Digital clock

[chrism]

Hi all. New to Elan ownership, got the car yesterday + (whilst fitting the DAB/DAB+ radio* ) noticed that the digital clock was shiny and blank...

Has anyone taken one of these out? - I get a feeling that it prises out from the front? I ought to look at it to see if there's something I can fix...

* ps I took the base of the aerial apart, heat-shrinked the broken plastic black stem (great idea...) put a new black rubber washer at the base, realigned the domed black plastics around the threaded part, screwed the whip back in to the base/holder then tried connecting a cheap £10ish ebay powered DAB splitter into the aerial end at the set, plugged into the set and...I'm getting DAB/DAB+ stations nice and clearly inside the garage So the standard used-to-be crazily-angled aerial is good enough to use for DAB (probably because the signal must be very strong around here)

(Smug - I was sooo... hoping not to have to drill out those screws + remove A pillars to fit a screen sticky ...)

BUT, back to earth, can anyone tell me how to remove that infernal digital clock, please?

[Tuga2112]

Hi all. New to Elan ownership, got the car yesterday + (whilst fitting the DAB/DAB+ radio* ) noticed that the digital clock was shiny and blank...

Has anyone taken one of these out? - I get a feeling that it prises out from the front? I ought to look at it to see if there's something I can fix...

* ps I took the base of the aerial apart, heat-shrinked the broken plastic black stem (great idea...) put a new black rubber washer at the base, realigned the domed black plastics around the threaded part, screwed the whip back in to the base/holder then tried connecting a cheap £10ish ebay powered DAB splitter into the aerial end at the set, plugged into the set and...I'm getting DAB/DAB+ stations nice and clearly inside the garage So the standard used-to-be crazily-angled aerial is good enough to use for DAB (probably because the signal must be very strong around here)

(Smug - I was sooo... hoping not to have to drill out those screws + remove A pillars to fit a screen sticky ...)

BUT, back to earth, can anyone tell me how to remove that infernal digital clock, please?

yes you can prise it off from the front using something sharp on both sides. shouldn't be difficult. i'd advise something like a strong plastic but not metal. mine is there stiff enough to break a credit card, that should give you an idea of how much force you *should* need. and some stronger plastic than a credit card (ive used a small screwdriver, but i would advice against using metal)

[chrism]

Great. Thanks Tuga2112. I've got some plastic trim tools...

[Tuga2112]

I also got a video of when I fixed it's electronic components to make it work again.

Many joke about the fact you can't see it so there's no point in repairing it. But I like to fix stuff just for fun...

[chrism]

Wow...that's an amazing response... Thanks again!!!

[Rambo]

João - it's much harder to prise out there's only on f in Geof Smith's credit card from his wallet than prise out the digital clock from an M100. Even his wife agrees

[chrism]

Play nicely ...

Just a thought...is there anything obvious that I ought to be checking first - like a fuse or something?

(A dealer said 'yes, they're a popular item' yesterday...)

[Tuga2112]

João - it's much harder to prise out there's only on f in Geof Smith's credit card from his wallet than prise out the digital clock from an M100. Even his wife agrees

I've seen that comment about Geoff's extra F before but i think the tale predates my Elan Ownership. thats one story you will have to get me up to speed with next time I'm Up North

going completely off topic, starting to feel like its about time for whole gang to meet as CC. fingers crossed I'll have the car painted by then

[Tuga2112]

Play nicely ...

Just a thought...is there anything obvious that I ought to be checking first - like a fuse or something?

(A dealer said 'yes, they're a popular item' yesterday...)

i dont know off the top of my head.
but the circuit diagrams would tell if theres a fuse for sure. probably the page on the fuses and relays also points at it, but im the techy/geeky type so i stick to the diagrams.

[chrism]

_DSF0212a.jpg

...found another way to remove the digital clock - you can get fingers through the radio aperture and push it out through the back

As for the connector, the wire's so short behind the dash. Any ideas/could it simply pull off (please?) or is it the usual complicated m/plug?

[Saltire]

As for the connector, the wire's so short behind the dash. Any ideas/could it simply pull off (please?) or is it the usual complicated m/plug?

If I remember correctly, it’s a small multi plug with a catch that you have to release. The two halves of the plug then pull apart.

Really testing my memory, I don’t think the wires were particularly short; however, they’re routed through a wiring clip fixed to the back of the dashboard. The clip is tightly sprung into a sort of ‘O’ shape, but it is possible to open it up enough to release the wires and win yourself another few inches. If you’ve ever seen the clips that are used to secure the wires in the battery compartment, it’s the same sort of thing.

[chrism]

m100 digital clock.jpg

Thanks Saltire. Does this ring a bell? (I haven't been near the battery yet)

It seems to have 2 of those yellow clips top + bottom. I've tried prising under the yellow dimple of the lower one to release it but I'm afraid to break it. And I haven't found enough room to grab it + give a meaningful tug whilst prising - even through the radio aperture (which presented the bottom clip much better).

I think the digital clock is on the same circuit as the cig lighter, and mine works, so I think the clock is 'broke'. Dealer reckoned it was a popular item so might it be sort of 'weak'...I wonder if the analogue is built any better?

[Saltire]

The analogue clock doesn’t fit that space, Chris; it replaces the boost gauge on non-turbo cars

That looks similar to mine, but the detent was at the other end from your yellow clip. The yellow clip is meant to retain the wires in the plug, and is left in place when you’re separating plug and socket.

Sadly all the connectors behind the dash are very stiff to separate - and I speak as someone who’s had the dash out on at least three occasions. Last time I put it back, I used a TINY smear of silicon lubricant around the outsides of the connectors, just to make them easier to separate in future.

Hope that helps

[chrism]

Ah, thanks Saltire and I didn't know the analogue was round...
Yep mine is has the same yellow clips on both ends and they need to stay in place, then.
So...it's all down to how to grip it the middle bit to give it a good tug

[Tuga2112]

just to clarify, are you planning on opening up the one you got and attempt to fix or just replace ?

[chrism]

Hi Tuga2112. I'm open to either if I can get this connector undone .

It's nice to have a new, reliable component that's an easy swap-out, but also much more satisfying to d-i-y...

I'm gonna look for your video I'm up for a challenge !

Like most elan-ers I just want to fix the little darling - it's not the end of the world that I haven't seen it working but 'broken' unsettles me. There's nothing to lose by having a go, is there? If it breaks further it's a straightforward module replacement - when it's out of the dashboard + in your hand that is...grrr

[Tuga2112]

Hi Tuga2112. I'm open to either if I can get this connector undone .

It's nice to have a new, reliable component that's an easy swap-out, but also much more satisfying to d-i-y...

I'm gonna look for your video I'm up for a challenge !

Like most elan-ers I just want to fix the little darling - it's not the end of the world that I haven't seen it working but 'broken' unsettles me. There's nothing to lose by having a go, is there? If it breaks further it's a straightforward module replacement - when it's out of the dashboard + in your hand that is...grrr

completely agree.

i remmeber that mine was a PITA to undo the clips, and i did reach with my hand around the back of the radio in order to do it just by touch, but i dont remmeber any of the details that can help you remove it. as you saw from the video, Mine has had some wire butchering done a while ago because i installed a buzzer to remind me the lights were on, since then i re-installed said module on the passenger side but thats a story for a different topic

[chrism]

Yep, finally got the m/plug apart . I sprayed the joins with penetrating oil yesterday and it must have seeped in to free up the 'stiction'. It doesn't help that the clock ->m/plug lead is so short that you can't get effective purchase on it 'cos you have to work one-handed through the radio aperture

Now what to do? I found the Tuga video and thought 'no way...' so I might try to take it apart and look for burnt components, not that I feel competent enough to replace them...I don't have the test kit anyway but I'll keep an open mind.

I'd rather consider repair than 'knee-jerk-replace'...but I might knee-jerk...

Update: Yeah...looks pretty horrible in there + smells 'burnt out'...

[Tuga2112]

Yep, finally got the m/plug apart . I sprayed the joins with penetrating oil yesterday and it must have seeped in to free up the 'stiction'. It doesn't help that the clock ->m/plug lead is so short that you can't get effective purchase on it 'cos you have to work one-handed through the radio aperture

Now what to do? I found the Tuga video and thought 'no way...' so I might try to take it apart and look for burnt components, not that I feel competent enough to replace them...I don't have the test kit anyway but I'll keep an open mind.

I'd rather consider repair than 'knee-jerk-replace'...but I might knee-jerk...

Update: Yeah...looks pretty horrible in there + smells 'burnt out'...

if you have the same resistor burned out it shouldnt be dificult to replace it. if its burned to the point where you cant read its values let me know and ill check the same compoanent on my clock

[chrism]

_DSF0220a.jpg

_DSF0224a.jpg

Hi again Tuga. Here's mine showing 'distress' in the same areas as yours.

Top pic shows evidence of a previous repair(?) + bottom pic highlights that smelly, overheated resistor that we all know + love

Reckon it's salvageable?