Dash clock

[vx220]

In bright sunlight I sometimes find myself doing a Nazi salute to shield the clock so I can see the time!

Any way to stop it dimming when you put the lights on? '02 plc if it matters

Thanking you in advance!

Edit: don't suggest turning the headlights off, people keep jumping out in front of me as it is!

[shnazzle]

Wire the clock positive into your ciggie lighter.

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[vx220]

Wire the clock positive into your ciggie lighter.

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Does that not switch off with the key, meaning I'd have to reset the clock each journey?

[shnazzle]

A fair point haha. A relay then. Use the ciggie lighter to drive the coil. Normally closed on the usual feed and switch to ciggie lighter feed when the car is on.
Not sure how quickly it loses its memory though. It might lose it when it switches from one to another.

More difficult than we thought haha.

Does it actually take 12v? If not, maybe worth just cutting the wires and putting in a 9v battery

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[vx220]

Just realised new head unit has a clock display, see how that looks being down lower.

If not, I assume the clock probably only has three wires, one being a ground, one live and one linked to illumination? Might just have a look, and a snip or two! Can always rejoin them...

[paulj]

Having had time to think about this, the clock takes an input from the lighting system to know when the lights are on and to dim, isolating this feed will make it think it is daytime all of the time.  The only wiring diagram I have for the clock shows the lighting feed as a green wire on terminal three.  Try disconnecting this wire and see how you get on.  Alternatively, with a voltmeter see what voltage you get out of the socket - light feed will only show as 12v when the lights are switched on.

[vx220]

Having had time to think about this, the clock takes an input from the lighting system to know when the lights are on and to dim, isolating this feed will make it think it is daytime all of the time.  The only wiring diagram I have for the clock shows the lighting feed as a green wire on terminal three.  Try disconnecting this wire and see how you get on.  Alternatively, with a voltmeter see what voltage you get out of the socket - light feed will only show as 12v when the lights are switched on.

Brilliant, thank you. Will report back when I get round to fitting my head unit. No idea when that'll be, just put in four weeks of timesheets totalling nearly 240hrs (!) PLUS 15 sleep-ins! I'm hardly home atm...

[jvanzyl]

Just a thought here - has anyone every found a replacement for the dash clock? Maybe something that could run off an OBD feed and scroll across occasionally? I'm thinking small little LCD screen that could stream info of complete irrelevance including the time!

[shnazzle]

Just a thought here - has anyone every found a replacement for the dash clock? Maybe something that could run off an OBD feed and scroll across occasionally? I'm thinking small little LCD screen that could stream info of complete irrelevance including the time!

I was thinking exactly that!
I'm more and more tempted to get my code on with some arduino action to make something

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[jvanzyl]

What info would you actually put on it?
 - MPG? don't know why...
 - Tyre pressure monitor?
 -  Intake temp
 -

[shnazzle]

Mpg? What's wrong with you man?

Tps, no, needs expensive proprietary sensors

Time, Intake temps, ambient temp, stft, LTFT, timing.

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[vx220]

Guys, I'm all panicked about snipping one wire, please be gentle!

[paulj]

My work car is a BMW 4 series that spends all day telling me things. It can even message my phone. I have to say the on balance I prefer the MR2, sitting quietly until I want to drive and then leaving me to get on with it!

Less is more..

[vx220]

Having had time to think about this, the clock takes an input from the lighting system to know when the lights are on and to dim, isolating this feed will make it think it is daytime all of the time.  The only wiring diagram I have for the clock shows the lighting feed as a green wire on terminal three.  Try disconnecting this wire and see how you get on.  Alternatively, with a voltmeter see what voltage you get out of the socket - light feed will only show as 12v when the lights are switched on.

Many thanks, worked a charm! However, for anyone contemplating this, it would be a struggle to repair if you don't like it and want to change back as the wire is very short (at least on mine...)

Obviously, I'll be back on here tomorrow complaining the clock is now too bright at night!!!

Thanks again, paulj!

[vx220]

Can't believe it's been nearly a month since driving my MR2 at night, but the clock isn't to bright, maybe just a tiny bit brighter than the dash clocks on full brightness

Thanks again, paulj

[2 of the left]

I put up a post about my odometer being in the same state - I guess it's time to consider that these motors are getting older!! - Same as us drivers - changing our range of view whilst driving to the dash for info!! _ Specsavers comes to mind!!!

[paulj]

Glad it worked. Solving it for you convinced me that the best place to get power, switched power, lights and ground is the clock feed.

One of the few places behind the dash where they come together.