clock broken?

General information about the first-generation Nissan Maxima in the US. What was the Datsun 810 became the luxury leader Maxima in the US in 1981.

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kassim503
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Location: Stony Brook, NY

clock broken?

#1

Post by kassim503 »

does anybody know how to fix the digital clock on the first gen maximas? they seem to be pretty common and i dont really know what causes them
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
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asavage
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#2

Post by asavage »

I've not had any Nissan ones apart, but I've repaired a couple of Subaru ones.

First, what's wrong with yours? If it loses time with key off, check the Extended Storage switch in the fusebox.

The clock gets it timekeeping signal from the Time Control Unit. The '82 FSM has a pretty good troubleshooting tree on pg. EL-84 (my '83 FSM is at work, with my '83 wagon). Definitely start there.

If you decide it's definitely the clock itself, mail it to me and I'll see what I can do. I've got some experience in this kind of thing -- I used to be a bench tech, repairing computer monitors & terminals full-time, back in the days when I could make a living doing that. Now, of course, nobody wants monitors repaired anymore and terminals . . . what's a terminal?
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
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kassim503
Posts: 1027
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Location: Stony Brook, NY

#3

Post by kassim503 »

my clock just turned off while i was driving, the extended storage switch is off so im pretty sure thats not a problem. tommorow im going to try to jump the fuse connection, i think the fuse is loose on one side and that might be stopping the power from going to the clock. im finally getting ahold of a FSM soon
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#4

Post by kassim503 »

fixed it, dirty connections on the time control unit
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
goglio704
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Location: East Tennessee

#5

Post by goglio704 »

Kassim,

Could you elaborate? I've got clock problems in both my cars. Mine will fade in and out, lose time, etc. I suppose my real question is how hard are the connections to get to?
Matt B.

83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles
82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!

2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
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kassim503
Posts: 1027
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Location: Stony Brook, NY

#6

Post by kassim503 »

there is a white 5 pin connector under the passenger seat that goes to a little black box towards the center of the car. it has a sticker on a part that you cant see and it says "time control unit-dont drop," it also clicks when you pull the fuse out and reconnect it. well the fix dosent last long because my clock just went out today and to my frustration nothing works to get it back on. i even checked the connector on the clock in the dashboard.

i think the time control unit is at fault because it says "do not drop" and the force of getting in a fender bender or going over a giant pot hole would be around the same as dropping the unit
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#7

Post by kassim503 »

its not that hard to get to, just be prepared to kneel on the floor and stick your hand under the passenger seat, you dont have to remove the seat to get to it
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#8

Post by kassim503 »

i narrowed down the problem to 2 things for those who have clocks that lose time / display turns on and off,


if you lose time- check the extended storage switch, the white switch in the fusebox, make sure its ON or to the left, also check the clock fuse, make sure that the fuse fits tightly and makes good contact with the plug. Listen for a distinct clicking sound when the clock fuse is plugged in

if the display shuts off- try wiggling the clock/Etime switch and switch it between clock and Etime several times and push and pull on it, the display should turn on. If that dosent work see if it is getting power
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
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asavage
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#9

Post by asavage »

kassim503 wrote:if the display shuts off- try wiggling the clock/Etime switch and switch it between clock and Etime several times and push and pull on it, the display should turn on.
Classic broken connection. I'd expect to see bad/cracked solder joints on the clock's PCB, or like the old Subaru clocks, a fried component that has melted off its solder. About 20% of the monitor repairs I did were cracked solder joints. About 60% were bad electrolytic capacitors.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
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kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#10

Post by kassim503 »

is it easy to resolder the connection?
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
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asavage
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#11

Post by asavage »

"Easy" is a relative term. Depends. I've never had a Nissan digital clock apart, but I've had other makes, and it's generally easy to get the board out far enough to inspect and resolder. Generally, it's worth trying. You'll want decent pencil soldering skills -- it's somewhat difficult working with PCB connections with a gun, not that you can't do it, it just requires more skill.

Some electronic assys are "non-serviceable" and require some creativity. The Dremel is your friend in many cases. Clocks can usually just be popped apart though.

If you have the board out and have a camera, snap a pic, I'd like to have a reference.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#12

Post by kassim503 »

ill solder it the next time the clock shuts off, i remember taking the clock out of the dashboard once, i think the board was hot glued in if i can remember correctly
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#13

Post by kassim503 »

i attempted to take apart the clock, it is held in by 4 metal tabs that are bent in, its very easy to seperate.

the real problem isnt in the clock, it is the white 6 pin connector its connected to, the female side sockets are too big for the male side pins. to fix it just take a screwdriver and slightly crush the female side sockets so its hard to snap together, problem fixed!
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
User avatar
asavage
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Posts: 5431
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Oak Harbor, Wash.
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#14

Post by asavage »

Hmmm. Molex-style connectors don't usually change tension unless physically flexed or overheated. And the clock doesn't need a really good connection anyway, the current draw is very low. Maybe someone was reefing on the connector in the past.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
User avatar
kassim503
Posts: 1027
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: Stony Brook, NY

#15

Post by kassim503 »

mabye, this car wasnt treated too nice by its previous owner
'83 maxima sedan, l24e, a/t, black

227K SOLD 6/7/2012
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