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Post by rvdude on Mar 10, 2019 22:33:51 GMT -5
I've had new wiring harness installed, new controllers installed, and tons and tons of what he called liquid electrical tape put on mine. The rear awning now works as it should from the inside, outside, and app on the phone even after heavy rains. My front awning is almost working at 100%... the green light will be flashing after a heavy rain and it won't work from the inside or the app. However, if I go outside and operate it from the arm, the light will clear and then I can use the control panel and app to operate it. We'll see how long they last before going out again.
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Post by luvrma on Mar 17, 2019 16:07:53 GMT -5
We spoke to the service manager at our dealer yesterday. He said KZ is no longer using that controller. Lippert has a replacement part that eliminates the outside control unit. I told him I'm fine with that as long as it works. We'll have it installed when we take it in for service in the spring.
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Post by rvdude on Mar 20, 2019 13:29:18 GMT -5
I might have to go that route if mine messes up again.
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hanr3
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 16
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Post by hanr3 on Apr 10, 2019 9:27:11 GMT -5
I too have been experiencing the same issues with the controller. I have some more testing to do and will report back my findings. Wish I could find a wiring diagram for the controller, anybody have one?
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baranski37
Weekender RV’er
Princeton, TX
Posts: 52
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Post by baranski37 on May 3, 2019 21:01:42 GMT -5
Spent a few days at the dealer 4/22. They replaced smart controller along with arms. The new arms don't have the smart controller. You use the one control panel or cell phone app to extend or retract awning. You use manual switch to turn lights on or off. Been through a few rains and still working. First we have been able to use awning since picking up from dealer July 2018. They also fixed a problem with black tank by cutting circular hole under and around black tank valve cable, replaced Maxx fan that did not close when raining (discovered last night still does not close during rain), also shut off propane and didn't hook up shore power ruining frozen food. They said it was typical to shut everything off though we had waited 6 weeks to work around their as schedule as we are full timers. Regards Ron
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Post by rvdude on May 7, 2019 6:00:25 GMT -5
Glad you got almost everything taken care of. I thought my "not so smart" arms were about 90% correct, but now after the rains this past week here I am back at problem-ville again.
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Post by luvrma on May 20, 2019 10:46:26 GMT -5
Our dealer replaced the defective controller with the replacement provided by Lippert. We've been through a couple of weeks of heavy rains in SE PA and so far so good. Everything works as it should.
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Post by kathyed on May 20, 2019 20:18:41 GMT -5
I've requested my dealer to hard wire ours. I'm sick of them going out time and time again.
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Post by laknox on May 21, 2019 10:03:19 GMT -5
Man, I hope all of this is being done under warranty. Betcha some lawyer type, who's also an RVer, will get this set as a class action against Lippert. I mean, you all =paid= more money for this defective system, even if it wasn't an option, so having to, in effect, =degrade= the system to get it to work should be worth something. Just sayin'...
Lyle
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Post by Chuck on May 21, 2019 10:59:37 GMT -5
Lyle I believe at this point owners are just wanting the darn things to work, glad we were pre-smart arm on
Chuck
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Post by kathyed on May 21, 2019 13:26:11 GMT -5
The problems with these awnings (as I am having anyway) is with the inside control panel. While they do not work from the inside control panel, they will work from the outside at the module at the bottom of the awning arm. I'm glad they quit using the "not so smart arm" awnings because they were a bad design from the beginning. I have to disagree with the above statement. The numerous times ours has gone out, you can neither work from the inside control panel OR the outside module. On a brighter note, our dealer is getting the bypass to the outside panels so we can work the awnings from inside. I also heard they quit putting the smart awnings on the new rvs. Hopefully our nightmare will soon be over with the new bypass. It was a great idea in theory on the smart arm, but a stupid design. |
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Post by laknox on May 22, 2019 12:08:50 GMT -5
The problems with these awnings (as I am having anyway) is with the inside control panel. While they do not work from the inside control panel, they will work from the outside at the module at the bottom of the awning arm. I'm glad they quit using the "not so smart arm" awnings because they were a bad design from the beginning. I have to disagree with the above statement. The numerous times ours has gone out, you can neither work from the inside control panel OR the outside module. On a brighter note, our dealer is getting the bypass to the outside panels so we can work the awnings from inside. I also heard they quit putting the smart awnings on the new rvs. Hopefully our nightmare will soon be over with the new bypass. It was a great idea in theory on the smart arm, but a stupid design. I still think LCI should send everyone who has one of these POSs a check, whether they've failed, or not, as it's not =if= they fail, it's =when= they fail. Me, give me a manual awning any day. Lyle |
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Post by kathyed on May 22, 2019 21:17:54 GMT -5
I have to disagree with the above statement. The numerous times ours has gone out, you can neither work from the inside control panel OR the outside module. On a brighter note, our dealer is getting the bypass to the outside panels so we can work the awnings from inside. I also heard they quit putting the smart awnings on the new rvs. Hopefully our nightmare will soon be over with the new bypass. It was a great idea in theory on the smart arm, but a stupid design. I still think LCI should send everyone who has one of these POSs a check, whether they've failed, or not, as it's not =if= they fail, it's =when= they fail. Me, give me a manual awning any day. Lyle Agreed! |
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Post by ChuckAB on May 27, 2019 17:45:35 GMT -5
Well, I finally got back here and discovered that my account still works! Not so much with my Solera “Smart” Arm awning.
I found a copy of a bulletin from 2018 detailing how to seal up the two power wires using liquid tape. Unfortunately, I got to the section of the instructions that said that if there was any corrosion, the control unit and wiring harness had to be replaced. ... Well, shucks. Corrosion is present and the awning doesn’t even light up now - let alone work.
There were two design flaws that (IMNSHO) created the problem:
1. The arm with the controller was placed so the rain gutter would drip directly on the motor cover allowing water to run down the arm and onto the control head.
2. The second design flaw was to place the connector on top of the control head where any water could collect in the connector. I learned early on in my amateur electrical work that when you’re working with any kind of electrical wiring that has any chance of exposure to weather, you always ALWAYS put in a “drip loop” so water has less of a chance of going where one doesn’t want it to go.
So, what do I do now?
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Post by Chuck on May 29, 2019 14:37:39 GMT -5
ChuckAB Better get in touch with your dealer an also call Lippert (LCI) an file a complaint before your warranty runs out ... Once you have a complaint filed with LCI you are on the record of having a problem an even if the Kz warranty runs out you still have a leg to stand on with LCI regarding your awning an it's repair if needed ... Safe travels  Chuck |
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Post by ChuckAB on May 31, 2019 15:04:31 GMT -5
As I’m full time in the camper now and over 400 miles away from my dealer, my dealer isn’t going to be much help. However, I found a local RV dealer when I was looking for some RV supplies who was willing to help. It seems that the person behind the counter was their Warranty Administrator and when I told her what the problem was, she contacted Lippert who told her that they would send the part and pay for the recall repair (all of .3 hours) even though they don’t normally work on KZ campers. And since it was such a minor repair, she said they would likely be able to fit me in sometime during the time I have left here (about 12 days). So I gave them my information (and the camper’s) and am waiting for a response.
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Post by Chuck on Jun 3, 2019 7:01:41 GMT -5
ChuckAB Also if you call Kz Customer service (CS) they can give you the name of a dealer possibly in your area in possibly in the direction you will be headed to do any warranty work ... As you have found out allot of the time a different MFG brand dealer may be able to help you with a warranty problem ... We have a Suburban furnace go out, our dealer said three months before they could get us in... I called Suburban CS an they directed us to a local dealer not 10 miles away who sold Forest River products, they got me in an the repair was done in less than a week all totaled ... Good Luck an safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by luvrma on Jun 4, 2019 18:10:29 GMT -5
Our dealer replaced the defective controller with the replacement provided by Lippert. We've been through a couple of weeks of heavy rains in SE PA and so far so good. Everything works as it should. I'm afraid I spoke too soon. The arm now has a Level 1 fault indicating that there is moisture in the wire connector so for now the inside control works to retract but not extend the awning. Outside control still works for now. As we're on the road again we can't go back to the dealer. Not sure where to go from here. We'll be storing the rig at a dealership (not a KZ dealer) in Cleveland for a week while we visit our son. I'm hoping they will have an idea. |
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Post by rvdude on Jun 4, 2019 21:22:15 GMT -5
I'll be heading back to my dealer in the next week or two so they can repair both of mine AGAIN. These awnings are useless in more ways than one. You can't even tilt them down to block the sun... kind of defeats the purpose of having an awning at all.
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Post by laknox on Jun 4, 2019 23:12:19 GMT -5
I'll be heading back to my dealer in the next week or two so they can repair both of mine AGAIN. These awnings are useless in more ways than one. You can't even tilt them down to block the sun... kind of defeats the purpose of having an awning at all. As I said, give me a manual any day. Lyle |
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