oasis elite door awning

My large awning will not work unless I have a min 12.6v. It's a dometic and requires that min voltage to start the motor. I have no idea if these motors have start capacitors or not or if the start windings require it. Make sure you are plugged in or genny running

I had this happen to my last MH when I first got it. I ended up disassembling the gear box on the motor and found it to be lubricated with something that reminded me of very stiff wax. I cleaned all that **** out and lubed it with some good synthetic grease and it worked great for the next 8 years until I sold it.

I have managed to get the awning out and greased all parts. Tough going, as it would go a short ways and stop. After getting it all the way out, I greased all parts. Then retracted it. Same thing, go a short ways and stop. eventually got it back in and let it back out again still start and stop. Greased some more and put back in. Start and stop. Left it in this time for fear it would get stuck out and not be able to get in. Sounds like the motor is working fine. Just keeps stopping. Any advice?????????????

Best lube I found for the Arm joints is a spray can of cable/chain lube You may have to wipe it off several times, but it penetrates
and will work smoothly for a long time.

You have proved that you're not getting 12v to the motor. Find where you are loosing voltage.

Well,
As I figured the what the end result would be, I too did the "Spray it with Silicone" thing and, it didn't effect the shut down ONE BIT. I tried other sprays, lubes, teflon spray and more, NO DIFFERENCE, it still shuts down if it encounters too much resistance in the locked elbows of the awning. As stated, if I let it sit after one of its shut down fits, and manually kink both spring loaded elbows, many times it will then come in. The joints, and possible binding because of lack of lube or accumulated dirt/debris etc., are not the problem in my case.

But, as I stated earlier, there is some form of thermal reset in the circuit board or relay that runs that little awning. Below is a video of my awning when bench testing it. I supplied 12VDC from a motorcycle battery I have around just for these type of things. As you can see in the video, when direct 12V is applied to that little motor, there is no hesitation for opening or closing, no matter how many times I test ran/extended/retracted it, even when the elbows lock in the open position, that little awing just kept on working.

But, when it's on the coach, it will throw it's "I'm not going back in, you can't make me" fit. But, if and when it shuts down, and I break out the ladder and an alternate source of 12V, and tie it directly to the leads on that motor, that thing ZINGS right back in, no matter if the elbows are in the locked-open position or not. There is a small black control box, just inside our first compartment that says Dometic Weather Pro and, it houses tiny relays that click when opening and closing that door awning. I have tried numerous times to figure out how to find which circuit or relay shuts down for a time-out, when it won't come back in but, no luck yet. I'm not smart enough to know how to trouble shoot that kind of system. Just click on the picture to watch the video.
Scott

emiddleb wrote:
I have this awning, have experienced the same issue. Very common issue, easy to fix.

Silicon spray the heck out of all the joints on the arms. Sitting open all the time the awning collects road dirt and such in the joints. Also spray the ends of the roller tubes and anywhere else there is a moving part. Wipe with a cloth, spray again, then extend/retract a few times.

And yes, the motor does overheat and stop working until it cools down, and will do so if friction has built up due to dirt.

You'll be amazed at how much better it works after this process.

FYI, if you do need to replace a part on the awning, A&E/Dometic does not actually make the awnings. They buy them from a company called "Fiamma" (Italian, with U.S. subsidiary) and slap their label on them, and then in turn supply them to RV manufacturers. A quick check on their website (www.fiammausa.com) will often find parts that are cheaper than at Dometic and they carry parts that Dometic no longer stocks. I had to fix my 2004-vintage awning a few months back and needed a part that Dometic said was no longer manufactured and I'd have to buy a new awning... Fiamma had it in stock.

I had a 2004 MADP with that same awning and same problem,I did as this poster did and it would work fine...did it maybe once a year...Chuck

^^^ this is why I love this site... silicone spray and www.fiammausa.com Parts are not cheap but atleast you can get them... even a motor system $$$ for your manual awning. Thank you Ed.

I have this awning, have experienced the same issue. Very common issue, easy to fix.

Silicon spray the heck out of all the joints on the arms. Sitting open all the time the awning collects road dirt and such in the joints. Also spray the ends of the roller tubes and anywhere else there is a moving part. Wipe with a cloth, spray again, then extend/retract a few times.

And yes, the motor does overheat and stop working until it cools down, and will do so if friction has built up due to dirt.

You'll be amazed at how much better it works after this process.

FYI, if you do need to replace a part on the awning, A&E/Dometic does not actually make the awnings. They buy them from a company called "Fiamma" (Italian, with U.S. subsidiary) and slap their label on them, and then in turn supply them to RV manufacturers. A quick check on their website (www.fiammausa.com) will often find parts that are cheaper than at Dometic and they carry parts that Dometic no longer stocks. I had to fix my 2004-vintage awning a few months back and needed a part that Dometic said was no longer manufactured and I'd have to buy a new awning... Fiamma had it in stock.

I doubt the motor has a auto reseting thermal switch... It's probably just a auto reset 12V circuit breaker in the 12V line to the control. Larger wires might solve the problem.