Clock stops when very cold.
 

Has anyone noticed that the clock (analog) in the 85 300 D stops working when it is very cold @ night. It seems to work alright when it warms up a little. This is the 1st year I've noticed it.

My '80 240D does the same.

As does mine...
 

Runs well in the summer...another of my hobbies is timepieces, and the fact is that after 20 years analog clocks need to be cleaned, or at least to have their resistors changed...do a seach, there are some posts on this.

One reason I prefer the 240 to the 300, etc., is I like the very legible clock, and find it more useful than the tach/clock on the "better" diesels.

I've also posted recently about how to pull the instrument cluster...with a mind to trying to get my clock to work, send it for a cleaning, or do an exchange.

Best of luck

Clock
 

Thank you. I'll do it... But, I'll wait till spring!

Last night was the first time mine did this. Funny that you bring it up.

It was so cold out there that I would have stopped working as well.

Don

My clock did this as well (small clock in clock/tach combo). I thought it was the mechanism (i.e., gears) but the culprit are the two capacitors that have a degrading dielectric.

You can get replacement capacitors from radio shack (higher voltage rating), and it is an easy fix with the instrument cluster taken out of the car.

After the repair, the clock will again work in all temperature ranges.

I agree with Jim B+. Last year I replaced the capacitors in my clock after it had stopped working. I followed the directions that I found here, they were great. After reinstalling the cluster back into the dash, the clock did not work. I took it apart again and noticed that the linkage from the knob to the clock was sticking, the spring would not allow the gears to uncouple. I cleaned the assembly up and the clock has worker flawlessly since. Take the time to clean the linkage as long as you already have the clock out. I think the capacitors at Radio shcak cost about $1.00 each.

Tom

Clock
 

Tom-
Could you give me a little more info on these capacitors. What do they look like? Are they in the clock and is it difficult to get at them... I'll have no problem removing the dash etc.
Thanks.
Ed

Ed, I found this in the archives: http://business.baylor.edu/Richard_Easley/autofaqs/clock.htm
It describes the procedure. The capacitors are small cylinders with a wire on each end. They were located on the back of the clock assembly, easily accessible. Follow the directions in the thread. I hope this helps.
Tom

clock
 

Tom, thats terrific! Thank you very much.
Ed

The FRAKO is the stock capacitor 16v/100microFarad
The Radioshack is a 35v/100microFarad

Richard Easley's procedure will get you there. Lubricate the reset pinions while you're in there.

Radio Shack capacitors (black) installed:

Now, if we just had a clock that did not stop when we take the car battery out.....

So, what time is it?
 

A link to the US Naval Observatory Master Clock:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/cgi-bin/timer.pl

-Scott

thanks scott! i forgot to turn my clocks back yesterday, hehe;)