How to open a dead motorized engine cover

[Jalisa]

Good evening,
Would anyone have some advice on getting access to the engine with a cover with dead motors. It won't go up an inch. I need to get a way in to replace them and am wondering if anyone has removed the louvered piece. By any chance is there a fuse for the switch? 2016 Anthem
Thank you!
Lisa

[Gary.Jones]

Lisa

Someone will come in with a comparable coach and give you some of the answers. Until they do, this has been the subject of a fairly long thread about 1 year ago. Use the search function in the GreenBox up at the top of this page and search for it and it may take a couple of tries, but I think you will find it there.

I don't have this on my coach so am completely useless to you.

Gary

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Jalisa

Good evening,
Would anyone have some advice on getting access to the engine with a cover with dead motors. It won't go up an inch. I need to get a way in to replace them and am wondering if anyone has removed the louvered piece. By any chance is there a fuse for the switch? 2016 Anthem
Thank you!
Lisa

If you do have to lift it manually you can get to the bottom two bolts with a 6" flexible extension & 3/8 or 7/16 nut I think. Remove them and lift manually. You can see the bolts, one on each side thru the lower louvers.

[hobart22]

there is a 35 amp relay in the DEF door on the left top that you can jump, just jump the two studs and should work, need new relay. after you get it back in take out bottom bolts and replace with clivis pins with holes and so you can use jesus pins

[Wfuge]

There are terminals at the front of the coach in the box under the drivers seat that you can jump and give power to a dead coach.

[Jalisa]

Thanks everyone. Gary, I have read the previous thread. I think I'll try the flexible extension if I can get it in through the louver. Just wondered if anybody had to resort to removing the louver and if so, how. It figures that now they are putting a manual override on this. I will be doing that if (hopefully) I get it open.

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Jalisa

Thanks everyone. Gary, I have read the previous thread. I think I'll try the flexible extension if I can get it in through the louver. Just wondered if anybody had to resort to removing the louver and if so, how. It figures that now they are putting a manual override on this. I will be doing that if (hopefully) I get it open.

Jalisa, I have done it. Takes a few minutes. If I may make a suggestion to you or any other owners of the 2016 power lift engine compartment door. Get a 6 to 8" flexible 1/4" extension and appropriate socket & open end wrench and do a quick practice on loosing one of the lower bolts on the door. Then store your extension and never concern yourself again about what to do if I ever have to open that door manually. As previously mentioned, while the door is working you can replace the bolt with a quick release clevis pin.

I believe that after 2016 Entegra addressed this issue and made the override changes.

[Jalisa]

Thanks again for the help! Much appreciated [emoji846]

[Matt D]

You can trap a box end wrench on the side of the bolt not visible through the louver. Then you can work with a good 1/4”ratchet through the louver. Getting the bolt out is the hardest thing aside from crawling up the inside of the hatch to position your wrench on the blind side.

If you can identify the failed side, you can remove just that side and help it up with the good jackscrew. Be careful as the hinge mechanism is really fragile with only one jackscrew working.

Once open, you can replace the bolt with a 1/4” round head wire lock pin similar to what is used to secure the pin in a tow bar. Home Depot sells a version that looks like a big D and has a bale to keep it locked closed.

Everbilt 1/4 in. x 2 in. Zinc-Plated Round Head Wire Lock Pin-807468 - The Home Depot

-Matt

[rlwhite]

Jim,
You have to crawl up from underneath and unbolt the two bottom bolts holding the motors. I've had mine go out twice with water running down the shaft and getting inside of the motors. They finally sent me a new designed motor. recommend replacing the bottom bolt with a removable pin, I think Entegra is now doing that.

[Franko Foto]

I can tell you from experience this thing is a bear to open. I had already installed the clevis pins on mine when an actuator (one previously changed) failed. Even after opening the clevis pin, I had a lot of difficulty removing it because of the pressure still on the arm. Eventually I just forced it open by bending the arm because I got tired of messing with it.

Entegra replaced both the actuators with ones that actually worked, and they replaced the twisted arm. I did the work myself.

[waterboy10]

Just had my originals replaced at my 2 year PDI. The new system looks far better than the old. The non-motor set-up was a pain to open but never not worked. Sometimes improvements are not worth it.

[Cruzer]

I replaced my bolts with clevis pins with hairpin clips. If the actuators are removed the gate actually isn't that heavy to lift open. It won't stay up by itself without a prop but the gate isn't that heavy. I tested a King Aire that had air cylinder to lift the gate - similar to the pneumatic cylinders used on Entegra's generator slide. I think this would be a better way for Entegra to go in the future. When the electric actuators fail they lock into position and you can' raise the gate. But if an air cylinder fails you can still raised the gate by hand. Worst case scenario if the cylinder is good but the solenoid valve won't open is to just disconnect an air line in the rear curbside compartment.

[hbatwell]

I need to quit reading these posts. As soon as I read or hear about an issue, it shows up. I am now working on getting my engine door open. I had just read about it earlier.