Christine's taken over my Hymer electric help needed (1 Viewer)

[haganap]

As in Christine the Car.
My Hymer is driving along, and all of a sudden the step comes out on its own? I put it back in using the drivers switch, it comes in fliese straight back out but after persistence it stays in for up to 50 miles before doing the same again.

the door step switch works fine but sometimes when you recall the step in, it comes in and goes straight back out.? doesn't do it all the time so I can't tell when or if its fixed, But. now what happens is that when I looked at teh switch thinking it must surely be the switch, I cant see anything wrong with it. SO I remove the switch completely having taken the step in. I get out, 20 mins later, the step has come back out again?

any ideas? I've had the step apart at the motor end and all looks good, no stray wires or anything? clearly not the switch, so whats causing this? halloween come early?

 

[TheBig1]

the step relay may be faulty

 

[Landy Andy]

Never had a step but wouldn’t it have a park switch, or stop to know it’s in, and parked away? Same as wipers in your car, they need to know when to stop moving. Can you see something similar on the step mechanism?

 

[haganap]

the step relay may be faulty

im reading this as the main probability, probably a minefield of a question but where's it likely to be? is it likely to be automotive or special? I read it runs off the fridge one as well?

 

[Figaro]

I think an exorcism is called for

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[haganap]

Lenny HB any advice?

 

[DavidG58]

There are two switches on ours, one by door, one on dash, the dash one only retracts so I would suspect the door switch which opens and closes

Edit - when it goes out while driving does the step out beeper beep

 

[haganap]

There are two switches on ours, one by door, one on dash, the dash one only retracts so I would suspect the door switch which opens and closes

Edit - when it goes out while driving does the step out beeper beep

no buzzer never worked. I have the same set up but hte step has decided to live it's own life and simply come out when it feels like it?

 

[haganap]

the step relay may be faulty

just exploring this a bit more. The engine isn't running when it's doping this, and when it is the fridge is working fine, what about the plunger on the step? it has a little switch behind it?

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny HB any advice?

A bit of guesswork, there is a microswitch on the step that turns the motor off at the end of travel. It could be faulty or the mounting for it is lose so it is being tripped by vibration when driving.

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[Lenny HB]

just exploring this a bit more. The engine isn't running when it's doping this, and when it is the fridge is working fine, what about the plunger on the step? it has a little switch behind it?

Sort of similar thoughts to me.

 

[haganap]

A bit of guesswork, there is a microswitch on the step that turns the motor off at the end of travel. It could be faulty or the mounting for it is lose so it is being tripped by vibration when driving.

oddly enough, was my little post just above yours. I think if' i'm right, you mean the plunger that the step backs in to when fully retracted? there's a little microswitch in there, baring in mind the engine isn't running at the moment and it's still sending the step out, it's possible this could be broke, but where would i get aother?

 

[Lenny HB]

oddly enough, was my little post just above yours. I think if' i'm right, you mean the plunger that the step backs in to when fully retracted? there's a little microswitch in there, baring in mind the engine isn't running at the moment and it's still sending the step out, it's possible this could be broke, but where would i get aother?

Probably get one from Rose Awning or Hill View Awnings assuming it's a Thule. It's probably a standard microswitch so would be a lot cheaper from an electronics supply company.

 

[jockaneezer]

Some of those "wiper motor" style gearboxes have electrical contact tracks arranged around the big worm gear, that tell the motor it's "park" position, so even if it receives an electrical signal for a split second (loose contact or micro switch, plus a bump in the road ?) it is compelled to rotate until it reaches the end of the contact track, to its next park position, which will extend or retract the step depending on which contact strip has been activated, which suggests the motor is fine, but the micro switch might be the culprit ?
I think the "fridge and step share a relay" relates to the D+ signal from the alternator which should automatically retract your step and switch your fridge to 12 volts once the engine is running, via separate relays but a common signal ?

 

[Detnor]

Watch your fingers if you are fiddling about near the mechanism and it is unpredictable. I nearly got caught on a previous Hymer.

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[funflair]

oddly enough, was my little post just above yours. I think if' i'm right, you mean the plunger that the step backs in to when fully retracted? there's a little microswitch in there, baring in mind the engine isn't running at the moment and it's still sending the step out, it's possible this could be broke, but where would i get aother?

As far as I know that plunger switch at the back of the step is just straight to earth breaks and the contact when the step is in the up position, when the step opens it makes contact (or should) if you turn on the ignition with the step out it is this switch which dictates whether or not the retract switch on the dashboard works, if it doesn't know it is out it won't go back in theory, you could test by holding the switch in and trying the dash switch with ignition on to see if it will retract, (might be worth using a stick rather than sticking your arm through the step and then retracting it)

 

[haganap]

ok thanks
oddly enough, this morning Christine is not sending the step out when not asked. Bed last night, step in, wake up this morning and Christine put it out despite there not being any switch by the door the normal rocker one in play.

so this morning it's not doing it, it's staying in, despite my best efforts to get it to repeat itself.

just for info, the step doesn't auto retract when you turn the ignition on, never has since I had it, also the buzzer doesn't sound which is the normal method on this van as I understand it.

I am inclined to add a 122v rocker switch to the live feed to break the opportunity for Christine to send the step out when I am driving in her efforts to decapitate a small dog as we drive past. then when on site, hit the rocker switch, live it back up and simply use the step as I normally would, bare in mind that the step is normally out when on site anyway, the only issue is that it comes out by itself not goes in, and therefore wont have me falling out the van.

any thoughts on this?

the gearbox is a good possibility,

what I've ruled out
The Switch- even not connected it does it.
the relay- doesn't matter if the engine is running or not.
Driver error
the plunger moves fine, and an explanation has been given.

not ruled out the microswitch behind the plunger but no idea where to get a replacement one there's about a million out there.

 

[haganap]

Spoke to early, christine is back, sending the step out whilst I have a cup of tea.
Any comment on.my rewire resolution?

 

[2bob]

just exploring this a bit more. The engine isn't running when it's doping this, and when it is the fridge is working fine, what about the plunger on the step? it has a little switch behind it?

on mine when the step would not come in it was this little brass bit that had a rivet in then a wire connect to it on the inside

 

[2bob]

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[TheBig1]

As the electric motor takes a reasonable current it is quite normal to have a relay that is controlled by the switch so the switch circuit has minimal load. Sorry I can't help with exact location but would follow the wiring from the switch. The dashboard switch sends a single live signal to the relay to close

 

[Lenny HB]

just for info, the step doesn't auto retract when you turn the ignition on, never has since I had it, also the buzzer doesn't sound which is the normal method on this van as I understand it.

Just to confirm on Hymer's the step does not retract with the ignition just the buzzer sounds if the step is out with the engine running.

Somewhere there will be a Schaudt relay box that controls the step, if the kitchen is by the hab door it will probably be on the floor under there, other favourite place is under the passenger seat (drivers seat on RHD).