Re: Steps

danpatch_3 · Post by **danpatch_3** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:12 am

'Is there a connection between the electric door steps and the
ignition? Even when the switch is in the Off position, the steps
extend after the engine is started and the screen door is opened. I
would have expected that Off meant "don't extend" (or "stay extended,"
if the steps were already in the extended position when the switch was
set to Off).

97 Safari Serengeti.'

James Exler · Post by **James Exler** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:41 am

'Dan,

I just uploaded a Kwikee manual #874 which should be the one for your
coach. It shows wiring diagrams and also the concept of having the
ignition wired into the circuit. Check the "files" section of the
site.

Jim

--- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "danpatch_3"
wrote:

>
> Is there a connection between the electric door steps and the
> ignition? Even when the switch is in the Off position, the steps
> extend after the engine is started and the screen door is opened. I
> would have expected that Off meant "don't extend" (or "stay

extended,"

> if the steps were already in the extended position when the switch

was

> set to Off).
>
> 97 Safari Serengeti.
>

'

danpatch_3 · Post by **danpatch_3** » Thu May 22, 2008 5:15 am

'Thanks James. That's exactly the information I needed. The "Last
Out" feature was what was making me think there was a malfunction.
Not exactly sure what purpose Last Out serves, but it's good to know
it's part of the design.

--- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "James Exler"
wrote:

>
> Dan,
>
> I just uploaded a Kwikee manual #874 which should be the one for

your

> coach. It shows wiring diagrams and also the concept of having the
> ignition wired into the circuit. Check the "files" section of the
> site.
>
> Jim
>
>
> --- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "danpatch_3"
> wrote:
> >
> > Is there a connection between the electric door steps and the
> > ignition? Even when the switch is in the Off position, the

steps

> > extend after the engine is started and the screen door is opened.

I

> > would have expected that Off meant "don't extend" (or "stay
> extended,"
> > if the steps were already in the extended position when the

switch

> was
> > set to Off).
> >
> > 97 Safari Serengeti.
> >
>

'

Steve & Carolyn · Post by **Steve & Carolyn** » Thu May 22, 2008 5:23 am

'The off switch is to turn off the auto retraction feature that is
activated when the sensor switch on the screen door completes the
circuit. The steps will stay in the position they were in when the
switch was turned to OFF no matter how many times you open/close the
door.
The ignition has a bypass feature. It doesn't matter what the switch
says, it will make the steps operate according to the switch on the
screen door.
So if the ignition is turned on and the door closed when the steps are
extended, they will retract immediately. If you open the door, they
will extend when the ignition is on.
This is a safety feature. Earlier models didn't have this and people
drove off with the steps extended.'

danpatch_3 · Post by **danpatch_3** » Thu May 22, 2008 5:37 am

'The function where the ignition overrides the switch makes good sense
to me as a safety feature.

It's the part where the steps extend (once) when the ignition is
turned off and the door is first opened even though the switch is set
to Off (this is the "Last Out" feature described in the quote form
the manual below) that I don't see the reason for.

From the manual:

On steps equipped with a control unit, there is a "Last Out" feature.
This is another safety feature designed so that when the door is
opened for the first time after the ignition is turned off, the step
will extend, even if the power switch is turned off.

--- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "Steve & Carolyn"
wrote:

>
> The off switch is to turn off the auto retraction feature that is
> activated when the sensor switch on the screen door completes the
> circuit. The steps will stay in the position they were in when the
> switch was turned to OFF no matter how many times you open/close

the

> door.
> The ignition has a bypass feature. It doesn't matter what the

switch

> says, it will make the steps operate according to the switch on the
> screen door.
> So if the ignition is turned on and the door closed when the steps

are

> extended, they will retract immediately. If you open the door, they
> will extend when the ignition is on.
> This is a safety feature. Earlier models didn't have this and

people

> drove off with the steps extended.
>

'

Steve & Carolyn · Post by **Steve & Carolyn** » Thu May 22, 2008 6:37 am

'I don't have my coach here at the moment. Oddly enough, it's at the
shop having the steps replaced (the brain unit).
I don't recall my steps extending with the switch and the ignition off.
They might have, and that would make sense from a safety situation. So
you don't step off with retracted steps and break a leg.
Mine had been working with a mind of their own lately. Extended when
they wanted, came back up when they pleased. I got tired of trying to
find the short (only did it in the rain) and decided to replace the
brain altogether.
I think the Virginia Hiway patrol stopping me and asking why my steps
were extending, retracting, extending...all the way down the last ten
miles of the freeway he'd been following me was the final decision
maker.'

James Exler · Post by **James Exler** » Thu May 22, 2008 6:40 am

'Dan,

I believe the "last out" function is to insure the steps go out even
with the switch off. Otherwise, you could turn off the ignition, open
the door and step off into space. Ouch! Notice that it only works
once for each cycle of ignition so after that you have to think and
turn on the step power.

Jim

--- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "danpatch_3"
wrote:

>
> The function where the ignition overrides the switch makes good

sense

> to me as a safety feature.
>
> It's the part where the steps extend (once) when the ignition is
> turned off and the door is first opened even though the switch is

set

> to Off (this is the "Last Out" feature described in the quote form
> the manual below) that I don't see the reason for.
>
> From the manual:
>
> On steps equipped with a control unit, there is a "Last Out"

feature.

> This is another safety feature designed so that when the door is
> opened for the first time after the ignition is turned off, the

step

> will extend, even if the power switch is turned off.
>
> --- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "Steve & Carolyn"
> wrote:
> >
> > The off switch is to turn off the auto retraction feature that is
> > activated when the sensor switch on the screen door completes the
> > circuit. The steps will stay in the position they were in when

the

> > switch was turned to OFF no matter how many times you open/close
> the
> > door.
> > The ignition has a bypass feature. It doesn't matter what the
> switch
> > says, it will make the steps operate according to the switch on

the

> > screen door.
> > So if the ignition is turned on and the door closed when the

steps

> are
> > extended, they will retract immediately. If you open the door,

they

> > will extend when the ignition is on.
> > This is a safety feature. Earlier models didn't have this and
> people
> > drove off with the steps extended.
> >
>

'

danpatch_3 · Post by **danpatch_3** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:21 am

'I guess that sort of makes sense, although the problem I have is that
ther is no way to override it, meaning that I typically pull up to
the curb, check to make sure the step switch is Off, and open the
door, only to have the steps extend anyway, jamming against the
curb. . .

--- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "James Exler"
wrote:

>
> Dan,
>
> I believe the "last out" function is to insure the steps go out

even

> with the switch off. Otherwise, you could turn off the ignition,

open

> the door and step off into space. Ouch! Notice that it only works
> once for each cycle of ignition so after that you have to think and
> turn on the step power.
>
> Jim
>
>
> --- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "danpatch_3"
> wrote:
> >
> > The function where the ignition overrides the switch makes good
> sense
> > to me as a safety feature.
> >
> > It's the part where the steps extend (once) when the ignition is
> > turned off and the door is first opened even though the switch is
> set
> > to Off (this is the "Last Out" feature described in the quote

form

> > the manual below) that I don't see the reason for.
> >
> > From the manual:
> >
> > On steps equipped with a control unit, there is a "Last Out"
> feature.
> > This is another safety feature designed so that when the door is
> > opened for the first time after the ignition is turned off, the
> step
> > will extend, even if the power switch is turned off.
> >
> > --- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "Steve & Carolyn"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > The off switch is to turn off the auto retraction feature that

is

> > > activated when the sensor switch on the screen door completes

the

> > > circuit. The steps will stay in the position they were in when
> the
> > > switch was turned to OFF no matter how many times you

open/close

> > the
> > > door.
> > > The ignition has a bypass feature. It doesn't matter what the
> > switch
> > > says, it will make the steps operate according to the switch on
> the
> > > screen door.
> > > So if the ignition is turned on and the door closed when the
> steps
> > are
> > > extended, they will retract immediately. If you open the door,
> they
> > > will extend when the ignition is on.
> > > This is a safety feature. Earlier models didn't have this and
> > people
> > > drove off with the steps extended.
> > >
> >
>

'

geno4x2@aol.com · Post by **geno4x2@aol.com** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:27 am

' To those how had problems with steps when it was wet will find that if you put some water proof tape on at the joint where the steps get there power the problem will goway. geno 2001 Safari Zanzibar with a Rubicon Jeep in tow

Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.'

Jack Frohbieter · Post by **Jack Frohbieter** » Thu May 22, 2008 12:29 pm

' The step logic measures the current to the motor. It is designed so that if the step hits an obstacle it will shut off without damaging anything. I don’t know of any way to defeat the last out function. Jack 96 Serengeti 3740 -----Original Message-----
From: Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of danpatch_3
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 4:22 PM
To: Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Safarifriends] Re: Steps I guess that sort of makes sense, although the problem I have is that
ther is no way to override it, meaning that I typically pull up to
the curb, check to make sure the step switch is Off, and open the
door, only to have the steps extend anyway, jamming against the
curb. . .

--- In Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com, "James Exler"
wrote:

>
> Dan,
>
> I believe the "last out" function is to insure the steps go out

even

> with the switch off. Otherwise, you could turn off the ignition,

open

> the door and step off into space. Ouch! Notice that it only works
> once for each cycle of ignition so after that you have to think and
> turn on the step power.
>
> Jim
>
>
> --- In Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com,

"danpatch_3"

> wrote:
> >
> > The function where the ignition overrides the switch makes good
> sense
> > to me as a safety feature.
> >
> > It's the part where the steps extend (once) when the ignition is
> > turned off and the door is first opened even though the switch is
> set
> > to Off (this is the "Last Out" feature described in the

quote
form

> > the manual below) that I don't see the reason for.
> >
> > From the manual:
> >
> > On steps equipped with a control unit, there is a "Last

Out"

> feature.
> > This is another safety feature designed so that when the door is
> > opened for the first time after the ignition is turned off, the
> step
> > will extend, even if the power switch is turned off.
> >
> > --- In Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com,

"Steve & Carolyn"

> > wrote:
> > >
> > > The off switch is to turn off the auto retraction feature that

is

> > > activated when the sensor switch on the screen door completes

the

> > > circuit. The steps will stay in the position they were in when
> the
> > > switch was turned to OFF no matter how many times you

open/close

> > the
> > > door.
> > > The ignition has a bypass feature. It doesn't matter what the
> > switch
> > > says, it will make the steps operate according to the switch on
> the
> > > screen door.
> > > So if the ignition is turned on and the door closed when the
> steps
> > are
> > > extended, they will retract immediately. If you open the door,
> they
> > > will extend when the ignition is on.
> > > This is a safety feature. Earlier models didn't have this and
> > people
> > > drove off with the steps extended.
> > >
> >
>

'