Normally, I would have checked the wiring before replacing the step, since the old one would retract but not extend, pointing to the brown wire. However, the old step was badly pitted and corroded on the step itself, so I decided to replace.

I have the new step in hand, and drilled it for mounting today. Waiting for the Ospho to dry on the rust, I decided to splice in the new connector (not the same as the original).

Stripping back the plastic sleeve, I discovered that, apparently, Barth cut the wires a bit short, so had to splice in a 1-foot section. In itself, this would be no big deal, however the butt connectors for the 16 ga wire were for 10-12 ga - two sizes too large...One wire fell out (the suspect brown), and another pulled out easily.

Anyway, if one encounters a step operating issue, this may be it - hopefully, on other coaches Barth measured twice and cut once on the connections.

I have been encountering this in several places in replacing the dash. Following other s advice I have used uninsulated connectors (from a local electronic parts house) and then soldered the connection and encased this in the proper wire color shrink tubing. That has improved the ground path and the power connections.

I use crimp connectors with heat-shrink on each end (with external heat-shrink if not the kind that has it integral).

Anyway, I got the step installed and hooked up; it retracts when the door opens and esxtends when it closes. So I have to replace the magnetic switch with one NO instead of the NC. And in removing the switch, one of the leads broke 6" from the switch, so tomorrow I have to run another...

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:

Anyway, I got the step installed and hooked up; it retracts when the door opens and esxtends when it closes. So I have to replace the magnetic switch with one NO instead of the NC.

Wouldn't reversing the motor leads do the same thing? Or do the steps have to have an agreement with the switch position for the position of the steps?

You might double check this because on mine, with the main switch off, and the steps extended, they will not operate with the door position, they will stay in the position they were in when the main switch was turned off.

If I turn the key on, the main door switch off, the steps extended, the steps will retract immediately, nice safety feature!

Ed, that's worth exploring; the "ignition on" feature on mine never did work (although it's wired), but the prior owner put a warning light on the dash. The motor has a directional plug, but it's not polarized. Actually, I like the actuation the way it is, as the step won't retract unless the door is completely shut.

In any event, I have to get a new magnetic switch, as the flange for the old one was brittle, and broke when I removed it.

Reversing the leads to the motor allowed the step to work properly, but the kill switch parked the step retracted.

All done except for sheathing the wires and a couple of cable ties.