workhorse chassis
2002 CRV Toad
U. S. Gear Unified brake system
Retired Fire Captain, SFD
othertonka wrote: The step should extend any time you open the door for safety reasons. To rewire it to not open when you open the door is irresposible. If you have seen someone open the door and walk out and the step was not there, you would see why. It is not a pretty sight, that is a long way down without that step being there. Just an opinion, I know it does not answer the original posters question but offered as food for thought to those who advocate making these changes.
Oh, my, how DID those of us who lived with the manual steps EVER survive! Why, to think we had to get out of the RV and pull the steps into position before we could safely go out the door! OH, the HORROR!
Yep, totally irresponsible to have such an RV. This is my third Class A, and about my 6th RV (or is it 7th? whatever...) This is the first one with automatic steps. NOBODY ever walked out the door without noticing that the steps were not yet deployed!
Another fine example of the "safety gurus" protecting us from our own incompetence!
In my coach, switch on means the steps follow the door.
Switch off, the steps extend and stay there, unless the ignition switch is turned ON, then they retract. The engine does not need to be started, just turn the ignition ON.
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
We have a Kwikee step issue right now as well. I replaced the controller unit, but still not working. Suspecting it may be the motor (although I'll try the 2x4 method described in this thread as well). Failing that working, is there a way I can detatch the linkage in order to use the step manually by pulling it out, until I can get it repaired? We are about to have take a trip and I doubt we'll have it fixed before we leave.
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