Need Electrical Help- Dash/Clock

[Keith B.]

I have been preparing my 1965 for survivor/benchmark but only in the daylight. My clock needed to be repaired and I sent it out. I got it back yestereday hooked it up and was trying to get a few test miles in. The clock started right away and worked for a while during the ride. It started to get dark so I turned on the lights. I stopped at my parents home only to notice the clock had stopped. Once I shut off the car the clock started again. Upon driving home the clock stopped again. Once home I noticed that when the lights were on the dash lights were on but nothing over the radio or clock. When I shut the car off and the lights off the back lights for the radio and clock were on. This was with the key off. Since I had been driving in the day I had never noticed this. The clock also stopped again. What could be wrong?? Don't want a fire and don't want to ruin the clock. Please Help!!!!

Thanks

Keith

[Jacob A.]

Re: Need Electrical Help- Dash/Clock

I thing you are on the right track.. maybe your wiring is getting old. Alternately you may have crossed a wire or knocked on lose while installing the clock.

just a guess!

best regards and good luck!
Jacob Angel
NCRS # 40987

[Stephen L.]

Re: Need Electrical Help- Dash/Clock

A few questions to help in long distance troubleshooting....

1. Did you remove or disconnect the radio when you replaced the clock?
2. Is the dedicated ground #14 black still connected to the dash frame?
3. Was the polarity on the clock connection reversed during repair? This could happen if the poles on the back are oriented incorrectly. This could also upset the ground for the clock lights.
4. Have you tried having the key on and the radio off. What is the result? Is the clock operational AND the clock lit (with the dash lights on). In this scenario the radio light should be off.

[John H.]

Re: Need Electrical Help- Dash/Clock

Keith -

Sounds like a chafed wire or something deranged inside the fuse block. The clock is on the same (full-time battery power) circuit as the courtesy and dome lights, brake light switch and glove box light, so all of those items should work (or not work) completely independent from the light switch.

Additionally, ALL the dash lights (gray wires) are fed from the same splice in the harness, including those in the clock and in the radio, so all of them should work (or not work) together, ignoring individual bulb failures.

The clock and radio lights being on with the car (and light switch) shut off is strange, as neither is on an unswitched circuit, and if those two items are getting power, all the other dash lights should too, as they're all tied together.

[Keith B.]

Re: Need Electrical Help- Dash/Clock

How would I know if the polarity was reversed? The connector is in a V shape with the terminals being perpendicular could they be in 180 degrees? Would have the clock ran if reversed? I am heading home from work and will dive back into the issue.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Need Electrical Help- Dash/Clock

Keith, I haven't looked lately but I think you can install them in the wrong config which would turn the plug around. Because the clock is mounted in non-conductive material it would still run. The clock is actually a mechanical mechanism with a solenoid and contacts that periodically cycle to wind the spring. The solenoid is not polarity sensitive.....

The reason I asked these questions is you have a very unique trouble. If all the lights worked correctly before the clock repair then the clock becomes suspect.
The lights for the clock are grounded via the clock case which is grounded via the wire harness. There is the possibility that having the plug reversed would cause the clock and lights to see 12 v on both leads under some conditions which would cause the bulbs to NOT light up, similiar to the circuitry on the turn signal side markers on older GM cars.

To tell if the poles are reversed, look at the back of the clock and see if there are any tell tale marks on the isolator. Also see if the pole orientation is like its shown in the wiring diagram.
If you want to discuss further, e-mail me and I'll give you my phone number and we might be able to talk thru the problem.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Need Electrical Help- Dash/Clock

Keith, a way to check the clock connections.

Determine which pole on the clock will connect to the black (grd) lead coming from the wiring harness. Using an ohm meter, this pole should have "0" ohms to the clock case. If not, then the pole orientation has been reversed causing the plug to be reversed.

[Keith B.]

I had it 180 degrees off

I pulled things apart and looked at my hook ups. I must have flipped the clock when I put it in leaving the hot wire (red/black)connected to the ground(black) The light which is semi spring loaded must have been geeting back feed power?? The clock works great and I can continue to move forward on final prep. I want to thank for the suggestions. The last thing I would want is a fire on this car. Please look for this car at Bloomington and stop by and say hi. Black/saddle 1965 396.

Keith

[Stephen L.]

Re: I had it 180 degrees off

Great!! Good Luck at Bloomington