Amp Research Power Steps Problem

[JordanB]

I've had these darn things for about 3 months now and the driver side has never worked properly for more than a few days. I've had them readjusted a few times and had the module replaced but it's still acting up. It's working better now but not great. They always go down but don't always go all the way up. I've got a whole new driver side assembly coming. The passenger side has never acted up until the last cold snap but started working again today (was in the 50s). I'm wondering if the cold affects these things - though the driver side has been screwy the whole time. I know the snow/ice/mud can lodge in the brackets and cause the motor to stop (a protective feature). Has anyone else had this problem? My service guy has been very helpful and has been willing to do whatever it takes to remedy the problem but I'm wondering if you guys have a suggestion that we could try?



By the way, I love these steps but just they worked properly.

 

[Hercules130]

i am on my second motor, and since the cold snap it is not going up all they way. they have been pretty good about sending parts.

 

[fozzy]

I have had these steps since the first run and have put on several more on other trucks (Dodge). There is three things you need to watch if you use these steps in the cold and salt. I live in Salt Lake and the past few weeks have been in below freezing temps, day and night. I have had no problems with my steeps. I have two buddies that had dealer installed steps that will not go back up in the cold. The dealer even put a spring on them to help pull them back up (LAME ). After looking at them this is my conclusion.

1. You have to keep the joints oiled and clean. I use MMO

2. I found that the dealer installed steps were not mounted right. When you mount your steps you need to make sure that both arms are perfectly square with the body of the truck and with each other. With the motor removed the steps should swing freely back and forth. Mine will make several swings with one push before coming to a stop. The dealer mounted steps the arms where riveted down before they made shure they where square front and back. The steps hang up just enough that they will stay in place instead of swing free. With a cold dirty joint and the extra drag of the poor install they kick the safety switch. I do not know how you would fix the first bad install. You kind of crimp the body metal when you tighten them up and then you drill and rivet them in. Between the hole and the wrinkled sheet metal it is way hard to get them to tighten up square on the second go around. Do it right the first time.

3. I have been meaning to call AMP on this myself. The newer steps have a small plastic control box. All my steps, my brother's and dads all have the old big square aluminum control box's. It take twice the force to stop the old control box from bringing the steps back up. You can just put the weight of your foot on the new control boxs and it stops the steps from going up. They have changed something IMO. Sorry it's so long

 

[231jasonS]

I have the newer plastic contorl box and did my own install. My steps work great 99% of the time. A couple weeks back I was in Yosemite at it got down to 8-10 degrees. At these temps my steps did not retract all the way. I had to open and close the door two more times and each time i did the steps would go further up. it was as if they had to "warm up". After the first 3-4 operations the worked fine the rest of the day. it was only after sitting all night that i had a problem

 

[JordanB]

Thanks for the replies guys! When I get a chance to take my truck back in I'll give them this advice.

 

[NUKEMAN]

How do these things hold up in the snow? What I mean is, when snow gets packed up around the bottom of your truck (from the tires), do they still work as advertised? The cold is definitely another issue. Would you trust them in -20 type weather? Sorry for the partial thread-jack.

 

[JordanB]

Snow and ice stops mine and the service manager's truck. However, the cold doesn't affect his steps. I wonder if he might have the older type of motor?

 

[abrankod]

I noticed a few of these things when installing mine.



First, the rivets they give you for the brackets are comical. I re-drilled the holes for 1/4" structural steel (2500lbs shear and 2150lbs tensile strength) pop-rivets (need air or air/hydraulic rivet gun to pop these. ) This should keep the brackets aligned better. When I was done, as another poster stated, the whole step could easily be moved with one finger and would swing loosely. Second, the gear box for the lift arms has a little tiny spray of white lithium grease, I said to myself... "this won't do" and put in a nice finger's worth of moly wheel bearing grease in the gear train and ran it back and forth a few times to make sure it was distributing well.



So far, we've had only cold here in NYC, no snow to speak of, but at 9F in the morning, the steps open as silently as they do when it was warmer out, and they retract fully with no issue. We'll see what turns up when the snow comes... . IF it comes...





-Dan

 

[fozzy]

How do these things hold up in the snow? What I mean is, when snow gets packed up around the bottom of your truck (from the tires), do they still work as advertised? The cold is definitely another issue. Would you trust them in -20 type weather? Sorry for the partial thread-jack.

About three weeks ago we went snowmobiling and it was -9 when we headed out. When we came back to the truck it was -13. My steps worked with no problems. My truck is lifted and I do not see a lot of snow and ice build up on the steps. The only time I have froze them was when I washed the steps in the down position in single digit temps and drove home and parked it out side with the steps retracted. The passenger side stuck, I just opened the door and pulled down on the step at the same time and broke the ice. No problems for the rest of the day. You guys with problems might also check that you have a good ground and power connection.

 

[JordanB]

I might have the installer use the grease and the rivets. I really hope that helps! It looks stupid driving down the road with my steps half up.