2002 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty - High Steppin'

Ox inserted the electric motor shaft into the gear sprocket, then used a 3/16-inch allen and 3/8-inch ratchet to mount the power motor to the Power Step linkage.

The assembled motor/linkage unit was then mounted to the reinforced mounting bracket, behind the rocker panel.

Four electronic diodes were used, one at each door, to open the steps. Diodes are used to direct electrical current both forward and backwards. Without a diode, the electrical current would go in one direction. These allowed the running boards to extend when the door, or doors, was opened, which was in forward current. Then, it retracted, in a reverse current, when the door was closed.

After lifting the hood, the fuse box cover was removed to gain access to the red power lead wire to the junction box. Next, the power fuse was removed.

The power controller was tie-wrapped and secured against the firewall atop the inner fender.

After removing the driver-side threshold cover and kick panel, an electrical probe test light was used to find the correct door-ajar sensor wire. The driver side was gray with a black stripe, while passenger side was black with a white stripe.

The diode was then spliced into the factory wiring harness by using Posi-Tap connectors. Then, the carpet was moved out of the way. A 9/32-inch hole was drilled into the floorboard, then a rubber grommet was fitted into the hole to eliminate any wire chaffing that might bare the wire. The two power control wires were then poked through the grommet. Silicone was used to seal the wires into the grommet. Instead of running the AMP Research Power Step wire harness atop the engine firewall, Ox ran the wire harness underneath and across the transmission mount.

Once the doors were closed, the Power Step running boards were tucked away underneath the rocker panels.