Body/Trim: Clock

[DJ]

Clock working but losing time...
Newly acquired '85 240 so not sure for how long.

Assuming there have been no power outages, does anyone have any ideas why, please?

Pic attached- appears to be standard product.

Thanks

[BicycleBoy]

How long since you last checked? Clocks (should have) gone forwards an hour at the end of March; An unadjusted clock will be showing an hour behind.

Easy to forget nowadays when everything electronic auto-changes or uses radio time signals.

[DJ]

Originally Posted by BicycleBoy

How long since you last checked? Clocks (should have) gone forwards an hour at the end of March; An unadjusted clock will be showing an hour behind.

Easy to forget nowadays when everything electronic auto-changes or uses radio time signals.

Thanks for the suggestion. Car purchased last Thursday (post GMT) and clock time reset twice since!!

[BicycleBoy]

Oh well, worth a check.
Obvious things first:
1. Almost flat battery.
2. Corroded connections on the back of the clock.
3. Dry solder joints where clock wires connect to instrument cluster circuit board.
4. Voltage stabiliser module in instrument cluster not working.
5. Dodgy clock.


No. 1 should be obvious, 2 you'll have to remove.the clock, 3 & 4 involve removing the instrument cluster (so a good time to replace blown dash bulbs and fix the odometer, if someone has pressed the reset button whilst in motion...). 5 is unlikely, but possible.

[Bob Meadows]

This is from memory:~ ('88 240)
The square clock facia just clips on and is easily pulled away with care.
The clock body is a push fit into its holder (4 rubber buffer- mind they don't drop out)
The loom running to the clock is quite short and has a connector into the main
wiring, as mentioned above I would check these connection first- the bulb is also a push fit and easily checked/changed.
Bob.

[DJ]

Originally Posted by Bob Meadows

This is from memory:~ ('88 240)
The square clock facia just clips on and is easily pulled away with care.
The clock body is a push fit into its holder (4 rubber buffer- mind they don't drop out)
The loom running to the clock is quite short and has a connector into the main
wiring, as mentioned above I would check these connection first- the bulb is also a push fit and easily checked/changed.
Bob.

Thanks, Bob-

I think I know the score-
Looking at the "time loss", the clock works when using the car (ie, keys in ignition etc).
The clock works OK when the car is driven.
It shows the incorrect time when the car has been left and then used the next time..

The previous owner plumbed in a "retro" radio" and I couldn't follow the on/off instructions in the manual as the controls didn't respond-
Turns out the rad comes on when the key is turned on and vice versa (no independent on/off).

I suspect the clock only works when the keys are in too (you never know what previous owners tinker with until...). I'll investigate in due course.
Dave