Damon/Thor - Power Awning Trouble?

[tr21r]

Hi, I have a 2010 Damon Outlaw with a powered Dometic awning.

Frequently, the awning will not open. I've been told by different dealers and shops (2 have inspected it) that the battery needs to be at a full 100% charge or the awning won't open.

The shops will charge the batt and get the awning to work. I'll drive it somewhere, even run the gen for a good while, and the awning won't work 60% of the time (I check that the key isn't in, brake is set, in park, etc.).

It seems awfully sensitive.

Any ideas?


Thanks,

Mike

[wa8yxm]

Re: what the dealers told you... I grew up on a dairy farm.. That smells a lot like stuff I used to shovel back then.

In 2005, Damon used Dometic (A&E Weather Pro) awnings They had the "Lighthouse" type wind sensor (A small tower, like a lighthouse, on the roof) and frankly the wind sensor system sucked big time, The one on my coach often falsed and wound up the awning even on a still day,, The replacement was even worse and I've not done it again,, I just turned it off. I understand toady they use a motion sensor on the end of the awning arm.. but I wonder if the quality of the controls has improved any.

If there is a switch that will disable the wind sensor,, try it.. NOTE. on mine that switch also disables the ignition interlock making it possible to pull a Robin Williams but at least I can extend the awning.

[powerboatr]

your awning motor is marginal at best for these LARGE awnings
ours gets stuck if the wind comes up while its retracting then does the back and forth shuffle,
my wind meter is basically useless, it will sometime retract at low wind then others not move at all
i have found if it acts squirrely, i cycle the switch a few times to retract to exstend

[macadnphyl]

I'd disable the wind sensor, either with the remote or at the control panel, and
note the result.

[BpK9Miami]

My 2009 Outlaw had the same problem right after I bought it. When I took it back to the dealer we determined pretty quickly that it was simply a matter of the sensor setting. Once I adjusted it I haven't had a problem with it since. Having said that, my neighbor has a 2008 Outlaw model and to solve his he had to have the sensor head replaced. Good luck and enjoy the Outlaw.

[Crabby Mike]

Why not call Dometic, and ask them what they recommend?

[tr21r]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BpK9Miami My 2009 Outlaw had the same problem right after I bought it. When I took it back to the dealer we determined pretty quickly that it was simply a matter of the sensor setting. Once I adjusted it I haven't had a problem with it since. Having said that, my neighbor has a 2008 Outlaw model and to solve his he had to have the sensor head replaced. Good luck and enjoy the Outlaw.

Do you happen to know how to adjust the sensor setting?

While I'm asking... where is the sensor head?

Thanks!

[BpK9Miami]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tr21r Do you happen to know how to adjust the sensor setting? While I'm asking... where is the sensor head? Thanks!

My sensor head is located in the compartment right next to the door on the wall closest to the stair. The adjustment can be done with the remote or by pushing a button on the sensor hear itself. An indicator light shows the sensativity by wind speed. Somewhere I actually have pictures of the darn thing so if you need them let me know and I'll post them.

Hope that helps.

[tr21r]

Thanks Mack!

It's in the shop now for a leaking leveler pump so I've asked yet another dealer to take a crack at the awning. With the help from this board and a bit from Thor, I've asked the shop to hone in on the wind sensor as one suspect. If they don't sort it out, I'll dig into it myself when I get it back. I think your description should guide me.

Mike

[tr21r]

Here is the latest.

Last shop ran various tests and spoke to Dometic. Diagnosis is a couple things.

1. If amperage is low on battery, awning won't operate (knew that).

2. Sometimes, if amps are low and multiple attempts to run awning are made, the controller board can get "confused" (we call these bugs in the computer biz). When confused it goes into a frozen state and needs to be reset. Reset is accomplished by turning off wind sensor and then turning it back on (this happens frequently enough that the simple instructions for doing this are printed on the back of the remote FOB for the awning - which I had not previously noticed).

Anyway, after resetting, the awning worked fine. We just did a 1200 mi trip to So Cal desert and beaches. Awning worked fine except for just after we'd arrived and had been using the house battery without re-charging. After a good charge on shore power it worked again. So far so good.

Oh, but my aux fuel pump died on this trip!

Mike

[DGShaffer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tr21r Oh, but my aux fuel pump died on this trip! Mike

If you're talking about the one that you use to fill you bike then I had the same problem. I was told that it was the ethanol in today's fuel that reacts with the plastic impellers on the pump. Basically they grew a little in size.

You have to pull the four bolts off the pump head, pull the impeller gears out and lightly sand the sides flat and the teeth ever so slightly. I used a very fine file and that worked perfect. You can keep testing it by placing the end plate back on and hitting the switch, if you hear them spinning, you done good.

PS, your fuse most likely blew so check that first but don't try the pump until after you work it a little. If you're not convinced this will solve the problem, hit the pump switch after pulling the impellers, if it spins, that's the problem.

[tr21r]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGShaffer If you're talking about the one that you use to fill you bike then I had the same problem. I was told that it was the ethanol in today's fuel that reacts with the plastic impellers on the pump. Basically they grew a little in size. You have to pull the four bolts off the pump head, pull the impeller gears out and lightly sand the sides flat and the teeth ever so slightly. I used a very fine file and that worked perfect. You can keep testing it by placing the end plate back on and hitting the switch, if you hear them spinning, you done good. PS, your fuse most likely blew so check that first but don't try the pump until after you work it a little. If you're not convinced this will solve the problem, hit the pump switch after pulling the impellers, if it spins, that's the problem.

Don,

Being the less than super technical high tech sales guy... uh, how do you do all this testing? Meaning, (dumb question coming.... ) did you disconnect the pump from the tank to do this testing? Otherwise, wouldn't you be messing with gas?

Thanks,

Mike

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabby Mike Why not call Dometic, and ask them what they recommend?

Have you ever called Dometic? (not the easiest company to get help from)

[DGShaffer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tr21r Don, Otherwise, wouldn't you be messing with gas? Thanks, Mike

No fuel flows through the hose unless the pump head plate is tightly secured and the impellers are spinning.

You can turn on the pump with the impellers in place but without the head plate on, it can't create the suction required to pull fuel through the hose from the tank. The tank is lower than the pump so it won't gravity feed without the pump being completely together and spinning freely.

Take my word for this fact. It may not be the problem but at least you can check it your self. Pull the plate, flip the switch on and off quick, it it spins, the gears have swelled. If you replace the gears, it'll happen again next season. Just lightly sand them around the diameter and on the flat surfaces of the front and back of each gear.