Rockslide Engineering Malfunction

[tobyw]

Does yours have the engine bay mounted kill switch in addition to the one in the cab? Mine have randomly cycled several times and I found the connections on the engine bay switch were bad; I could simply wiggle the switch in the little bracket RSE provided and the steps would cycle. Kind of a bummer because it's a completely waterproofed switch setup that looked like a nicely done piece...

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[ShadowsPapa]

The steps will cycle down/up when first powered up. Since this is happening as you describe it I would suspect a loose connection somewhere. Pull the fuse in the power harness and check the harness to step plugs at the rear of the step-slider. One/both may be loose causing an intermittent connection. When you re-install the fuse both steps should cycle down/up. DO pull the main power fuse - checking the connections with power will likely get you a mouthful of step. Good luck!

I asked RSE support for advice when I installed mine and they did not power cycle when the fuse was first put in. I removed it and replaced it, no cycle.
They said the latest don't do that, they set home when you first open and close a door.

Otherwise, yeah, check connections but check the alignment of the magnets. I really really fine tuned mine before they worked perfectly. They may seem like they'll work if not perfect, but with the way Gladiators ride, any slight body flex or movement could be tossing things out of alignment.

They work perfectly on both of our Jeeps - but the first install was a lesson in magnetic fields.

When first installed, I had a control board problem on the set on my wife's JLU Rubicon. Luckily I was able to swap the control boards with the set sitting waiting to be installed on my JT. The swap proved the issue was indeed the board.
I did call and ask for permission to do the swap - and they said yes, it's a good way to prove where the problem is, do it.

RSE support was FANTASTIC! They only asked for a picture of the bar code on the unit, and did a parts swap with me, no questions asked. I told them the symptoms, what I did to troubleshoot, and they took care of it - quickly.

Quick question, when I remove and reinstall the fuse I get a small spark, is this normal or an indication of possibly a short? One other thing I noted the power switch in the cab has no red led light on it, was this a change in the 3rd generation?

The switch has changed - the switch on both of our vehicles does NOT light up. The switch connectors don't match the documents.

Mine are 3rd gen. The spark is normal. My switch lights up. I cant remember if there is a fuse for that light. I don’t think so.

Yeah, the spark will be there because these do take a tad bit of power just sitting. I find it odd that they need to do that, because the simple act of closing a magnetic switch could connect the power, but that's not how they made them.
The switches no longer light - neither of ours do. They even appear different from what's shown in the booklet.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Does yours have the engine bay mounted kill switch in addition to the one in the cab? Mine have randomly cycled several times and I found the connections on the engine bay switch were bad; I could simply wiggle the switch in the little bracket RSE provided and the steps would cycle. Kind of a bummer because it's a completely waterproofed switch setup that looked like a nicely done piece...

They no longer do the switch in the engine bay - it's "pull the fuse" now (saves 2 cents and some shipping weight)
The cabin switches are also no longer lighted (or is it lit?)
The docs are a little tiny bit behind as they don't show a kill switch but at the time I installed, they did still show a lighted switch, but the switch now has no light.
Perhaps a supply side issue????? Or, simplifying things?

 

[Sempe-Fi Rubicon]

I found it really odd that the step on the passenger side would still cycle when the power switch was in the off position, I thought that switch was to kill power to the step so when you're off road you wouldn't accidentally rip them off.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I found it really odd that the step on the passenger side would still cycle when the power switch was in the off position, I thought that switch was to kill power to the step so when you're off road you wouldn't accidentally rip them off.

Yeah, as much as I really like them, I find some of the logic in the system to cause me to wonder - why?
Why do they need to have power at all times? Even when sitting?
Some say - it's so that it knows when you open a door!
The solution - use NO switches that close when you open a door and turn things on. The whole thing could be powered totally down, 0 draw at all until you open a door - the switch triggers a circuit to close and wake the system.
Just can't figure out what there'd still be power to anything when it's sitting in a garage for 3 or 4 days.
The switch in the cabin could be used to run a relay that does the same thing as pulling a fuse, killing all power to everything, but it really doesn't act that way. The boards are still powered.

 

[Sempe-Fi Rubicon]

Does yours have the engine bay mounted kill switch in addition to the one in the cab? Mine have randomly cycled several times and I found the connections on the engine bay switch were bad; I could simply wiggle the switch in the little bracket RSE provided and the steps would cycle. Kind of a bummer because it's a completely waterproofed switch setup that looked like a nicely done piece...

No I don't have the additional kill switch. I have the 20A fuse by the battery and the on/off switch in the cab.

 

[WILDHOBO]

No I don't have the additional kill switch. I have the 20A fuse by the battery and the on/off switch in the cab.

Mine is the same. I always have a few 20amp fuses in the Jeep. If a step gets clogged with mud or ice it will sometimes blow when it goes down. I’d rather not drive around with them stuck down. It happened at the top of Poughkeepsie gulch last month. I was very happy I had fuses. I could not have gotten out of that trail with them down…without total destruction.

 

[Sempe-Fi Rubicon]

Mine is the same. I always have a few 20amp fuses in the Jeep. If a step gets clogged with mud or ice it will sometimes blow when it goes down. I’d rather not drive around with them stuck down. It happened at the top of Poughkeepsie gulch last month. I was very happy I had fuses. I could not have gotten out of that trail with them down…without total destruction.

I have always carried extra fuses in ever vehicle I have ever owned, I will make sure to have extra, extra 20A fuses now. I thought I had read in some other posts about you having extra fuses and thought hey.... just like me.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I have always carried extra fuses in ever vehicle I have ever owned, I will make sure to have extra, extra 20A fuses now. I thought I had read in some other posts about you having extra fuses and though hey.... just like me.

Me as well, but I have probably 5 20’s.

 

[Sempe-Fi Rubicon]

Me as well, but I have probably 5 20’s.

And a tape measure too...

 

[WILDHOBO]

And a tape measure too...

I get made fun of for my Jeep tape measure.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Seriously? I thought I was the only one who carried a tape measure - it's in the cubby between me and the shift console (the one that has two cubby areas - my wife got me as a gift that goes on either side of the shifter area)

And of course, spare fuses, especially for the steps.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Seriously? I thought I was the only one who carried a tape measure - it's in the cubby between me and the shift console (the one that has two cubby areas - my wife got me as a gift that goes on either side of the shifter area)

And of course, spare fuses, especially for the steps.

Apparently there are several of us weirdos.

 

[caryt]

Wonder why esp for the price they don't use a AMP step type of controller they are petty bullet proof and no magnets.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Because these are better. Problems are actually rare esp with latest 3rd gen

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