2022 High Country HD retractable running board issues

[mtbadbob]

4 hours ago, Cmen303 said:

Greetings all,

 

I have a 2016 high country with the same issue.  I've replaced both motors and both switches with no difference.  I'm in about 1200-1300 now.  unable to find anyone with a solution.  I've gone to a Chevy dealership and was told they couldn't help me with motor replacement and to just get rid of these steps.   If anyone has any info I'm all ears. 

Did you make sure you have voltage at the running boards? Check fuses if not, of course. If you have power at the boards, I'd say check the sensors next, and make sure the hinges aren't seized. I've seen that on a '14 Escalade. I'd lube the hell out of them with some PB Blaster. Then open the door and apply manual pressure down or up, whatever way they need to go, to see if you can get them to move.

[Cmen303]

Hey mtbadbob,

 

So I've also changed out the fuse, I've sprayed the PB blaster like crazy on all the joints. They do have voltage because they move a bit. like the want to come out.   My next step I thing is to take them down and take them apart, lube them up real good and see how that goes. I'm out of ideas. 

 

[mtbadbob]

I think that may help. The sensor could be telling them to retract because of an obstruction also, especially if they're trying to move. The could just be full of crap inside. Did you try pushing down on them manually when you open the door??

[Chuck FB]

My comment won't really be helpful in the sense of repairing power boards but last fall when I ordered my truck and was going through the list of things I wanted as well as making sure certain items were not mistakenly put on the order, the topic of power running boards came up. The salesman's comment when I said I do not want them, just the standard ones that come with this trim of a truck and he said good because they do not work up here in the winter with all the salt that flies around and gets into the motors and ends their life in fairly short order. Of course some people get them as some people want them and not all sales people are going to tell the customer its a bad idea if the vehicle gets used during the winter. They are a fair weather on pavement product ... I've seen those that have gotten their power board to go down and left it unhooked or set in that position so it behaves like a normal bolt on board, also heard power boards making horrible crunchy noises because they drove on a little gravel.

[mtbadbob]

Power boards do require more maintenence, mainly keeping the hinge mechanism's cleared. I live in Montana, and have had relatively good luck with mine, once the program got updated. That being said, they will be more tempermental & require more attention in snowy/icey areas. 

[Chuck FB]

23 minutes ago, mtbadbob said:

Power boards do require more maintenence, mainly keeping the hinge mechanism's cleared. I live in Montana, and have had relatively good luck with mine, once the program got updated. That being said, they will be more tempermental & require more attention in snowy/icey areas. 

There would be various factors that would come into play with how good or bad the power board experience would be depending on your typical winter roads, how much crap they spread and what they are spreading on your winter roads, how much snow/ice builds up on them and if the vehicle is being kept outside or goes into a heated space to melt out the ice. I can pretty much guarantee a lot of vehicle owners that have power boards don't maintain anything to do with them, just go to a shop when they quit moving and then get the bad news as to how much it will cost to fix ! LOL

[Srode1]

On 4/17/2025 at 9:23 PM, Cmen303 said:

Hey mtbadbob,

 

So I've also changed out the fuse, I've sprayed the PB blaster like crazy on all the joints. They do have voltage because they move a bit. like the want to come out.   My next step I thing is to take them down and take them apart, lube them up real good and see how that goes. I'm out of ideas. 

 

My understanding is there is a stainless bushing at the pivot points on the boards.  If they start sticking or running slow, disassembling the arms at that point and cleaning / lube with anti-seize is sometimes the cure.  If the joint is corroded beyond repair replacing the arm is the next step.  This is on the 15-18 design, not the newer trucks.