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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Jimmyjnr on June 07, 2015, 07:52:52 pm

Title: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on June 07, 2015, 07:52:52 pm
Freak gust of wind caught awning banged it up and down tried electric , motor running but not retracting. , grabbed manual Handel and same not able to wind in sound like it's stripped gear or missing gear .
Title: Re: Help girrard awning
Post by: Jimmyjnr on June 07, 2015, 07:56:19 pm
The main roller it trying to take material in but the arms not folding
Title: Re: Help girrard awning
Post by: Jimmyjnr on June 07, 2015, 08:14:14 pm
Any advice would be good , can't leave it out overnight , and need to head home tomorrow
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Mogan David on June 07, 2015, 10:27:00 pm
There are almost five dozen hits if you put GIRARD AWNING in the upper right search box. 
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on June 07, 2015, 10:38:04 pm
Did the search but nothing tied into my problem .
Eventually enlisted help from a few campers and we managed to force it to almost closed , then used zip ties to hold it .
Scared to think of the repair bill for this trip
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Tim Fiedler on June 07, 2015, 10:47:43 pm
Hit mine in an accident Xtreme fixed me right up. Was insurance claim
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Mogan David on June 07, 2015, 11:47:37 pm
Hit mine in an accident Xtreme fixed me right up. Was insurance claim
should be covered for collision or wind.
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on June 08, 2015, 07:01:55 am
Will ring insurance today , I had considered it but thought wind , act of god etc would be on the long list of exclusions
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Mogan David on June 08, 2015, 09:45:58 am
Will ring insurance today , I had considered it but thought wind , act of god etc would be on the long list of exclusions

It would be under COMPREHENSIVE coverage, like hail or vandalism etc.  Sometimes Comp. has a lower deductible than collision.  Furthermore, it is not a chargeable loss for premium calculation (unlike when you hit something... like maybe an earthen berm  :o )
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on June 08, 2015, 06:58:17 pm
Morgan
You are right , I am covered , my deductible is 700 ,  rang Girard and thier best guess was roller motor gears plus some other parts once it's apart "expect $2k ".
So the 700 hurts but not as bad as 2k plus the usual "when we got it apart etc"
Thanks again for good advice
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on June 11, 2015, 11:22:35 pm
Morgan
Allied insurance rang today to say they are forwarding a check for replacement cost of awning , any unforeseen insues when dealer gets it apart , just call them !
Wow shocked , great service .
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on July 03, 2015, 02:19:46 pm
Update
After 2 weeks  at dealer , installation of new motor and  wind sensor , awning is still not working.
Too wound up to type the whole botched repair .
I am currently awaiting call back from Gerard , but if anyone could tell me where the circuit breaker for the awning control box is located it would be appreciated
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: TulsaTrent on July 03, 2015, 03:28:53 pm
but if anyone could tell me where the circuit breaker for the awning control box is located it would be appreciated

Jimmy,
 
I don't know about the circuit breaker, but there were several Girard things in the cabinet above the door.
 
Trent
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Bill B on July 03, 2015, 03:43:40 pm
There is a 20 amp breaker located on side of bed in my coach covered by skirt.
Where are you having repairs done?
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on July 03, 2015, 06:25:18 pm
Transwest , normally really good work , they sell and service top end coaches .
Don't know what went wrong this time
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on July 06, 2015, 11:57:58 am
Having spoken to girard , they tell me I need to find the high current limit box ?
I have the main circuit board pulled out which was in header to the right of front TV , anybody come across this second control box .
Ps new control system $850 !!
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Bill B on July 06, 2015, 05:50:48 pm
Jimmy,
This is what my setup looks like.  Your current limit box may have been removed in the past or may be located behind the cabinet above the door.  You may have to trace wires/cable from control box back to motor to verify if the box is present.  I have bypassed mine.  If yours has been removed or bypassed, you will need to adjust the current limit on the motor to make the awning work properly.  It is a simple procedure and should be in your owners manual.  Feel free to contact me if you have questions...maybe my memory can be jogged a little more.
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on July 06, 2015, 06:47:41 pm
Bill
Thanks for the photos , I am just rereading the manual whilst I wait for the rain to stop .
Will update in morning
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on July 07, 2015, 09:20:33 pm
It appears that the current limit device has been removed, intermittent fault is either break in main power cable or connection on circuit board, I suspect the latter and will take it to a local shop to have it checked.
Have unearthed screw though a cable and a loose connection in antenna control box which popped out , need to find diagram before I reconnect
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on July 07, 2015, 09:48:08 pm
Bill
Got the limit switch set correctly, just need to sort the issue with intermittent fault , going to have a whiskey to help think it. Through
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on July 08, 2015, 05:11:58 pm
Just for others that may encounter the same intermittent fault .
Using the remote control the awning will always extend and stop but the retract is hit/miss 
Having pulled the control circuit board I can see that the red light indicating a command from the remote flashes but no click from the relay and hence no retract.
I have switched the extend and retract relays to see if the problem moves to the extend function
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Michelle on July 08, 2015, 05:28:08 pm
Jimmy,

You are becoming the forum Girard 2000 expert much as Brad S. has become the 2002 slide expert.
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on July 08, 2015, 07:48:55 pm
Michele
, I think more likely the parts expert as I work my way the problems !!
Update
After swapping the relays  the problem has transferred to the extend function , but I now suspect the low voltage  manual switch / circuit board connection which latches the relays .
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on July 09, 2015, 04:39:08 pm
After staring at  the manual low voltage switch waiting for inspiration,I realized that it contains a diode and is connection sensitive ( crossed when at dealer ? ) .
So my awning is now functional again , fingers crossed!
Reflecting on the whole episode I am beginning to realize how lucky I am.
Tucked behind the top cabinet I found a screw through the center of a cable and a power cable not fused and not tightened into a connection waving around loose
Both potential fire risks , so tonight I am saying thanks to my guardian angel
Title: Re: Help Girard awning won't retract after wind event
Post by: Jimmyjnr on July 22, 2015, 11:59:55 pm
Final update, I refited the rubber seal between awning and coach , the seal comes with double sided tape on the awning side which I didn't feel secured the seal so I used a thin bead of silicon on both edges . Fingers crossed