Electric Door Awning not working

[Hugginator]

2004 Itasca 40KD Electric Door Awning (Motor will not work)

Since the unit is electric, there is no way to manually open the awning which is frustrating. Take the left plastic motor cover off the awning, (4 small screws). Once the motor is exposed, unscrew the two top main motor screws from the motor. There is a top, middle and bottom piece that completes the motor assembly. The objective is to get the bottom cap off the motor shaft so you can clean it.

Special note: If the motor assembly comes completely out of the awning housing not a big deal, this just means that the awning spring tension will release the awning out. However, keep in mind that you will not be able to take the motor off the unit because it's still wired inside the coach. Unfortunately, the connector is behind the coach wall and can't be disconnected unless you want to cut out the silicone and unscrew the entire awning from the coach.

Problem: What caused the motor to malfunction is the main drive shaft sits in water which causes corrosion and starts to rust creating a natural weld which doesn't allow the motor to turn.

Caution: If the motor assembly shaft releases and the motor disconnects from the awning gears on top, the awning will spring out and knock you off your ladder, not really just be careful.

Solution: Once you have the base off the motor assembly, scrub it with a wire brush and rinse it out with some water or cleaner. Blow it out using an air hose and apply some bearing grease in the hole where the main shaft sits. Before you reassembly the motor, take 1200 grit sand paper and clean the motor shaft to make for a clean and smooth motion. Reassemble, hit the switch and you just saved yourself some serious cash. Before you add the plastic motor cap on the awning, put a very small drop of silicone where the wires enter the motor (small hole) to prevent water from getting back into the motor.

Merry Christmas!

Hugginator

[ernieh]

The electric door awning on my 03 has provisions to use a crank which came with the MH. Didn't know that they changed in 04.

[Phelpo]

thank you for the info. Will check mine out when the ice is off the rig

Phelpo in Florida

[RKL]

Hugginator...after you reassemble the motor and the cap to the awning drill several decent sized holes at the bottom lowest point of the cap to let the water drain out....since i did this I have had no further problems...RKL

[Beabop]

Ours was bad 2 times, one was water and DH cleaned the motor, other was cheap plastic teeth were broken and small assembly cost $87