Thule Electric steps won't work

[JaneyBMotorhomer In Hants]

The Thule electric step on our Auto Trail Imala will not fold away, either by using the switch by the habitation door or by starting the engine. We can push it back into position manually and when we press the switch it will come out as normal but it wont go back. The switch is only working to put the step out, not put it back.

Anyone experienced this before? The dealer will look at it (it is under warranty) but it is a long way from us to the dealer (we live in Hook, J5 of the M3 and the dealer is in Chichester) so if we can fix it ourselves it will save us 2 trips there and back. Once for them to look at it and then to fix it. He thinks a rod may have broken in the mechanism. Strange that it works coming out but not going back though? Alternatively does anyone know of a good (mobile?) repairer who could fix it for us?

Have tried spraying WD40 on the joints of the step but it hasn't made any difference.

 

[andy63]

I'm fairly certain its got to be a open circut in the closing wire to the motor..if it opens ok but won't close on either the switch or the engine on thats all it can be..
Easily checked if you have a mind to..
The motor only has two wires supplying it ..one opens the other closes depending on which one has 12v applied to it
Andy.

 

[JaneyBMotorhomer In Hants]

Sounds simple. So do we need to remove the cover over the motor underneath the van and look for a loose wire? Think you have to partly remove the steps to do this. Or could it be the switch end? Hope I am making sense! I do have an ammeter but not sure if it would be any use.
Thanks for your help ?

 

[andy63]

Here's a typical wiring diag for an electric step..

I'm suggesting that if your step wont close but does open then I'd check the continuity of the closing wire... in the example above thats the wire from the relay ...terminal 30..
Difficult to be more helpful as I don't know the location of the relay in your van..


And the other thing that puzzles me is the fact you can push your step in to close it ..
I would have thought the gearing would make that difficult if the drive was intact... but if it does open I suppose it must be ok..?
Andy..

 

[tonyidle]

To prove that the step itself is OK disconnect the wires from the motor itself then connect 12v to the motor. If nothing happens immediately disconnect then reverse the wires. The step will go in (or come out). Reverse the wires again & the step will do the opposite. If it does that the step is mechanically sound.

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[JaneyBMotorhomer In Hants]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, much appreciated. We have found the problem. The switch is next to one of the bench seats and we store stuff under the seat. The electric cables going into the switch must have been knocked by us making the connection loose. All sorted now. Will have to find somewhere else to put my sewing machines!!

 

[Gellyneck]

Will have to find somewhere else to put my sewing machines!!

Or, if possible, protect the cable \ connection?

 

[JaneyBMotorhomer In Hants]

Yep, husband is doing that now!

 

[Gellyneck]

Yep, husband is doing that now!

It's amazing what a smack around the ears can achieve!