Date:         Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:21:45 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: How to fix the digital clock?
Comments: To: Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@mac.com>
In-Reply-To:  <08BF4BD1-B8D7-404E-B6ED-B538AAE78B75@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

>The digital clock is fed from pin 5 of the panel connector*, skinny
>red wire which comes from a double connection to pin 7 of radio
>connector T8.  Fat red wire proceeds from there to connector T2c
>(which feeds the inside lights with skinny red wires) and thence to
>fuse/relay panel pin B12 and fuse S3.

*That's the flat connector that plugs onto the instrument panel
itself.  It's got 14 positions which are numbered along the end of
the connector, but I'm pretty sure that's the only red wire in the
bunch, and pin 4, next to it, is empty.  Assuming your door lights
and such work (the dimmable lights are fed by gray wires with blue
stripes, by the way) we'll start at that connector.  Pull it gently
down off the panel.  If you're good at feeling out shapes, you can
reach up behind the rear blower switch and find a bundle of wires
lining up into a flat connector with plastic wings/flanges extending
down toward you on the long sides.  Gently pull the connector out
from between the wings and bring it down below the panel, keeping
track of the orientation for when you put it back (which you must
also do gently.  Don't force anything, even a little.  When it's
lined up right it will slip on quite easily).  If you can't feel your
way from below you can probably see with a light and mirror.  Taking
out the instrument cluster is the hard way at this point.

Now verify which is pin 5 with the red wire out the back, and use
your voltmeter or test light to check for +12V from that pin to
ground.  Be very gentle with the contact, don't force your meter
probe in between the two sides.

If you do have +12 there, plug the plug back in and out gently a
couple times and see if your clock is now working.  If it is, you're
finished.  If it isn't, we'll talk about that next time.

If you do *not* have +12 there, take out the ashtray and maybe the
instrument panel cover and gently see if you can verify that the red
wire joins a bigger red wire on one of the plugs at the rear of the
radio, and that the radio works.  And we'll take it from there.

Yours,
David