Dometic 9500E 12V power Awning problem

[Jackhackle]

2018 Escape 19 power awning: awning only goes out about 6 inches, and only when I push both ups and down buttons on remote at same time. Awning then retracts with push of retract button. I've tried the reset out limit instructions on page 9 of the manual 100's of times to no avail. When awning is out 6" I can see that it is wound up "straight" and tight with no wrinkles. Is my remote bad? Can I even get a new one? Is motor bad, it jogs so it is getting electricity. People at Dometic no help at all. Will keep trying to get ESCAPE help.

 

[Eggscape]

Sorry I can’t help with your problem.

However this is a great time to remind everyone to make sure that you have your model number/serial number that is on the tube and can only be seen when the awning is fully extended.

Hopefully yours is also on your documentation.

Warranty people apparently only want to speak with you if you have the number of your personal awning.

 

[salmo7000]

Sorry I can’t help with your problem.

However this is a great time to remind everyone to make sure that you have your model number/serial number that is on the tube and can only be seen when the awning is fully extended.

Hopefully yours is also on your documentation.

Warranty people apparently only want to speak with you if you have the number of your personal awning.

Good tip, thank you!! I'm going out NOW and getting that number off mine. This is my biggest concern about these power awnings, which we all had to get in 2018 (no option for the manual one).

And now I'm sitting here wondering if anyone with an Escape of this vintage ever replaced their electric awning with a manual one?? If so, I'd appreciate hearing about it. Yes I know the arms will interfere with opening the awning-type windows, but that's something that can be managed.

Hopefully it won't come to this with the OP... but it would be good to know either way!

 

[diannelgraham]

Good tip, thank you!! I'm going out NOW and getting that number off mine. This is my biggest concern about these power awnings, which we all had to get in 2018 (no option for the manual one).

And now I'm sitting here wondering if anyone with an Escape of this vintage ever replaced their electric awning with a manual one?? If so, I'd appreciate hearing about it. Yes I know the arms will interfere with opening the awning-type windows, but that's something that can be managed.

Hopefully it won't come to this with the OP... but it would be good to know either way!

I'll send you a private message to we don't highjack this post

 

[Jackhackle]

Spoke to ESCAPE Awhile about this. It is nearly impossible to replace with a manual awning. Impossible to get to bolts you would have put in without tearing up liner and interior. Also chance of breaking windows while traveling. New Dometic 9500E motor $1700! Better off replacing with another brand of electric awning that can attach to existing rail on top. Haven’t gotten that far yet. Others hove done this please contact me. A little disappointed with Escape here

 

[Chamberman]

New Dometic 9500E motor $1700!

Full replacement kit including the controller here for $675. Not cheap, but a helluva lot better deal than $1700.

 

[diannelgraham]

Spoke to ESCAPE Awhile about this. It is nearly impossible to replace with a manual awning. Impossible to get to bolts you would have put in without tearing up liner and interior. Also chance of breaking windows while traveling. New Dometic 9500E motor $1700! Better off replacing with another brand of electric awning that can attach to existing rail on top. Haven’t gotten that far yet. Others hove done this please contact me. A little disappointed with Escape here

In 2019 I had the electric awning on my 2017 19 foot replaced with a manual absolutely no issues with the new awning. This replacement was done when Reese and Tami still owned Escape. There was absolutely no visible damage to trailer after the swap was done.

 

[Chamberman]

A little disappointed with Escape here

BTW, I understand being disappointed but the majority of that disappointment should be directed at Dometic that has built the problematic and expensive to repair electric awning.

The fact that Escape didn't make it easy to convert the trailer from an auto to manual awning or vice versa shouldn't really be a factor. There are a lot of things in the trailer that aren't easy to convert once the trailer has been built. Trying to design everything to be easily convertible into the future would be a maddening proposition for a manufacturer and probably add additional cost to the process.

 

[diannelgraham]

BTW, I understand being disappointed but the majority of that disappointment should be directed at Dometic that has built the problematic and expensive to repair electric awning.

The fact that Escape didn't make it easy to convert the trailer from an auto to manual awning or vice versa shouldn't really be a factor. There are a lot of things in the trailer that aren't easy to convert once the trailer has been built. Trying to design everything to be easily convertible into the future would be a maddening proposition for a manufacturer and probably add additional cost to the process.

In 2019 Reese did this conversion on my 19 with no hesitation or concerns. Maybe the new owners should ask him how he did it

 

[Chamberman]

In 2019 Reese did this conversion on my 19 with no hesitation or concerns. Maybe the new owners should ask him how he did it

The fact that Reace was more than willing to do the work doesn't imply that it was easy to accomplish or that the current owners that have been building the trailers for 5yrs now are unaware of how to do it. The manufacturer has knowledge, tools and materials at their disposal that the backyard DIY'er doesn't have. If the OP was asking about how to do it themselves then I could very well see the manufacturer trying to discourage them from attempting it.

 

[Jackhackle]

The fact that Reace was more than willing to do the work doesn't imply that it was easy to accomplish or that the current owners that have been building the trailers for 5yrs now are unaware of how to do it. The manufacturer has knowledge, tools and materials at their disposal that the backyard DIY'er doesn't have. If the OP was asking about how to do it themselves then I could very well see the manufacturer trying to discourage them from attempting it.

I agree with both you guys and its nice to know it can be done. Driving out to Chilliwack is not an option for me. If someone on this forum doesn't have a fix my next option will be to let a RVTAA tech look at it. No grantees there either! Thanks to all!

 

[Chamberman]

You know just looking at your symptoms this doesn't seem like a "bad motor" issue. This seems more likely to be a sensor or controller problem.

Look at Post #7 in this thread. It seems similar to what you're experiencing. His would come out about 18" then stop and eventually retract. He posts about his repair at the end of the thread.

 

[bitsnbytes131055]

2018 Escape 19 power awning: awning only goes out about 6 inches, and only when I push both ups and down buttons on remote at same time. Awning then retracts with push of retract button. I've tried the reset out limit instructions on page 9 of the manual 100's of times to no avail. When awning is out 6" I can see that it is wound up "straight" and tight with no wrinkles. Is my remote bad? Can I even get a new one? Is motor bad, it jogs so it is getting electricity. People at Dometic no help at all. Will keep trying to get ESCAPE help.

From my experience it seems your remote is not registered anymore to the awning. To make sure it is registered (controls the awning) you have to remove the cover off the remote itself.



Once removed you will see a small "D" shape indentation labelled "PROG". After you activate the awning (does short movement out as you said) press the "prog" button. This should cause a short back and forth jog motion indicating that the remote is registered as the controller.
Hope that works out for you.


People may forget about the vibration sensor clipped on the awning itself (in the middle of the frame on the part that extends out.

I forgot about it a few years ago and had to replace it (batteries leaked and corroded the electronics). Expensive.
So now when winterizing I remove the sensor and its batteries from it (de-registers it in the process).
It MUST be re-registered in the same manner as above. With the battery cover off you will see a small red button. That is the register button. The dial in there lets you adjust the sensitivity level.



So, when the camping season starts I register both the main control followed by the vibration sensor (sequence: 1st the controller followed immediately with the vibration sensor). When successful the awning will also do that jogging motion.



Good Luck.

 

[salmo7000]

All good discussion here, for those of us who have these awnings. I would dearly love to drive my 19 back to Chilliwack and have them swap out it for a manual, but the reality is this would be a 2-day drive for me (one way), I have no idea what it would cost (undoubtedly wouldn't be cheap), and my other problem is I got the LED light strip as an option, and it appears to be integrated into the awning. The only way to turn it on is with the awning remote. I expect it's possible to still have a light strip with the manual awning, but the one I have might have to be swapped out as well.

I think it's worth saying that when I ordered my 19 late in 2017, Reace and Tammy were still running the show. As I recall, these awnings were viewed as a very big step up, especially combined with the frameless insulated windows. The convenience combined with auto retraction when the wind comes up made them a big selling point, which I think is why they were standard on all Escapes during this time period.

Of course with time we learn about long-term problems with all the features, but honestly, other than this thread, I can't recall seeing many (if any) issues reported here, other than chirping from the wind sensor when the batteries are about to die. So far, mine has worked flawlessly, so I think for now I'll stick with what I have, and if it malfunctions in the future, consider the options then.

 

[Red-ESC]

I just had my 2018 Dometic power awning motor replaced by the new Escape support department. The motor was $948 Canadian plus one hour labour for installation and adjustments. The service was good and the installer knowledgeable.