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Topic: Step has a mind of it's own (Read 462 times) previous topic - next topic

Step has a mind of it's own

Thirteen motor homes and second Foretravel later, I have to ask for ideas. My steps open spastic. Seeing the switch was broken, I replaced it with a new Guard switch. The step now functions except anytime the ignition is on it wants to go in the closed position regardless of the door magnet. The switch is opening and closing, but the wiring is showing continuity all the time meaning the step won't open if the ignition is on. I suspect a dead short between the power in and step out wires, but can't trace them in the wall. Before I start pulling new wire, is there anything else I should be looking at? The steps operate fine other than that  Thanks for the help

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #1 –
Do you have two switches? One by driver's left leg and one near passenger seat? If so, have you checked that the other switch isn't shorting?
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #2 –
Step cover works fine with two switches. This is the magnetic door switch for the entry step

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Eddriver –
Thirteen motor homes and second Foretravel later, I have to ask for ideas. My steps open spastic. Seeing the switch was broken, I replaced it with a new Guard switch. The step now functions except anytime the ignition is on it wants to go in the closed position regardless of the door magnet. The switch is opening and closing, but the wiring is showing continuity all the time meaning the step won't open if the ignition is on. I suspect a dead short between the power in and step out wires,

To clarify...

With ignition off, steps go out when screen door opens and come back in when door closes (IOW, with ignition off it recognizes the door magnet switch and will follow the screen door status).

With ignition on, steps refuse to go out at all (IOW, it does not recognize the door status).

Is that the behavior?

Do you only have 1 switch for the entry steps or is there a second, mystery switch near them?

What year coach and which steps do you have?
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #4 –
With the ignition switch off the door shouldn't come back in unless there
has been added a switch to make the system think the ignition is on.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #5 –
Quote from: oldguy –
With the ignition switch off the door shouldn't come back in unless there
has been added a switch to make the system think the ignition is on.

It depends on the year of coach and model of step.

Default Kwikee swing out (not the air drop-down) is to follow the door action no matter what.  The switch installed with that step is solely for the step to stay out with the ignition off.  Many who have that step added a switch to prevent the step from coming out at all, no matter what the door does.  Kwikee no longer provides instructions on how to do that since it's a liability issue.

We need to know OP's coach year and step type in order to diagnose his/her specific situation.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #6 –
The coach is a 2001 4010 U320 with an air driven step. I am the second owner purchasing it in July. There is only one mystery momentary mini-switch located next to the trip reset button on the left side of dash which doesn't appear to do anything definitely not OEM.
The new magnetic switch tests out good. But when the ignition is turned on, the step comes in even with the door wide open and will not go down until the ignition is off. The new switch is a COM/NC/NO configured. COM is Power and load is NC. NO was wired into the TrekMate which is non functioning. Wires had been spliced at some point so I liquid lectric the unions just to be sure there was no crossover current
That's why I'm hoping there is somewhere something that may may be giving a bleed over current!

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Eddriver –
The new switch is a COM/NC/NO configured. COM is Power and load is NC. NO was wired into the TrekMate which is non functioning.

What does the TrekMate refer to?
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #8 –
I too bought a new magnetic switch to replace the broken one on my 2001 U320.  It was chinee made.  It works but the NO an NC were reversed.  Try reversing the wires on the switch.
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Eddriver –
The coach is a 2001 4010 U320 with an air driven step.

Look at this write-up from Barry and Cindy to see if perhaps the new switch might not be wired to work properly with the Norgren valve that controls the air step.  If I interpret it correctly, power makes the step CLOSE and lack of power makes in OPEN.

Step Retraction - How To Do It .
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #10 –
When I replaced my magnetic switch the door wouldn't work properly. It turned
out the magnetic switch was wired backward. Check yours and see if it is normally
open where it says normally open and it's normally closed where it says normally
closed. I believe it is supposed to be normally open. 
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Step has a mind of it's own

Reply #11 –
Thank you all for the suggestions. It ended up being an open short from prior wire work AND a defective new reed switch. Interesting was that the switch works fine when checked for continuity, but not when powered.
Thanks again!