Kwikee step failure

[israndy]

Mine was hit, I didn't see a tire in the road until it was too late (really need to polish my headlights) and I drove over it. Fortunately, it turned out to be just the tread of a tire. Loud noise, but no body damage. That is until I looked carefully at the step. Apparently, it got bent back, in the folded position. It still works, it struggles and needs to be fixed. Any thoughts? I fear it will bust the fiberglass it is mounted to if I pry it trying to bend it back.

-Randy

 

[CB1945]

Mine was hit, I didn't see a tire in the road until it was too late (really need to polish my headlights) and I drove over it. Fortunately, it turned out to be just the tread of a tire. Loud noise, but no body damage. That is until I looked carefully at the step. Apparently, it got bent back, in the folded position. It still works, it struggles and needs to be fixed. Any thoughts? I fear it will bust the fiberglass it is mounted to if I pry it trying to bend it back.

-Randy

It is mounted to steel not fibreglass. If it were mounted to fiberglass it would have came apart from the gator.
I would try straightening but on my last coach the previous owner had put a support under it and the lowered the suspension bending the arms. I tried to straighten it but eventually replaced the step. The bare step is not real expensive and you just swap your old motor/control over to the new one. I wouldn't let it go too long as the resistance will eventually ruin the motor/gearbox.

 

[ablock]

You can use a magnet to activate the steps other than having to open and close the door by putting it over the door frame switch cover plate. You really need to crawl under and see if the motor is bound in someway or if it has power. If your voltmeter doesn't have sheath piercing probes you can use straight pins into the wires to touch the probes against to check voltages. Here are Kwikee documents that I have collected that might help you troubleshoot.

Thanks SSTraveler. I do have sheath-piercing probes, though I prefer not to used them on wires exposed to the elements. I'll see what I can determine with some more exploration with the DVM.

 

[SSTraveler]

I use hot glue sticks and a lighter to heat the glue and seal wires and connections. Just heat the stick with the lighter until you can see the glue getting liquidy, apply to area, and use wet fingers to smooth out and get the glue to cover as you need. Keep following this sequence until you get the coverage and seal your looking for. I use this method of hot glue sealing on all manner of DIY projects. I use Gorilla High Temp sticks from Walmart, https://www.walmart.com/ip/High-Tem...hguid=c4515726-2a7-168a95167a4712&athena=true, but you can also buy at Lowes and HD. They come in 2 sizes, I find the smaller ~1/4" ones the best to use.

 

[TStiles]

For a bit less hassle, you might try Starbrite Liquid Electrical Tape. It comes in clear and three colors. I've used the stuff for years. Seals anything that needs sealing, can be applied at any angle, and you wouldn't need a flame. Just something to consider.

 

[SSTraveler]

I found this Kwikee Step part number identification guide that could be helpful.

 

[Randyxl]

My Kwikee RV step wouldn’t open or close. The arm on the gear box would not move at all but could hear the motor running. The gears on the gear box did not looked stripped, nor did the pinion gears. Replaced with new Kwikee motor kit and kept old gear box on, and everything worked fine. Just want to know what was wrong that caused this. It occurred after I put weight on the step when the step was not fully extended (No No!)

 

[msmolow]

There's a plastic gear within the motor that strips out.

 

[JHMooney]

Well, now I'm having the dreaded Kwikee problem on my 2018 UMB. Mine extend fine but intermittently stop halfway when retracting. I've checked the clevis pin, lubricated everything and checked to see the electrical connections are clean and tight. The magnetic switch seems to be working. When the step sticks, the magnetic switch still clicks when I use a magnet on it and turns the under step light on. At this point I'm guessing it has to do with whatever communicates with the motor when the step is fully open or closed. The motor never makes concerning noises and doesn't keep running when the step is extended or retracted so I don't think it's a gear issue. I've read some posts indicating there is a limiter switch and some posts that say there isn't one. At any rate the information I've read sounds like diagnosing the extend/retract "limiter"is beyond my ability. So my search for a solution continues and will most likely end in a trip to a service person.

I did want to share a piece of information I found on another forum (I think it was IRV) for folks who need to replace the motor. Apparently the motors used by Kwikee are automobile electric window motors. Kwikee uses motors from different car models depending on which model of step. The most common seem to be from Ford Crown Victoria/Lincloln Town Cars. I didn't find particular part numbers in the forum but someone posted that the model numbers on the RV step motor will allow a parts store to identify which motor you need. Sorry, long post, the main takeaway is that the window motors from an auto parts store are significantly cheaper than buying them from a RV supplier.

 

[JHMooney]

Well, I called my RV repair guy and he told me how to diagnose the problem. He instructed me to close the door, hit the motor with a hammer and then open the door. He said that if the step comes out after hitting the motor the motor is bad. So I followed his instructions and hitting the motor did make it work again so I ordered a new motor and installed it today. The step is working just fine now.