FIX Pickup Truck Automatic Running Boards

If your truck’s automatic running boards are acting up, the fix is probably easier than you think! DirtFarmerJay will walk you through the simple steps to get your steps working like new!Show more

#runningboards #truckstep #truckrepair

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The automatic running boards on our truck are really nice. They raise up out of the way after use and drop down when the door is opened. Because they “tuck” up out of the way when the truck is underway, the truck is just a bit more aerodynamic. And it looks cleaner when the running boards are stowed when the vehicle is parked. Having them raised also keeps the width footprint of the truck to a minimum and allows a bit more space between our two vehicles parked next to each other in the garage.

Like most things in life, you don’t get all those upsides without a downside or two. While this type of running board is really handy, they have to be maintained from time to time. And, it’s no wonder. Because of where they need to be positioned, they are in the “direct line of fire” from the grit, mud, and moisture flung off the front tires. Because of this, the swivel brackets and attachment points need to be sprayed out from time to time and lubricated. If you don’t, the running boards will operate sporadically.

While it’s possible that the motor and operating mechanisms on your truck have failed, it is unlikely. It's better to start with maintenance. Besides, having these units replaced is (in my opinion) overly expensive. I asked our local dealer how much it would be to replace both units and the quote was about $4,000! NO THANKS!

In our case, the running boards would come down, and stay down until you started driving and exceeded 5 MPH, then they would retract. When stationary, the boards would come down, and after the doors were closed, would attempt to retract, stop and come back down. Frustrating.

I learned I need to “think” like the running boards, and as the engineers designed them. When the vehicle is stationary, and the running boards encounter resistance when closing, they “think” that something is in the way, like your or one of your children’s leg or foot, or even perhaps something that has dropped between the running board and the side of the truck. So, it stops and goes back down as a safety measure.

When the truck is underway, the running board retracts because it “thinks” that no one would be running alongside the truck and jamming their foot in it, and that any object would have dropped away. Actually, this is clever programming on the part of the component engineers!

So, it’s important to reduce resistance in the hardware and swivel brackets by spraying them out when the running boards are down, and then lubricate them with a spray that is “clingy” and will stay on the job for a while! The Blaster® line of lubricants works well for us.

However, should you take these measures, and the units still don’t work, then it may be time to replace the motors that lift and lower the running boards. While this “swap” is not the scope of this episode, here are some videos that you may find to be helpful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeuSUCXfccA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMuFYK39XEw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mNcaQbnjkA

Even if you end up doing a motor or component replacement, it is well within the reach of even a basic-skilled home mechanic to do this without spending thousands! JUST DO IT YOURSELF!

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