Resources

Replacing of Windshield Shade Motors
1st and 2nd Generation Motors 4280(P) and 4270(P)

This manual will guide you through the process of replacing motor(s) in a Windshield Shade showing the steps after you have removed the complete shade assembly from your vehicle’s ceiling pocket.

This illustration shows the side of the shade where the motors are located; you will easily recognize it as it is where the power cables are visible.


 

To remove the motor(s), you will need to first loosen up the setscrews on the motor bracket(s) by using an appropriate Allen Key.

While holding both shade tubes firmly in place to prevent them from coming out of their brackets on the opposite side (which would cause the safety springs to unravel), loosen up the two screws on the bracket as shown. 


 

Now carefully slide the angle bracket away from the mounting rail as pictured, making sure that both shade tubes remain inside their brackets on the opposite side. 

Hold both shade tubes firmly in place while gently pulling the motor(s) out of the aluminum tube(s).

If you feel resistance and the motor(s) do not seem to move, do not force it as your motor(s) could be of an earlier generation prior to 2015/16 where motors were still held in place by a screw (not visible as it is under the fabric). In such case, follow instructions as per Note 3 below that will show you how to proceed in removing motors that are fixed with such screw. Important: your new replacement motor(s) no longer requires such a screw!

When inserting the replacement motor(s) of the standard type 4280P back into the tube, you will need to align the motor collar with the tube slots as shown in the illustration below. 

If you are installing an Ignition-Lock Motor 4270P, no such alignment is needed. You can skip this step for 4270P motors.

Note 1:
On newer motor models produced after 2015/16, a modified collar version was used that can no longer be inserted the wrong way into the aluminum tube. However, on older generation motors, this alignment is very important as otherwise the motor could very slightly shift inside the tube during operation and thus intermittently loose its accurate limit position.

When inserting the motor into the aluminum tube, make sure the small nose on the motor collar is fitted in-between the two aluminum ribs that are close together (“Correct Insertion”).

IMPORTANT: When inserting the 4280P motor tube(s) into their bracket, make sure that the limit adjustment screw(s) will be accessible from below when you install the shade assembly into the frame of the coach. If they are not easily accessible, you may have to remove the angle bracket again, rotate the motor nozzle(s) by 180 degrees, and then insert the motor tube(s) again into the angle bracket.

For detailed instructions on how to install a Windshield Shade Assembly shade back into its window pocket, you may want to refer to QRG #15-2.

After you have installed the shade firmly back into its place, please refer to the instruction manual on how to adjust the limit positions of your shades. For standard motors 4280P refer to QRG #2, and for ignition-lock motors 4270P refer to QRG #7-2.

Note 2:

In case your spring has inadvertently unwound during this motor replacement procedure, you will need to reload the spring by 14 turns CCW, using a pair of pliers. 

Note 3: 

If you realize that you cannot pull the motor out of its aluminum tube, it is because on 1st generation motors the motor drive (see below illustration) was secured with a screw driven from the outside of the aluminum tube.

To remove this screw, you need to completely unroll the fabric until you reach the point where the fabric is taped to the aluminum tube and only one wrap of fabric is left on the tube; do not remove the fabric any further! Now about 11”-12” in from the edge of the tube you will feel over the fabric with your finger to locate the small hole of a countersunk screw on the tube underneath the fabric. With a sharp knife cut out a tiny bit of fabric over the screw, then remove the screw and discard it. DO NOT try to refit this screw after you inserted the new replacement motor! This screw is no longer needed and trying to use it through the same hole could severely damage the motor and render it inoperable.

Note 4:
The difference between a standard motor 4280P versus an Ignition Lock motor 4270P is that model 4280P is a mechanical motor while model 4270P is an electronic version, which, for safety reasons will only allow moving into its full down position when the vehicle is no longer moving and the ignition is turned off.