CLOCK changes on its own. WTF

[Alltracdust]

So this has been happening randomly over the last year since I have had my 88 Camry. I set the clock and its all good. Days go by and suddenly it will read some way-off time. So dumb. Does this happen to anyone else? I swear I deal with some of the craziest s#it...

while im at it, does anybody have a solution for a rear seat that refuses to fold down? Seems like there is something disconnected inside the locking mechanism. I am able to 'lock and unlock' but makes no difference. I pull up on the release things and "nothin".

Out of all of the cars I have owned...NONE of them have had a SIMPLE basic clock, in PLAIN view...finally got one in my AllTrac, and still can't get a simple glance at correct friggin time.

THANKS!!

['88 All-Trac]

Could be you're losing power to it occasionally. Do your stereo presets remain set?

Could be the clock is no good, as well... The clock in my All-Trac will occasionally lose time but only once in a blue moon and it's easy enough to set that it doesn't bother me.

Mine doesn't have a seat that folds down at all.

[Alltracdust]

Originally Posted by '88 All-Trac

Could be you're losing power to it occasionally. Do your stereo presets remain set?

Could be the clock is no good, as well... The clock in my All-Trac will occasionally lose time but only once in a blue moon and it's easy enough to set that it doesn't bother me.

Mine doesn't have a seat that folds down at all.

thanks for the response..Yeah the clock is the only thing that gets weird..I just stopped setting it. I guess its just a no good clock..Funny that yours does the same thing though. I thought about pulling one out of my local wrecking yard, but not sure how tough that would be. Anyone do that one?

I would assume that the LE allows for the fold down seats...mine came with manual windows and locks too! Everything on its manual (which I like) keepin it simple and light! Do wish I had the sunroof though

[dem2757]

the clock i think has a quartz timer set into it. the service manual says something about it needing to be checked every few thousand miles but i dont remember the interval/ exactly what it says.

but the clock can go out of calibration just like any other

[Alltracdust]

Originally Posted by dem2757

the clock i think has a quartz timer set into it. the service manual says something about it needing to be checked every few thousand miles but i dont remember the interval/ exactly what it says.

but the clock can go out of calibration just like any other

thanks,

Interestingly it only seems to change times right when I start the car up. Its not so much a calibration issue..say a few minutes off.. ex: say its 1:45, and I start my car...some times its all good...and some times instead of reading the correct time of "1:45" it will read something like 4:00 or whatever..Almost as if I had hit the 'set' button. Dunno..

[white90dx]

The clock clips in from the back. To get it out, you have to remove the gauge cluster surround and the gauge cluster to get to it. Its not to difficult, as long as you have the adjustable steering column.

-Charlie

['88 All-Trac]

Even without the adjustable steering column it isn't too bad... I replaced the gauge cluster in my '91 without too much issue. You need to remove the steering wheel and the steering column shroud, but it's not *too* bad... Just be slow and take your time- the plastic of the shroud gets dry and brittle.

[Bee-Rad]

The clock in my car has never worked, and changing the unit and fuse didn't help. I have no idea what is wrong.

As for the seat, you can remove the plastic/felt panels inside the trunk, and when you can see the locks stick s screwdriver in there and lift the latch, then push the seat down. I had to do that when my doors were locked and I couldnt open anything except the trunk.

[auto_robotics]

Originally Posted by Bee-Rad

The clock in my car has never worked, and changing the unit and fuse didn't help. I have no idea what is wrong.

There are 3 fuses and a relay that send various signals to your clock. DOME (always on -- clock memory), CIG (+12V with the ignition switch to ACC or ON -- turns on the display), and TAIL (+12V w/ the light switch to parking or headlights, through the tail light relay -- dims the display at night).

So check if:
1) your dome light works
2) your cigarette lighter works
3) your tail lights work

If yes to all three, it's a wiring problem or you've had 2 bad clocks in a row.

- Craig

[auto_robotics]

Originally Posted by Alltracdust

Interestingly it only seems to change times right when I start the car up. Its not so much a calibration issue..say a few minutes off.. ex: say its 1:45, and I start my car...some times its all good...and some times instead of reading the correct time of "1:45" it will read something like 4:00 or whatever..Almost as if I had hit the 'set' button. Dunno..

I'm guessing the clock's memory hold voltage is dipping too much when the car is cranking. That's coming in off of the DOME fuse.

If you want to measure it, take off the clock cable -- looks like this:

Retention pin on top
1__2
3__4

1 = GND
2 = TAIL
3 = DOME
4 = CIG

(See my previous post for what those do.)

- Craig

[Bee-Rad]

Turns out I had the wrong fuse since the diagram is confusing. I found the actual blown one and it works just dandy, if not a bit dim.