Paul_S Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Hi, my 2015 Elddis 180 step has stopped working. If you press the switch...there's no clicking or attempt to move. If you gently pull the step down, then start the engine...it retracts properly, and if you press the switch it now clicks..but obviously doesn't extend as is correct. Turning off the ignition then leads to the switch just being dead again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanb Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Hi Paul, Welcome to the forum. Is yours a Thule/Omnistor step? The auto retract/raise circuit issued by the makers uses the starter battery for auto operation, and the habitation battery for operation from the control switch. I recommend that you first check for a blown fuse for the habitation battery supply. If the fuse which should be rated at 20 or 25A. has blown, it could be that the step mechanism is in need of lubrication, and perhaps cleaning.out. WARNING The normal step action is quite fast, and there is a risk of personal injury. (Specifically finger amputation.) Remove appropriate fuses before working on mechanism. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 I agree with Alan but it could possibly be that you have lost all habitation battery power. Do any of the habitation electrics work, eg lights, water pump, etc.? What is then happening is when the engine is running you are powering the step off the split charge circuit and NOT off the habitation battery. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancepar Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Or if there's a switch on the mechanism, some electrical contact spay applied or cleaner like WD40 gets mine working again. Must fit a simple shield infont of the switch one day. (?) B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanb Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Keithl - 2019-11-13 1:11 PM I agree with Alan but it could possibly be that you have lost all habitation battery power. Do any of the habitation electrics work, eg lights, water pump, etc.? What is then happening is when the engine is running you are powering the step off the split charge circuit and NOT off the habitation battery. Keith. Good point Keith. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_S Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 I definitely have good power from the hab battery, everything is fine except the step Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_S Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 I cannot locate the fuse to it...non of the fuses in the breaker box relate to it. Tried again and same problem though when engine running and it's drawing it's power from that circuit..it is definitely energised, it draws back up as soon as engine starts, then if you operate the main switch with engine running, it goes down about a 1/4 inch, then pulls itself back up (as you would expect), if you hold in the retraction position switch on the step frame, you can gently pull the step down...then as you release the pressure on the switch..it retracts perfectly. Turn of the engine and the rocker switch by the doorway is as dead as a dodo again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 I've just found a wiring diagram for a Thule step from an older post if this helps, you wll need to start testing for voltage at the switch, relay, etc. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanb Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Paul, I am familiar with the drawing kindly provided by Keith. Unfortunately I do not like it. The drawing combines a schematic diagram on the left, with a wiring diagram on the right with no separation. This can be confusing to those who are unfamiliar with the circuit, also the portrayal of the ignition switch at top left, is unduly complicated. All that needs to be shown in that area is an ignition switch operated ACC+ supply. I have done a little research, and it seems that the electric step may be have been part of an Elddis option pack. This could account for the lack of a dedicated fuse on the 12V distribution board. I am still of the opinion that your MH has lost the 12V +ve supply to the step switch. This could be due to either a blown fuse as I originally suggested, or a wire that has become disconnected. The fuse that you are looking for is the 20A fuse, next to the battery symbol at the bottom LHS of the diagram. The battery could be either the starter or habitation battery (habbitation suggested on wiring diagram part of drawing). I would look for a fuse near either battery, possibly an inline fuse, but it could be in a multiple fixed holder. If you are unable to locate a faulty fuse, there is the possibility of a faulty connection between the relay terminal 87a, and the manual switch. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plwsm2000 Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Paul_S - 2019-11-13 3:09 PM I cannot locate the fuse to it...non of the fuses in the breaker box relate to it. Tried again and same problem though when engine running and it's drawing it's power from that circuit..it is definitely energised, it draws back up as soon as engine starts, then if you operate the main switch with engine running, it goes down about a 1/4 inch, then pulls itself back up (as you would expect), if you hold in the retraction position switch on the step frame, you can gently pull the step down...then as you release the pressure on the switch..it retracts perfectly. Turn of the engine and the rocker switch by the doorway is as dead as a dodo again. Although I agree that it seems likely you have lost the 12V habitation supply somehow, but if you have, I don't understand why the step opens even a small amount using the switch. Some installations use a control unit to drive the step motor rather than directly from the switch contacts. Do you know if you have one of these control modules in your van? This could be the source of the problem if it is not the fuse / power. Some step controllers only use a single rocker switch rather than a dual open & close switch. Several of these controllers have a current sensing feature that shuts down the motor if the current gets too high (normally if you keep the switch closed for longer than necessary). Is it possible that your step is dirty and so seizes up and cause the controller to cut out immediately? Can you see any significant change in battery current on your display unit when you try to operate the switch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 My 2015 Rapido motorhome has a Thule slide-out step with two operating switches - one to extend the step and the other to retract it. I’m pretty sure the Rapido’s step behaves as Paul_S describes when the motorhome’s engine is running - if the extend-switch is pressed when the Rapido’s motor is running, the step will extend slightly and then retract. I’ve had no incentive to explore what would happen if I tried Paul’s manually pulling out the step experiment. (My understanding was that the electrics of recent-ish Thule steps differs from their Omnistep predecessors and the earlier wiring diagram would not necessarily apply as a result.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plwsm2000 Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 Derek. Yes I accept that the step will behave this way when everything is working normally (mine does this too). The step retracks when the engine is running up to the point where the limit switch opens to de-energize the auto retract relay. This relay then switches control back to the normal open/close switch and with step power back to the hab battery. When everything is working normally, pressing the extend switch with the engine running will open the step slightly (until the limit switch reopens) and as soon as it does, the step will retract again. It should oscillate if the switch is held down (not advisable to try). If there is no hab power due to a blown fuse, flat battery etc., it should be unable to move again once it has automatically retracted. This behaviour does suggest a problem with the habitation supply (the step gets some power via the split charge relay when the engine is running), but Paul_S had said that his habitation battery is otherwise ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanb Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 I can hypothesise a possible explanation, but this would involve a failure of the split charging facility, and unusual fusing arrangements. Paul, In order to narrow possibilities, can you please confirm that alternator charging (split charge) of the habitation battery is working. A failure in this area may not be apparent if you regularly use EHU. Simple test, check that habitation battery voltage rises, when engine is started. I do appreciate you have previously reported that 12V electrics are apparently OK. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_S Posted November 14, 2019 Author Share Posted November 14, 2019 Hi Guys, I can confirm all is ok with hab battery. I have since pulled off the connector on the back of the switch...applied power to 2 of the terminals and the step comes out and goes back in with no issues at all. So I guess the first thing to figure out is where is the fuse lol...sounds simple enough, but I am not seeing it. There is an inline fuse near the leisure battery but it's not a 20a as described by Alan, but a 5 amp and it seems ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_S Posted November 14, 2019 Author Share Posted November 14, 2019 Haha...success, I called Brownhills service dept and asked them where the fuse is...they said it was behind the cover on the drivers door seatbelt pillar...found the fuse (it was blown) changed it and voila working step. Thanks for everyones help :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 Paul_S - 2019-11-14 12:26 PM Haha...success, I called Brownhills service dept and asked them where the fuse is...they said it was behind the cover on the drivers door seatbelt pillar...found the fuse (it was blown) changed it and voila working step. Thanks for everyones help :) Glad to hear that the issue has been resolved. It strikes though that it’s a particularly daft place for a motorhome builder to locate a fuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 BruceM - 2019-11-14 12:48 PM Paul_S - 2019-11-14 12:26 PM Haha...success, I called Brownhills service dept and asked them where the fuse is...they said it was behind the cover on the drivers door seatbelt pillar...found the fuse (it was blown) changed it and voila working step. Thanks for everyones help :) Glad to hear that the issue has been resolved. It strikes though that it’s a particularly daft place for a motorhome builder to locate a fuse. That is the Fiat Bodybuilders standard connection point. IIRC it includes D+ (engine running) signal, all tail lights and a whole lot more! Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_S Posted November 14, 2019 Author Share Posted November 14, 2019 BruceM - 2019-11-14 12:48 PM Paul_S - 2019-11-14 12:26 PM Haha...success, I called Brownhills service dept and asked them where the fuse is...they said it was behind the cover on the drivers door seatbelt pillar...found the fuse (it was blown) changed it and voila working step. Thanks for everyones help :) Glad to hear that the issue has been resolved. It strikes though that it’s a particularly daft place for a motorhome builder to locate a fuse. Agreed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 BruceM - 2019-11-14 12:48 PM ........ It strikes though that it’s a particularly daft place for a motorhome builder to locate a fuse. ...it's the location of a Fiat provided converters socket interface (which provides, amongst other things, D+ and ignition-on signals) so not quite so daft. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanb Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 I am pleased to learn that the problem has been resolved, but I am curious as to where the supply is actually taken from, because point highlighted by pwlsm2000 remains unexplained. (Paul, I am not asking for further investigation.) After having scanned several Elddis manuals, I doubt that the fuse is even mentioned. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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