An Awning Problem Solved

[LMAlmo]

Thank you for the information. We have the 2019 GT

We had a similar issue where it would not deploy at all and the lights would not come on. It worked when we did our walk through and on our shakedown...after that nada.

After a call to ZipDee we found the cat5 to be the issue (somewhere in the line it was loose then disconnected itself) We drove our butts to Walmart and bought a 12 foot cat6 wire and no issues since. The dealer tucked away the wire once we were able to get back to them.

2 things we have learned

1) Make sure the main door is CLOSED when deploying or retracting. Otherwise it will get stuck on the open door (don't ask how I know)
2) Once you turn the switch ON leave it on until after you retract. We thought turning it off after deploying but ran into issues with it not retracting fully. (which makes sense after hearing about limit resets)

[AirMiles]

Originally Posted by LMAlmo

Thank you for the information. We have the 2019 GT

We had a similar issue where it would not deploy at all and the lights would not come on. It worked when we did our walk through and on our shakedown...after that nada.

After a call to ZipDee we found the cat5 to be the issue (somewhere in the line it was loose then disconnected itself) We drove our butts to Walmart and bought a 12 foot cat6 wire and no issues since. The dealer tucked away the wire once we were able to get back to them.

2 things we have learned

1) Make sure the main door is CLOSED when deploying or retracting. Otherwise it will get stuck on the open door (don't ask how I know)
2) Once you turn the switch ON leave it on until after you retract. We thought turning it off after deploying but ran into issues with it not retracting fully. (which makes sense after hearing about limit resets)

I actually make sure the main door is OPEN when deploying or retracting so I can get in or out to restart the awning function when it stalls. I have been turning it off when not in use, so I will start leaving it on when deployed. I will also start by hitting close after it has been turned off.

I also found where it said not to use WD-40 in the manual. It suggested a spray SILICONE. I will be picking up some of that from Home Depot.

Lots of good tips on this thread. I hope to have better luck with the awning using these tips.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

WD-40 is mostly kerosene and really does not do much for lubrication. It's a great cleaner and will indeed "displace water" Use it if you need to do that on the electrical connectors in your missile. (which is what it was originated to do).

If you have been using silicone keep using it. If you have been using something else, keep using that. Mixing silicone with something like white lithium grease is likely to create a sludge .... This is true on just about anything, not just awnings.

Bob

[BobnGayl]

Many people are confused regarding WD-40. It is not a lubricant and while it may seem to improve things momentarily, it is actually a cleaner. Great for ICBM maintenance! Silicone is my preference as long as subsequent painting is not a factor. Silicone and paint do not get along even a little bit. But for the slide rails on the awning, silicone is the way to go. I lubed mine but made no difference.

[gator.bigfoot]

I find that the spray silicone really doesn't do a thing. The WD40 cleans and that is the secret. Clean it regularly and it will function better. Especially after going down dirt roads.

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by SGandMT

I am contemplating trading our 15 FC in on a 20 GT, but this is one of the elements that scares me. Is there not a manual way to retract it, should a problem occur?

As far as I know, there is no manual method for closing it. Additionally, AS does not like to provide good operator instructions or manuals. This same thing happened to me, and despite all variables, continues to happen. Very frustrating, I also found that opening and closing the awning will usually close it, sometimes after a few attempts.

[lbillingsley]

Me too. My awning stops and and then I open a few inches and then stop and hit close. It is the way mine works since day 1. I have been waiting over a year since Escanaba rally to hear back.

[captainkirk]

WD-40

WD.... stands for Water Displacing

40..... stands for "the first 39 formulations didn't work"

If your having trouble with water on electrical products causing issues it might be useful to sheet off the water.

It's not really a very good cleaner nor is it a lubricant....and in fact will remove what oil you might have on the surface when it evaporates leaving you worse than when you started. (Which is likely why Zip Dee says don't use it)

This stuff was sold to the military when there was lots of arcing and problems when water got into things like distributor caps on vehicles. They could spray the whole thing with this "Stuff" and it would sheet the water off.

The military bought the stuff by the truckload and there was always boxes of the stuff laying around so it got used for everything.

In a brilliant marketing move the makers started to sell it as a sort of snake oil that's good for whatever ails you mechanically.


And now you know the rest of the story

What your looking for is a dry lubricant that won't attract and hold the dirt...