Manual Carefree Colorado Awning issue

Well my lock unlock lever seems to engage and un engage okay. If you are saying the internal to the tube part may have disconnected...I do think that may be what is happening. I've read horror stories about those springs under tension so wouldn't attempt that on my own. Is this something "whacking it with a hammer might break free? As I said the lever slides and moves the exterior mechanism quite well. But it has no effect on the "engaging tension" aspect I recall it having. At least I think that was what previously provided the tension and retracted the awning. It used to have a lot of tension. Now it is as flaccid as it gets.