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Hyatt Roadie · 01-23-2023, 04:08 PM

My unit is a 2005 Essex, Model 4502 which has a powered privacy curtain for the windshield. It is activated by a rocker switch in the front overhead compartment directly above the steering wheel which houses all the other controls (front slide-outs, hydro-hot, awnings, docking lights etc.) It has always functioned flawlessly until this past weekend when the switch seemingly went dead. We were preparing the unit for the road and when we pressed the switch to roll back the curtain (which we normally keep fully closed), it would not retract. Absolutely nothing happened when the switch was pressed, no noise, no buzzing, no curtain movement . . nothing at all. I suspect that the rocker switch went bad, but not sure. I guess rocker switches are probably subject to sudden and total failure like anything else, but it has always been confounding to me when a switch fails after having worked perfectly for years and up to a few days before. The curtain motor was cool to the touch and looked to be okay, but my next step will be to determine if there is power to it when the switch is pressed and if necessary, whether it will operate with an external 12-volt source. I am reluctant to remove the panel where the switch is mounted because of all the other switches on it. Any thoughts and suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks to all.

MrMark52 · 01-26-2023, 09:18 AM

Can you disconnect the power at the motor and insert meter test leads into the power side of the plug?

I wouldn’t jump to conclusions the issue is the switch - it could be the switch, the motor, the fuse feeding the switch, the crimped wiring connectors, and so on, and so on.

Start where it’s easiest - and hopefully that’s where power plugs into the motor. If you have switched power on the wire side, then likely the issue is the motor (motors tend to fail more often than switches - although it would surprise me if yours did).

You might also find a wiring diagram for your coach and the switch panel - it will tell you if a single fuse or multiple fuses for the multiple circuits feed the circuit in question.

And locate a wiring diagram/manual for the auto shade if not included with the coach wiring diagram. Hopefully it will shed light on how it’s wired and troubleshooting (motor resistance, what to do when . . . ).

BonS · 01-26-2023, 09:31 AM

I have MCD roller shades. When their motors go bad the shade may only go one way, up or down, or not move at all. No sound, no movement. Since installing motor replacements from Rollertrol.com. I haven't had a shade motor failure in years.

Hyatt Roadie · 01-29-2023, 11:57 AM

Hello MrMark, and thanks so very much for your input. Very sorry for the late reply. The information you provided looks to be a very good and detailed blueprint for troubleshooting the problem which I plan to do as soon as I can get to it. Will send a follow-up hopefully before long. Thanks again.

Road Hawg · 01-31-2023, 09:02 PM

I had this same problem a while back.
I removed the panel and found that a wire from the switch to the motor (connected with a wire nut) was loose.
You will find that there is enough slack in the wires that you can pull the panel out far enough to see behind the panel without fear of disconnecting any other wires.
One other thought is that the privacy shade has a safety lock-out that will not allow it to operate with the key in the on position.
I doubt that is the problem but wanted to throw it out there just in case.
Good luck finding the problem.

Hyatt Roadie · 02-02-2023, 08:48 AM

Thanks so very much for your response and recommendations, all of which are sure to be very helpful as I troubleshoot the problem. Finding the time to do it has been the biggest challenge to date, but I hope to get to it before long.

Hyatt Roadie · 02-21-2023, 06:18 PM

After confirming that there was power at the dc connection at the motor, I opened the plastic motor housing to expose it and found that one of the wires suppling power to the motor had come off its post and was dangling free. I slid the wire connector back onto the post and tightened it which corrected the problem. It was an easy fix. Thanks to all for your help and advice, very much appreciated!