stair step operation on a 1978 fc?

[thomas_sorrentino]

I think somebody just had a similair problem, but I didn't read the
fix. My step retracts fine, but it doesn't come out when I open the
door. If I manually push the door switch, I can hear a clicking and
what sounds like air release. After the engine motor is shut down and
system air pressure bleeds down sufficiently, I can stand on the
stair and manually pull it out. "So far" my questions are as follows.

1.) How is this suppose to work?

2.) I found a switch under the the stair (looks the same as the one
in the door jamb), that the wires were all corroded and the switch is
obivously bad. When I cleaned up the wires and bypass the switch, it
seems to have no effect either way. Whats that switch for?

3.) On the forward part of the generator compartment theres a relay
that looks something like and old fashion tv tube, when I wiggle it I
get a clicking noise. (might have nothing to do with my step problem)

4.) This may or may not have anything to do with the problem either,
but I noticed the stairwell light is not coming on with the opening
and closing of the door. Oh yea, there's two switches in the door
jamb, what is each one for?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Tom Sorrentino
Bedford Hills, NY
1978 33'fc

[fl_bluebird_1983]

Well here goes, I don't know how it works on a 1978 but here is how
it works on an 83.

1. the door step should pop out when the door opens and close when
the door closes (unless one the bypass switches are thrown. one on
the dash and one in the generator/power selector box next to the
stairs).

2. the switch under the step is a micro switch the will turn on or
off an led on the dash to let you know then the step is extended.
(very expensive from BB $57)

3. The relay you mention is for the step control. I would check there
to see if you have power in and out of the relay (also check for any
wires disconnected, which was our problem).

4. the light in the stair well is controled by one of the switches in
the in the generator/power selector box next to the stairs. Should be
labeled step light. The switches in the door jamb are for the light
and for the step (one each). Try flipping the switch for the light
and the one for the step (in the generator/power selector box next to
the stairs)to see if that changes anything.

Thanks
Bruce Campbell
Clearwater, FL (currently home from trip)
83'FCSB
"Blue Skies"
formerly "Rainbow Chaser", darn those stripes are hard to get
off "sorry Arley!"





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "thomas_sorrentino"
wrote:
> I think somebody just had a similair problem, but I didn't read the
> fix. My step retracts fine, but it doesn't come out when I open the
> door. If I manually push the door switch, I can hear a clicking and
> what sounds like air release. After the engine motor is shut down
and
> system air pressure bleeds down sufficiently, I can stand on the
> stair and manually pull it out. "So far" my questions are as
follows.
>
> 1.) How is this suppose to work?
>
> 2.) I found a switch under the the stair (looks the same as the one
> in the door jamb), that the wires were all corroded and the switch
is
> obivously bad. When I cleaned up the wires and bypass the switch,
it
> seems to have no effect either way. Whats that switch for?
>
> 3.) On the forward part of the generator compartment theres a relay
> that looks something like and old fashion tv tube, when I wiggle it
I
> get a clicking noise. (might have nothing to do with my step
problem)
>
> 4.) This may or may not have anything to do with the problem
either,
> but I noticed the stairwell light is not coming on with the opening
> and closing of the door. Oh yea, there's two switches in the door
> jamb, what is each one for?
>
> Thanks in advance for the help.
>
> Tom Sorrentino
> Bedford Hills, NY
> 1978 33'fc

[Jim Owens]

Tom,

On our 77 FC there is an interlock on the step - it won't operate
when the gear shift is out of park...found out the hard way when my
wife shifted out of gear when I was entering the 'Bird after spotting
her when backing into the street. I had assumed the 'Bird was out of
gear - you know what they say about assuming anything... Fortunately
it was my prosthetic leg that took the hit...that carbon fiber stuff
is tough.

Another difference with our 77 is that we have one switch opposite
the gen compartment. A toggle switch - "up" the step
extends/retracts, "down" the step is "locked". One of the three wall
switches next to the door operates the step light independently. In
addition, the original owner installed an orange marker light under
the door threshold tied into the patio light circuit.

I'm not trying to confuse the issue, just some observations that
might help in trouble-shooting your problems. The first reply to your
post from the fellow in FL was on the mark. Each model year of the
FC's seems to be just a little different. Good luck in fixing your
step.

Jim Owens 77 FC33SB
Lake of the Ozarks, MO




--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "thomas_sorrentino"
wrote:
> I think somebody just had a similair problem, but I didn't read the
> fix. My step retracts fine, but it doesn't come out when I open the
> door. If I manually push the door switch, I can hear a clicking and
> what sounds like air release. After the engine motor is shut down
and
> system air pressure bleeds down sufficiently, I can stand on the
> stair and manually pull it out. "So far" my questions are as
follows.
>
> 1.) How is this suppose to work?
>
> 2.) I found a switch under the the stair (looks the same as the one
> in the door jamb), that the wires were all corroded and the switch
is
> obivously bad. When I cleaned up the wires and bypass the switch,
it
> seems to have no effect either way. Whats that switch for?
>
> 3.) On the forward part of the generator compartment theres a relay
> that looks something like and old fashion tv tube, when I wiggle it
I
> get a clicking noise. (might have nothing to do with my step
problem)
>
> 4.) This may or may not have anything to do with the problem
either,
> but I noticed the stairwell light is not coming on with the opening
> and closing of the door. Oh yea, there's two switches in the door
> jamb, what is each one for?
>
> Thanks in advance for the help.
>
> Tom Sorrentino
> Bedford Hills, NY
> 1978 33'fc