Dometic Power awning won't move.

[Larryect]

I believe this is a Dometic 9100 series, which I have not had previous trouble with. The trailer is about 5 years old. The manufacturing date of the awning is 2012.

So, I had the awning out and when we went to roll it in it would not roll in. When the switch is operated I could hear a clicking in the roller tube which sounded like a relay clicking.

Got the manual out and disconnected the power wire in the awning arm. The click would not happen again until the wires were restored. I believed this to mean the power was getting from the switch up into the motor. So, I did not attempt to run 12 volts directly to the wires.

I got out the emergency strap and connected it. With the wife holding the strap I removed the 2 screws at the top of the arm and expected the awning to try to roll in. She slowly released tension and, nothing, It still didn't roll in.

So, I rolled to tube by hand and it didn't seem to have any tension on it either way. Under the conditions at the time, I was not able to put the screws back in. So, I ty-wrapped the awning arms together and drove it home watching for a bit to make sure the awning did not unfurrel.

Now, at home, I cut it loose and notice there is some (a little) spring tension on the tube. But, if I roll it out a bit manually, it stays where I put it.

Does this sound like a bad motor?

Thanks in advance
Larry

[Larryect]

SoundGuy wrote:

Larryect wrote:
I believe this is a Dometic 9100 series, which I have not had previous trouble with. The trailer is about 5 years old. The manufacturing date of the awning is 2012.

Then the Dometic Awning Recall doesn't apply to your awning.

The mistake I made was looking at the wrong tag. There was a tag on the arm and I thought it was for the awning. Apparently it was just for the arm. The tag for the awning was on the roller tube.

[MDKMDK]

Larryect wrote:

MDKMDK wrote:

Larryect wrote:
Well, I pulled the motor and it came apart while pulling it out. I found I was wrong on the dates. The trailer is a 2014 model purchased in 2013. The awning is dated 2-25-2013 and does fall in the recall.

I called the Dometic recall line and they confirmed. They didn't have a fit about me pulling it apart, but won't send me the new motor. They have to have a dealer do the install. And, now since my awning is hanging loose on the side of the trailer they are looking for someone that can come to me to complete the repair.

I had to have them send someone by to do the motor swap, too. They found a local guy (actually about 15 miles away) that was an "authorized Dometic service technician" and he came by a day or two later, and did it in about an hour in the driveway.
Glad you were able to confirm my guess on the recall status, and get a proper solution. Also good that it didn't unfurl while you were towing it. That was the original recall problem.
You're welcome, btw. :W

Thanks, Yeah my motor looks like the one in the recall notice as well. Really odd construction. Seems to be held together with a large clear heat shrink tube. Glad it didn't unfurl while driving. This one may have clicked just before it died, but not sure.

On the bright side, you got 5 years out of a defective motor. Very impressive if you want to look at it that way.
Now, you'll get a brand new one "gratis". :B

[Larryect]

MDKMDK wrote:

Larryect wrote:
Well, I pulled the motor and it came apart while pulling it out. I found I was wrong on the dates. The trailer is a 2014 model purchased in 2013. The awning is dated 2-25-2013 and does fall in the recall.

I called the Dometic recall line and they confirmed. They didn't have a fit about me pulling it apart, but won't send me the new motor. They have to have a dealer do the install. And, now since my awning is hanging loose on the side of the trailer they are looking for someone that can come to me to complete the repair.

I had to have them send someone by to do the motor swap, too. They found a local guy (actually about 15 miles away) that was an "authorized Dometic service technician" and he came by a day or two later, and did it in about an hour in the driveway.
Glad you were able to confirm my guess on the recall status, and get a proper solution. Also good that it didn't unfurl while you were towing it. That was the original recall problem.
You're welcome, btw. :W

Thanks, Yeah my motor looks like the one in the recall notice as well. Really odd construction. Seems to be held together with a large clear heat shrink tube. Glad it didn't unfurl while driving. This one may have clicked just before it died, but not sure.

[MDKMDK]

Larryect wrote:
Well, I pulled the motor and it came apart while pulling it out. I found I was wrong on the dates. The trailer is a 2014 model purchased in 2013. The awning is dated 2-25-2013 and does fall in the recall.

I called the Dometic recall line and they confirmed. They didn't have a fit about me pulling it apart, but won't send me the new motor. They have to have a dealer do the install. And, now since my awning is hanging loose on the side of the trailer they are looking for someone that can come to me to complete the repair.

I had to have them send someone by to do the motor swap, too. They found a local guy (actually about 15 miles away) that was an "authorized Dometic service technician" and he came by a day or two later, and did it in about an hour in the driveway.
Glad you were able to confirm my guess on the recall status, and get a proper solution. Also good that it didn't unfurl while you were towing it. That was the original recall problem.
You're welcome, btw. :W

[fj12ryder]

That's an excellent resolution of your problem. Nice to know that Dometic is standing behind their recall, rather than just blowing you off because you took it apart yourself.

BTW, the motor I got off Ebay was one of those pulled from freight damaged awnings. When I got it you could see that it was still brand new, just didn't come in a OEM box. The $145 I paid beat the heck out of all the other prices I saw around.

[Larryect]

Well, I pulled the motor and it came apart while pulling it out. I found I was wrong on the dates. The trailer is a 2014 model purchased in 2013. The awning is dated 2-25-2013 and does fall in the recall.

I called the Dometic recall line and they confirmed. They didn't have a fit about me pulling it apart, but won't send me the new motor. They have to have a dealer do the install. And, now since my awning is hanging loose on the side of the trailer they are looking for someone that can come to me to complete the repair.

[Larryect]

ndrorder wrote:
More than likely it is the motor, but why not remove the motor and see if it is salvageable before buying a new one. Rvgeeks.Com have some great u tube videos for canvas replacement which include motor removal.

Yep. Will move the trailer so I can fully extend the awning and get the model and serial numbers. Then remove the motor and verify.

[Larryect]

IB853347201 wrote:
Let me ask the obvious question,,your sure battery is good? You said your TT was a 2012 and you didn't mention checking the battery? 6 years on a battery usually means dead battery.

Replaced the batteries this year with 2 golf cart batteries. Was plugged into power. Not a voltage issue.

[Larryect]

fj12ryder wrote:

newman fulltimer wrote:
Go to amazon order a motor

You'll pay through the nose for a motor from Amazon. You can beat their high prices at other places.

Will check around, but currently Amazon seems competetive.

I did find some on Ebay that were supposedly pulled from new damaged awnings for about 200.

[IB853347201]

Let me ask the obvious question,,your sure battery is good? You said your TT was a 2012 and you didn't mention checking the battery? 6 years on a battery usually means dead battery.

[fj12ryder]

newman fulltimer wrote:
Go to amazon order a motor

You'll pay through the nose for a motor from Amazon. You can beat their high prices at other places.

[ndrorder]

More than likely it is the motor, but why not remove the motor and see if it is salvageable before buying a new one. Rvgeeks.Com have some great u tube videos for canvas replacement which include motor removal.

[newman_fulltime]

Go to amazon order a motor

[fj12ryder]

You should be able to find exact information about your awning on the left hand portion of the tube when the awning is completely open. There is a tag on the tube that tells all.

I just checked the guy I bought mine from and he doesn't have any others for sale.