That's a good point....I guess I'll have to find a way to deploy them to be able to get at the bolts anyway. I know the Allen bolts are seized so probably wont be able to take the steps themselves off as per jacking option. B****r! Mike - MPx

2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged SVAutobigraphy Dynamic SVO Palette Grey (2021-...)
2012 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autoboigraphy Orkney Grey (2017-2021)
2007 4.2 V8 Supercharged Vogue SE Tonga Green (2012-2017)
2002 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonnatti Grey (2008-2012)

The earthing point is in the passenger footwell, not the drivers  Current: 2011 FFRR Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8
Previous: -
2004 FFRR Vogue 4.4 V8 with LPG
1997 P38 4.0 SE with LPG
1997 P38 4.6 Vogue with LPG

Last edited by Bushy30 on 2nd Apr 2019 6:30pm. Edited 1 time in total

I concur

the other way to operate the steps to open the tailgate?

Yes, something I do know about but tailgate doesn't do it either. Mike - MPx

2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged SVAutobigraphy Dynamic SVO Palette Grey (2021-...)
2012 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autoboigraphy Orkney Grey (2017-2021)
2007 4.2 V8 Supercharged Vogue SE Tonga Green (2012-2017)
2002 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonnatti Grey (2008-2012)

If the age of the steps is the same as your car, then I would go for a new set and keep the old ones for spares? saves buying parts which will cost more in the long run.

Bin um! Replace them with a new set as once they get to that state, they are a massive frustrating PITA!!! Lifes too short sir

Yes steps were a factory fit on mine so 2012 vintage. I agree - new steps and module on order... I just hope I'm up to fitting them (well getting the old ones off is the worry really), but I've got a few hundred to spend on an Indie if necessary before reaching MD levels of pain! Mike - MPx

2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged SVAutobigraphy Dynamic SVO Palette Grey (2021-...)
2012 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autoboigraphy Orkney Grey (2017-2021)
2007 4.2 V8 Supercharged Vogue SE Tonga Green (2012-2017)
2002 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonnatti Grey (2008-2012)

Buy your self a cheap set of pry off tools to help you get to any of the internal panels and some good penetrating oil for the bolts into the chassis, it's only 6 bolts each side to get them off.

I'm hoping not to need the pry offs - I know I can get at the control Module and that's the only internal bit I'm renewing. Good point on the bolts - I'll start the daily Plus Gas soaking ritual in prep! Mike - MPx

2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged SVAutobigraphy Dynamic SVO Palette Grey (2021-...)
2012 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autoboigraphy Orkney Grey (2017-2021)
2007 4.2 V8 Supercharged Vogue SE Tonga Green (2012-2017)
2002 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonnatti Grey (2008-2012)

You have 6 bolts per step, 4 in the sidesill area and 2 up into the floor... The 13mm headed bolts up into the floor are devils for snapping so yes, spray spray spray! Then when you get them moving, wind them in & out several times sir

The 13mm bolts are the only ones that need to come all the way out the other 4, 11mm does not.

Well I'm now sorted and thought I should post how it went.

Total elapsed time for the job was around 4 hours but half of that was clearing enough space in the barn for the FF and then putting everything else back afterwards!!

Parts were ordered from Craddocks - amazing price of £310.50 for a complete pair of steps and the control module (CF quoted £725.11 to replace just one motor by the MD). A couple of slight annoyances: The steps weren't in stock and I was only emailed to let me know on the day when I was expecting them...but the extra wait was only a few days; The home page suggests free UK delivery when ordering, but in the small print T&Cs under delivery information by an * (which I didn't see) it does say that big things like steps will have a surcharge. So I got another email asking for another £30 delivery. I think £340.50 (total) is still a bargain compared to anything from my MD but just a shame the real cost wasn't clear when ordering.

Before I got the steps and after much pfaffing and many many trials the old module/steps burst back into life. So still intermittent/sticking, but not "dead". The MDs diagnosis of the motor seizing and being inop was obviously BS. They almost certainly had just switched them off, although I don't understand why it took so many attempts by me to get them to switch back on. The switch works every time now alternating off and on just as it says in the manual.

Using plusGas for a few days while waiting for the steps meant that the bolts all undid without any real issue. I took the opportunity to clean/coppergrease them and indeed did the same with the hex grub screws on the new steps in the hope that they would remain removeable for a while at least (unlike the old ones)! The drivers side step is a bit of a PITA to fit with that long cylinder casing in the way of the bolt heads so a socket doesn't fit. A ratchet spanner is OK for some of the travel but even that is too thick in the end and I had to use an open ended spanner 1/12 turn at a time which took ages!

I wouldn't consider myself particularly weak and puny but I found the new steps heavy to lift into place - would be easy with two I'm sure. Not too bad taking the old ones off as there's only one movement to make, but trying to align the bracket slots up with all 4 bolts entailed some fine adjustment which was tough given the weight and awkward shape.

I didn't bother to deploy the new steps to fit them - didn't seem materially harder to get at the bolts to do them up than it had been to undo them with the old steps deployed...and they are slightly more manageable as a lump retracted rather than deployed.

Everything lined up properly so just the 6 bolts each side to tighten and plug in the old harness. Didn't bother to put the new module on either since the old one appeared to be working - and it all fired up without issue. Just had to open and close the doors a couple of times to sequence the deploy/retract properly, and there was Uncle Bob.

So after all your help on here, an easy fit and I have swanky new steps that don't stick. Wooopppeee! Thank you for your help.

I've obviously still got the old steps. I suspect that a day cleaning off rust grime and grit and re-lubing would see them perfectly serviceable - the rustiest parts being the motor casings which in themselves won't affect operation. I've also got a spare module should I need one! So if anyone needs any spares, let me know. Happy to flog off all the used parts for a few tokens plus postage - and/or the new module at cost (£80) - if anyone needs anything. Mike - MPx

2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged SVAutobigraphy Dynamic SVO Palette Grey (2021-...)
2012 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autoboigraphy Orkney Grey (2017-2021)
2007 4.2 V8 Supercharged Vogue SE Tonga Green (2012-2017)
2002 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonnatti Grey (2008-2012)

 Current: 2011 FFRR Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8
Previous: -
2004 FFRR Vogue 4.4 V8 with LPG
1997 P38 4.0 SE with LPG
1997 P38 4.6 Vogue with LPG

Glad you got them sorted