Entry steps

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

memtiger

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 25, 2020
Posts
103
Location
Franklin, TN
Something just started happening today. My entry steps will go up when the door is closed like normal but when you open the door they don't go out. After spending time doing the magnet test which revealed the same thing. I touched the magnet relay on the door frame with my figure and the stairs went out. Weird! So door closed the stairs go up but door open the stairs don't go out unless I touch the relay with my finger for a second. They stay out when I stop touching it until I close the door again. I looked through the connections under the stairs an nothing looked pulled or disconnected. Any suggestions?
 
They normally are controlled by a magnet on the door jamb,, this magnet is usually just stuck on with double sided tape and can be knocked off or dislodged easily..>>>Dan
 
Door switch? Relay contacts need cleaning? Low relay coil voltage? Do you have a voltmeter there?

-Don-

I cleaned the contacts nothing changed. Where and I checking the voltage underneath going to the control unit or control to the motor? I don't see anyway to rest the two wires at the magnetic part without cutting the wires. One would think if there is enough voltage to make the steps go up at the magnets there should be enough to make them go down when they separate.
 
If the relay works when you touch it manually, the wiring is probably ok. I'd be looking at the magnet that is supposed to activate it. Or just flip the switch that leaves the step out as long as you are parked. No need to have it open/close automatically while on your site.
 
We had this problem..steps would retract consistently but not extend. During the trip I learned that jiggling the wires on the screen door magnetic switch would get them to extend. When I got home I put on a new switch I got off Amazon. I wasn’t sure if I needed a switch that was “default open” or “default closed” so I bought one that could do both. I cut the wires at the old switch, attached to the new, tested it, then used adhesive to put it in place.
 
Is the position of the magnet adjustable? If so that could be the problem since your magnet will make things work. The way it works when working as it should is to close the contacts when the magnet is close and the magnet holds them closed until removed. It may be that the switch is failing and requires more magnetic attraction to close than it does to keep it closed. In that case you will need to replace the switch. It is available from Amazon or most RV supply houses.
 
Is the position of the magnet adjustable? If so that could be the problem since your magnet will make things work. The way it works when working as it should is to close the contacts when the magnet is close and the magnet holds them closed until removed. It may be that the switch is failing and requires more magnetic attraction to close than it does to keep it closed. In that case you will need to replace the switch. It is available from Amazon or most RV supply houses.
Yeah it's weird I used a regular magnet and it works the same. I have left the door open for a long time to see if the steps just opened after an extended time and nothing. They won't go out until my finger touches it not sure why that is but I guess I can try and replace the switch and see if that has any effect.
 
Back
Top Bottom