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Subject:Re: intermittent analog clock failure
From:Jeffrey Lubin
Date:Tue, 8 Jan 2008 11:47:09 -0500

Thanks, Mike.  Great info!
My '86 has an automatic transmission, so maybe that's why it has the
clock instead of a tach.
Or perhaps it's because it's an early '86.  When I was buying a stereo
head unit from Crutchfield, they kept asking me whether it was an early
or late '86; apparently late '86s came with power windows; mine are
hand-cranked.

Mike Collum wrote:
> Jeff,
>
> The "Usual" problem with Vanagon analog clocks is ... there are two
> 100uf capacitors therein that get leaky (electrically) over time.  The
> symptom is erratic running ... often when it gets cold and/or damp
> out.  The fix is, of course, taking the clock apart and replacing the
> capacitors.
>
> I would've thought your '86 weekender would have had the digital clock
> and a tach.
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> Jeffrey Lubin wrote:
>> Not a huge problem in the grand scheme of things, but the analog clock
>> in the instrument panel of my '86 weekender tends to reset itself many
>> nights.
>> I suspect a weak ground, and I will be cleaning all of these when I
>> remove the dash (soon!) to do the front heater core, but is there some
>> other common mechanical problem I should also consider?  I ask this
>> mainly because I think the problem started happening after I reset the
>> clock between daylight savings and standard time this past fall.
>> Any other diagnostic guidance to offer?
>> Thanks...
>>
>