Community Forums

Boston Cajun · 02-11-2021, 06:38 PM

Have a new to us 2018 Phaeton IH. The awning opens OK but when closing it does not go all the way into the housing. Missing about 2 inches to completely enter the housing.

Coalminer333 · 02-11-2021, 07:02 PM

I have a Dometic awning that would open OK but would stop before fully retracting. In my case, it sounded like the awning motor couldn't overcome the gas shock resistance. However, it would close if my wife and I pushed on the support arms while it was closing thereby reducing the closing resistance. I then connected a power source directly to the motor using Dometic's emergency connections located at the motor. Worked fine in that case. Therefore, the problem involved voltage / current drop in the control box where the wind sensor, remote control, remote switch hookups and secondary awning controls are located. To resolve it, I installed a double pole, double throw momentary switch in order to bypass the Dometic control system. I don't have automatic wind protection or remote control anymore but the awning opens and closes when I want it to.

CamJam1 · 02-11-2021, 07:03 PM

Power awning or manual?

Not sure if this holds true for power awnings or not, but on a manual awning if the fabric isn't centered side-to-side on the roller it can twist the arms enough to keep them from aligning and retracting properly. The distance from the fabric to the edge of the roller should be the same at both ends of the roller. To fix this, extend your roller fully but keep the fabric loose enough so that you can slide the fabric in it's track on the roller.

Also, sometimes due to sloppy assembly there are rivets protruding that can keep the arms from retracting.

**NLOVNIT** · 02-11-2021, 07:12 PM

I've met other 40IH owners in campgrounds who've said the same thing. Some have even had Red Bay address the issue with no better results. I never really noticed if ours didn't close all the way. Hope you can find a solution.

DuaneMiller · 02-11-2021, 07:26 PM

What brand awning do you have? If its the Girard awning, there are a couple of adjustment screws (potentiometers) that control in and out travel limits.