bounder4, thank you for opening this topic....I have a 2002 Bounder 33-r, Workhorse chassis, with the GM 8.1L V-8.... I just got back from a 2 week trip and have a similar problem...and I may be able to add a data point for you to consider, if you are still having problems.....
Earlier this year, I had the no-steps issue with my RV. I also noticed (before the no steps issue) that there were 'clicks' before the starter actually engaged when starting the engine. I found that my chassis battery was not charging, even when I would leave the RV plugged into shore power. I found out that there is a solenoid in the Battery Control Center(located on the driver side in the front engine bay), behind the fuse circuit board. This solenoid is responsible for activating things like the steps, the slide-outs, the power mirrors, and the backup camera tv monitor. It also is responsible for keeping the chassis battery charged when the coach batteries have reached their 'full' limit (ie, like an overflow...but with batteries). It is also the part responsible for tying the coach batteries to the chassis battery system, should your chassis battery be low and need help getting the RV started (via the AUX start button on the left-side dash).
This solenoid was not working correctly and was not allowing the chassis battery to be charged...so, eventually it got drained enough to where the steps would not go out..In researching, I found out about the solenoid and replaced it. I also had to replace the chassis battery, as the draining situations had happened enough to where the battery would no longer charge... or hold a charge... Once changed, and the battery connected, the steps immediately worked and the engine immediately jumped to life, without any 'clicks'. (so this may be a cause to your problem.
Now... for my issue... I ran into a 'different' (but could be the same) issue on the trip my wife and I got back from today. The issue is that the clicks have returned, but the engine does start....BUT... the steps would not extend/retract, the slide-outs would not work, the power mirrors didn't work, and the backup camera tv monitor would not work....this happened at the first stop on our way out. the companions travelling with us in their RV and I did a ton of diagnostic work... no blown fuses, battery 'appeared' to be charged.....I reset the coach disconnect switches a number of times... we could hear the clicking on the changes..and we also found that the 1/2 of the fuse circuit board was showing power and the other 1/2 (with all the affected systems) was not showing power
.. and now... here's the kicker...we found that if you tie the coach and chassis batteries together, everything works! If the engine is running and you plug it into shore power, everything works! If the engine is running and you start the generator, everything works! If you let go the aux start switch, unplug shore power, or shutdown the generator, everything (steps, slides, mirrors, and tv monitor) dies.... it seems like the solenoid isn't allowing 1/2 of the fuse circuit board to get power from the chassis battery alone.....either the chassis battery is faulty, or the solenoid is faulty and is requiring too much juice to activate...
I am going to disconnect the chassis battery and check its state tomorrow...and then check to see if the replace solenoid is faulty and needs replacing again, but if anyone has other ideas on what I need to check, please tell me.
Thanks...
Larry
