My clock has been broken for a long while, and it's a replacement that I bought off of eBay.

I finally got fed up with it and found a thread over at t4r.org that explained a good fix for most clock problems. I've had the broken clock problem for a long time on and off, with two different clocks, so I was very happy when this fix worked in minutes. I thought this might help others too.

I did a search, and it didn't take me too long to find this thread:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...clock-fix.html

If you read that thread, it breaks down how to take apart the clock and get to the main board. It describes the two main problems with the clocks as being:

1. Springs around pins not making good connection to bottom of board, AND/OR
2. Solder broken on resistors on board.


The resistors on my board looked good, so it was the springs. If you look at the above mentioned thread, you'll see some good pictures and the proposed solution, which was to solder the pins directly to the board.

I thought this might be a little messy, so I just pulled all my springs out and stretched them out about 1-2mm. When I put them back over the pins, they were just at the top of the pins, giving a little resistance when pushing the board back onto the pins and into the case. (You'll know what I mean when you get your clock apart) This worked like a charm for me and my clock that's been dead for over a year now has been working for the last two weeks.

I searched for this and didn't find this help anywhere. I apologize if this is a repost, but I know a lot of people probably have this problem and I'm on here fairly often and have never come across this solution.

I found these three threads when searching where people all mention the same problems, but none of these solutions:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/f...nt-work-88099/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/a...broken-101663/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/9...t-work-195848/

Anyway, hope this helps someone.

 

Thanks man! I quite caring about my clock not working. I was thinking it was toast and not worth fixing, but if it might be a quick fix I will give it a try one of these days when I'm bored. I really have been keeping my eye open for some sort of backlit digital thermometer that I could retrofit into that space and make look stock...we will see...

 

I've bought two different cheap little clock/thermometer units, thinking they might fit, and they both haven't really fit like I wanted them to. This fix was so simple for me but was such a huge relief for something that's been bothering me for like 8 years.

 

Bookmarked!

 

I found this service on Ebay for fixing broken clocks, says there is a lifetime warranty too:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-02...item5ae19de76f

Repairs other stuff too according to his "about me" page:
http://cgi3.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...rid=mandigital

 

I've been meaning to pull the fading clock apart, it's been acting like a bad connection is somewhere so I appreciate the link. I'll get to it sometime, in between cv shafts.

 

Psh, those one take 45 mins on the trail. 30 in the driveway!
`

 

Yes. Yes they do. Still, between kid homework and kid everything else, dinner and all that other family stuff it's hard to find those 1/2 hours before dark.
Mom 101: Your time is not your own. Ever.

 

To be so simple that little clock not working has really bothered me. Im about to go pull mine apart right now and how its a easy fix. Thanks

 

I've been thinking of replacing my (working) clock with a mount for my Samsung Infuse smart phone. I've got an otterbox holster I don't wear that the phone snaps into, so if I could figure out a way to attach the rear of the holster into a mount in the clock area, I'd be set.

 

Thanks for looking this up! I and a friend of mine both have clocks on the fritz. Mine is dead, his works if he taps on it. Time to get the soldering iron out!

 

That's what I did. I modified a cheapo Wal-Mart cell phone A/C vent type holder and screwed it to the flat surround in front of the clock. I was using my Alpine HU for the time, anyway, since the clock didn't work. Now that I know how to fix it, I really don't want to because it's so handy for the Android.

 

Don't know I'd this has been brought up before or not but my clock stopped working after a stereo installation. I finally for around to looking at it after seeing this thread. Come to find out the power connector was plugged into a dummy plug instead of the clock. So FYI there is a location other than the clock that or can be plugged into.

 

Awesome post !! Im on the job this afternoon.
Any idea how to fix my LCD Temp display ? the back light(or frt light) doesnt work
thus hard to see at night. I have a 1999 4runner Limited auto Climate.
Thanks Dave

 

Bah, no thread tools on mobile. Subbed so I don't lose this thread

 

I bought new bulbs from the dealer, theyre easy to replace.

 

I know this is a old thread but had to post on here. My clock worked when I first purchased my 97 4runner, but quit soon after. It' hasn't worked in 8 years. I finally decided to fix it....A local toyota service Dept. quoted me 333.04 to fix it, (50 in labor and the rest the part). Nope not doing that.

So I took out the springs and soldered the pins in. This was a few days ago. And it's still working. It's a little thing but a big thing to me. I rarely post on here (yep, really rare, this is my first one) but had to this time. It's great to have some help in saving some $$$$.