No power to slide

[Jgraham14813]

Hi I just purchased a 2001 keystone cougar 276 and I can’t get power to the slide motor. I have checked all the fuses in the panel and all are good. Is there more hiding somewhere that I am missing any help would be amazing as it is snowing and extremely cold here in ny right now and I really don’t want to be crawling around underneath if there is nothing down there lol

[chuckster57]

Welcome to the forum!!

Pull the switch and check for power coming in and going out. If you have it, then unfortunately your going to get cold and wet.

[Jgraham14813]

Can you describe how to test power there it has 4 wires on the switch never played with a two way switch like that two wires in middle and one on top and one on bottom if I do have power there where is my next step to look

[chuckster57]

The switch will send 12V to the slide motor. Since there will only be two wires at the motor, the switch will reverse polarity when pushed one way.

We use a piercing test light, and then puncture the outgoing positives and press the switch. As a rule the whites will be ground.

[Jgraham14813]

I have tested the power at the motor and there is no power there. I was wondering about testing power at the switch I pulled the switch out and there is 4 wires on the switch how do I test that switch for power. And if I have no power at the switch where do I look next

[chuckster57]

That switch should get power from the fuse panel. Sometimes there is a resetting circuit breaker in place of the fuse. Often times it’s the top or bottom slot.

12V wiring can be real fun to trace. White is the recognized ground side and white with a tracer is usually the positive side. I would probably start at the switch. Probe each wire until you find the power in. If none of them are “hot” then it’s time to start at the fuse panel. Don’t trust your eyes, use a test light or meter to test power on the load side of EVERY fuse and if there is a circuit breaker ( rectangular box) take it out and test for continuity.

If you find the power in at the switch, then just move the test light and press the switch. No light on any wire? Switch is shot. Easy to get a replacement.

[Jgraham14813]

I just went out and tested the switch have power at the switch and switches polaroties when pushing the button so now where am I to track my issue, I know the thick wires that connect to the motor itself go to the front of the 5th wheel

[Jgraham14813]

Update: I went out got power to the motor now the slide starts to move possibly half inch then nothing it’s a direct drive system where I can pull it in no issue with ratchet and socket . Can the motor just be to weak to pull the slide in I checked the colts before pressing the switch it was 12.62 volts once pressing the switch the colts dropped to 8.9 and the motor small buzzing noise

[Steveo57]

Update: I went out got power to the motor now the slide starts to move possibly half inch then nothing it’s a direct drive system where I can pull it in no issue with ratchet and socket . Can the motor just be to weak to pull the slide in I checked the colts before pressing the switch it was 12.62 volts once pressing the switch the colts dropped to 8.9 and the motor small buzzing noise

Are you plugged in to shore power? Do you have a good battery connected? Looks like your voltage is low and that will cause what you're seeing.

[Jgraham14813]

Yes I am plugged into the house would just a junk battery do that even with being plugged into the house

[Javi]

Yes it easily could.

[Steveo57]

I'd disconnect the battery and check it out by itself. If you unplug what does the battery voltage settle at?

Do you know how old the battery is?

[Jgraham14813]

I’m not sure if the age of the battery it was in the camper I topped it off with distilled water and been on the shore power for about 3 days as I have been fixing it up

[Jgraham14813]

Is there a way just to test the battery theory without buying a new battery lol

[Steveo57]

Just disconnect the battery and check the voltage while it's disconnected. Do you have a battery disconnect switch?

[Jgraham14813]

Just went out after letting it be off power for 4 hours and the 12v lights wouldn’t

[Jgraham14813]

Just went out after letting it be off power for 4 hours and the 12v lights wouldn’t even come on I’d say battery is junk

[Steveo57]

I'm assuming the lights worked initially after you unplugged from shore power? If so and the battery went dead in a few hours then it sounds like it's shot.

[Jgraham14813]

Yea when I just went out not connected to the house the lights were just extremly dim and the gas detector was beeping kinda like a smoke alarm I’m assuming that’s indicating low voltage

[chuckster57]

Sorry, late to get back to this thread. Yeah a new battery is in order, then try things again.

[fatcatzzz]

Just for your info, you can remove the battery and take it to almost any auto parts store (Napa, Car Quest, O'rielly's) and they can load test it for you.