Subarule Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Every once in a great while the clock will come on briefly. Just flash on. Like, when I'm shutting off the engine. Then if I immediately turn the key on without trying to start the engine, to see if it will do it again and it might come on again, briefly. Otherwise the clock seems dead. The clock hasn't worked in at least 15 or 20 years. What does it mean when the clock decides to function for a few seconds? That it would work if.....?? Any ideas? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two85s Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 LOL! Same with mine. Sometime altitude seems to affect mine. So prominently displayed on the dash yet mine is usually blank too, as if time is not a worry. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maozebong Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 take it apart and resolder the cracked solder joints. works almost every time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagonist Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 too slow . it has been known for the solder joints inside to go dry, so do as above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subarule Posted March 2, 2016 Author Share Posted March 2, 2016 That's all it could be - the solder joints? I don't know how to solder. Or take the clock out. I really wasn't looking to fix the clock. I was just wondering why the clock would occasionally come on after acting dead for so many years. I mean, what could trigger it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firehawk618 Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 (edited) Once you figure out how to remove the clock just google "cracked solder joint repair" There's dozens upon dozens of how to's available.It's not hard and you can get by with a cheap $15 dollar radio shack special.If you want to mail it to me I would go through and re-solder them all for you at no cost to you other than return postage. Should I feel blessed that the clock in my 86 seems to work just fine? That's all it could be - the solder joints? I don't know how to solder. Or take the clock out. I really wasn't looking to fix the clock. I was just wondering why the clock would occasionally come on after acting dead for so many years. I mean, what could trigger it Edited March 2, 2016 by firehawk618 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len Dawg Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Mine quit working yaaars ago on a dark stretch of highway.. Intermittently it will come on when I press climate control buttons as well those light also have a mine of there own. . Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 The clock has an undersized resistor that heats up and over time can melt the solder joint causing it to fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subarule Posted March 3, 2016 Author Share Posted March 3, 2016 I'd like the clock to work but it's not a priority since our cell phones give us the time. And I still wear a watch. I'm a little old lady (yes, my Sube is a little old lady car) and I have no car repair skills. Or tools. I'd be happy to let someone knowledgeable & capable fix my clock, if some one in SW Washington is so inclined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firehawk618 Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 I'd like the clock to work but it's not a priority since our cell phones give us the time. And I still wear a watch. I'm a little old lady (yes, my Sube is a little old lady car) and I have no car repair skills. Or tools. I'd be happy to let someone knowledgeable & capable fix my clock, if some one in SW Washington is so inclined. If you wanted to pull it and mail it to me I could clean up the solder joints. No guarantee this would fix it but it's worth a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 I am working on a repeatable fix and upgrade for the clocks. The main failure is caused by the cheap zener diode and resistor regulator to drop 12V down to 5 that the clock IC runs on. The power wasted in the resistor is too high, especially in summer when the dash is in direct sunlight, thus the connections fail.The other problem they have, is occasionally forgetting the time when starting the engine, which I have fixed by adding a couple of parts.The 2 I have modified and installed in my cars have been flawless for a good while now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam K Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) Subaru Nut wrote: "The other problem they have, is occasionally forgetting the time when starting the engine, which I have fixed by adding a couple of parts. The 2 I have modified and installed in my cars have been flawless for a good while now." Mine does that! How do I go about to fix that? Its quick to set it but irritating. Edited March 13, 2016 by Adam K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subarule Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 Once you figure out how to remove the clock just google "cracked solder joint repair" There's dozens upon dozens of how to's available. It's not hard and you can get by with a cheap $15 dollar radio shack special. If you want to mail it to me I would go through and re-solder them all for you at no cost to you other than return postage. Should I feel blessed that the clock in my 86 seems to work just fine? Thanks for the offer but it is not worth the effort for me. Some day when I sell it the new owner can have the clock fixed if they want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuentemoon Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Mine worked when i first bought the car in 08, but slowly died, i was hoping it might be that easy. After i fix my accident damage, i might just pull it and try it :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1997outback Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 How do you remove the dash clock? Just pop it out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 It just pulls out from the front. Thin screwdriver blade at the sides between the dash and the back of the bezel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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