Running boards stopped working

[Edwin C Aldredge]

First day. 30 miles on the truck and the running boards stopped working. They deployed on a lift into a pad, then retracted when they could not open fully (against a rag sobit wouldn’t get scratched.

Fuse shows to be #89 and it is good. Any ideas?

 

[aggiegrad05]

I would try to manually deploy them (from the gauge cluster) and see if that kinda “resets” the system.

 

[Wayne Decker]

I'm a newbie, but when I picked up my Expedition Friday, the sales man said if the running boards stop working, the first thing to do is wash off any mud or debris. He said people come in all the time and that's all they have to do. I don't know if that applies to you, but I thought I'd put it out there.

 

[Bill Schell]

My passenger side running board started to act up today. It would start to retract, get halfway and then redeploy. The rig is sparkling clean, so I don't think it's mud/debris as suggested above. I gave each of the hinge joints and squirt of PTFE and cycled it several more times. It kept hanging up, so I gave the last cycle a slight assist - an it fully retracted. I then opened and closed the doors a handful of times and it was working fine. Not certain if the lubricant helped, just helping it past the reverse point, or both? It's something I'll keep and eye on.

I'm sure the motor stall points are set pretty sensitive in order to prevent a hard stop damage event as the OP described. Further, they are likely factory preset (internally) by the company who makes the motors and not adjustable.

I also found this info on another site. This is where I was going to start looking next if the problem continues.

"I finally found the problem! Corrosion had collected in the wire connector that plugs into the electric motor assembly down underneath the truck.

I had to pull the motor assembly to get to the wire connector, just 4 screws, and remove the plastic shield that protects the motor assembly. I sprayed some cleaner in the connector, and probably should have put some dielectric grease in also, but I used an electrical lubricant spray instead. Reassembled and it works like new."

And here's a YT video showing the use of a spray lube to help overcome any stiction that the motor is sensing due to hinges binding.

 

[Bill Schell]

Wow, plenty of internet traffic concerning these electric running boards and their not so great record of problem free performance. Several users getting so frustrated with maintenance that they switched to fixed board - both funny and sad at the same time. They must be particularly problematic in regions where ice melt products are used on the roads and when driving on those gumbo mud roads. I may need to invest in one of those electric pressure spray units (been toying with buying one anyway).

 

[Scottorama]

This is exactly why I bought an XLT. I refuse to buy anything with power running boards, as they are a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Adieu]

They're such a cool looking...GIMMICK.

When I first saw a Navigator with them, I was like "oooh dayum".

When I actually OWNED a Navigator with them, I hated them after a day, and turned them off after two

 

[ib_jigged]

Had them on our '16 and through 3 Northern Minnesota winters of ice and all kinds of crap and not an issue, just kept them clean. Probably helps that we have a heated garage for things to thaw out in.

Got them again on our '19.

 

[AAOO]

Mine worked even when they were frozen solid.

 

[Bill Schell]

Mine worked even when they were frozen solid.

View attachment 32117

That was my first thought/concern about these but knew that the system had the option to just stow (inactivate) them, and figured that's what I do. Then I remembered that we go to AZ in the winter .

 

[scottdm]

I also disabled mine when driving in the sand so that they didn't try to deploy into the sand/ground if I was parked in a rut.

 

[aggiegrad05]

I also disabled mine when driving in the sand so that they didn't try to deploy into the sand/ground if I was parked in a rut.

If they sense any resistance whatsoever they rebound pretty quickly.

 

[Bill Schell]

The more info I read about power running boards, the happier I am that my Flood ESP extended warranty covers these. A neat feature that, apparently has a less than stellar history of reliability .

 

[Bill Schell]

Well, the passenger side keeps acting up, so it's time for the first extended warranty service call. I even pressure sprayed the hinge joints to death, re-lubricated, and manually cycled the step a dozen times. I'm beginning to think its and alignment issue as it only takes a slight amount of upward assist to get it past the hick-up point. Not always consistent, but it also stops have way down, starts back up and then goes all the way down.

 

[jeff kushner]

Guys, you might want to try motorcycle chain lube spray. It has a very thin "Carrier" fluid that gets into all the nooks and crannies then evaporates leaving the lube....works really well on the deployables! Keeps everything lubed and since you aren't actually running a chain, you only need to wash and lube once a year or so.

jeff

 

[Bill Schell]

Guys, you might want to try motorcycle chain lube spray. It has a very thin "Carrier" fluid that gets into all the nooks and crannies then evaporates leaving the lube....works really well on the deployables! Keeps everything lubed and since you aren't actually running a chain, you only need to wash and lube once a year or so.

jeff

Agree and tried. I think mine may have a binding/alignment issue as I've done the spray clean, lube, and cycle sequence several times now. When I spoke with FordHouse to make the service appt., and explained the history, the tech said they usually just R&R the whole assembly. On the one hand, if that's what happens, I'm glad it will only cost me $100, on the other hand, it seems really wasteful - these are like $1600+ . What they hell happens to all these used power step assemblies?

 

[Bill Schell]

Update. Butte, MT Ford did the TSB procedure and could not resolve the problem - recommending replacement. Problem was that they could schedule me in before we left for our winter roost. Had to have the same diagnostic done here in AZ and they "think they fixed it". I cycled it several times prior to leaving the dealer and it worked. Got home and after a couple more attempts, it got halfway down and cycled back up. Tried a few more times and it worked. Guess we'll just wait and see... but I have low confidence that it's fixed. Only good news is that they have satisfied Ford Warranty requirements and will do an R&R at no cost when it starts hanging up again.