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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 01:17 AM
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Default clock trouble

im brand new to the forum... my name is blake and my clock on my c3 1980 has stopped before i remove and start taking it apart, what are some common ailments i meet to look to trouble shoot.. i don't feel like spending almost 180 buck for a quartz upgrade... unless i absolutely have to. sorry for the boring topic i'm sure you will answer super fast... ty guys
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 01:34 AM
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Before you take it completely out of the dash check for voltage at the clock and also for a good ground (your car may have the printed circuit board)......my '68 has "good-old wires" connected to each gauge.

If you do take it out of the dash. it might only need a good internal cleaning with a mini-computer brush and some "spray air" to blow all the dust off the internal parts

If you do decide to disassemble the clock, take pics of every step in the disassembly....You'll need them for re-assembling it....(don't ask how I know this)
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 01:50 AM
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Originally Posted by doorgunner
Before you take it completely out of the dash check for voltage at the clock and also for a good ground (your car may have the printed circuit board)......my '68 has "good-old wires" connected to each gauge.

If you do take it out of the dash. it might only need a good internal cleaning with a mini-computer brush and some "spray air" to blow all the dust off the internal parts

If you do decide to disassemble the clock, take pics of every step in the disassembly....You'll need them for re-assembling it....(don't ask how I know this)
Thanks for the tips ill let you know how i make out... btw my boss says take pictures and i didn't listen.... rewired a diesel engine harness the hard way because i didn't listen....
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 05:56 AM
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I use this website to repair my 1980 clock.
http://www.pcfred.com/Vettetip/FixC3Clock.htm
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 09:14 AM
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Your $180 figure appears to be for a quartz conversion being done for you. Willcox has the quartz movements for $82.50 and you can install it yourself.

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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 11:09 AM
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Was it working recently then stopped? Or never worked since you had the car?

In any case check the fuse for that before taking anything apart.
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 11:33 AM
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Do you still have the original radio in the car? Or, has it been swapped for a modern head unit with a digital clock readout already? Replacing or repairing the Borg electro/mechanical clock is an "every-five-year" thing, as that's as long as they last without a problem. The quartz replacement is reliable, but more expensive ($100) than a modern radio head unit which already has a digital clock readout ($80-100).

Unless you are just into making all the original stuff work like it is supposed to, nix the clock repair. [Set it at 6 o'clock and forget it.]
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by minitech
Was it working recently then stopped? Or never worked since you had the car?

In any case check the fuse for that before taking anything apart.
it has worked and stopped
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 03:23 PM
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The clock powers up from the printed circuit... like others said, check the clock for power. Unfortunately you'll have to pull the center dash bezel to do this. I don't think you can get to the nut without taking the bezel out. If you can then great, if not use this page to help you get the bezel assembly out.

http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=263

If the printed circuit is cooked, before I installed a new one I would power up the clock and test it out of the bezel. There is no sense in buying a new circuit if the clock cooked the old one. When you have the clock in your hand all you need is to ground the can and then apply 12 volts to the stud.

The terminal on the lower right (red) is the clock power feed.

Since 1980 was the start of the quartz clock movements, repair is usually impossible and it's best (more practical) to just replace the movement.

We have a video on our web site that will take you through the movement installation and its pretty easy too.

Here is the movement..
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...oducts_id=2855


Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jun 25, 2014 at 03:26 PM.
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
The clock powers up from the printed circuit... like others said, check the clock for power. Unfortunately you'll have to pull the center dash bezel to do this. I don't think you can get to the nut without taking the bezel out. If you can then great, if not use this page to help you get the bezel assembly out.

http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=263

If the printed circuit is cooked, before I installed a new one I would power up the clock and test it out of the bezel. There is no sense in buying a new circuit if the clock cooked the old one. When you have the clock in your hand all you need is to ground the can and then apply 12 volts to the stud.

The terminal on the lower right (red) is the clock power feed.

Since 1980 was the start of the quartz clock movements, repair is usually impossible and it's best (more practical) to just replace the movement.

We have a video on our web site that will take you through the movement installation and its pretty easy too.

Here is the movement..
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...oducts_id=2855

You said 1980 was the first year they started putting the quartz movement clock in. I posted a link on here and my clock looks identical to that one. I followed the instructions exactly like he said to do and my clock works perfectly now.
Do you think they put the old style clocks and the quartz clock in the 1980?
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 05:04 PM
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See post below.

Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jun 25, 2014 at 09:51 PM.
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
I'm not sure I've ever seen a 1980 with the Borg mechanical movement. Possible.. I don't know. I know when the 80's came out, I ordered a clock for my 79 that was quartz. I can check this later tonight and post back.
My car was built in December of 79. If you could check on that I would appreciate it. That's kind of interesting I would like to know. Thanks
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 08:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
I'm not sure I've ever seen a 1980 with the Borg mechanical movement. Possible.. I don't know. I know when the 80's came out, I ordered a clock for my 79 that was quartz. I can check this later tonight and post back.
My 80 was built is April and it has a mechanical movement clock. I took it out of the case, sprayed it with mass airflow sensor cleaner a few months ago and it has worked great ever since.
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 08:53 PM
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Originally Posted by CaseyJones
My 80 was built is April and it has a mechanical movement clock. I took it out of the case, sprayed it with mass airflow sensor cleaner a few months ago and it has worked great ever since.

Thank you. I was just searching the web trying to figure this out. And no luck.
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Old Jun 25, 2014 | 09:41 PM
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I'm out of town right now and I think I may have 80-82 confused now...

I have both the parts books which might share some light on if this was maybe a late change.

I have scanned copies of the 82 and rev 84 book on this computer.. both say 80-82 for the clock but we all know the parts book in most cases will not reflect super-cessions.

Update: I uploaded my gauge file from my office at home.. 82 was the first year for the quartz...

Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jun 25, 2014 at 09:51 PM.
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