anir dendroica

I just bought a 2001 Forester L with a rebuilt salvage title. Bought it from a local high school coach who repairs and resells salvage vehicles as a hobby. I suspect it was stolen and later recovered, as the alarm system appears tweaked and the amount of damage (front bumper and grille only) seems insufficient to justify the salvage title.

The clock only worked if I hit it, so I took it out and couldn't find any obvious defects. Searched Google, found this site, spotted a cracked solder on R510, soldered over it, and voila - a working clock. Glad to find a compendium of Forester knowledge in case I need it for future glitches/repairs.

mdg

Just removed my broken clock to see if its the same thing. Your spot on. The connection on #510 is cracked. This website is brilliant.

trailorphan

I tried to fix mine but I think I totally killed it... D'oh!

Brit_in_Cyp

Just had a go at mine.

Looked like somebody had already tried and failed miserably. What a mess in there!

But I managed to salvage it and i now have a working clock!!!

Fantastic website!!

Cheers!!

craigr

This is a great thread, but just so others don't wast time...

My 05 Forester X clock isn't the same one you guys have all fixed. It's an in dash clock and doesn't have any of the same surface mount resistors.

A few months the back light in mine started to flicker and I was thinking about pulling it to see about bad solder joints. I pulled it today and disassembled the clock. Turns out Subaru must have improved the manufacturing process because all solder joints looked good. I did however pull and re-seat the bulb and now it doesn't flicker anymore.

So if you have an 05 or newer you might just want to try pulling out the bulb first and not bother to take the entire thing apart.

craigr

pleiad7

Look here: 2003 Forester - Clock Repair

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-Silke
04 FXT PP PSM ~ "Subed"
98 Forester S ~ "Slynki"
92 SVX LS-L ~ x2

artrageous

artrageous

Since there were no responses to the questions I asked last post, I'll update with the clock-fixing saga on my 2002 Impreza. First, thanks so much for the information and step-by-step pictures--wouldn't have had a clue as to how to start without your help!!

First challenge was getting it out of the Impreza dashboard. Very afraid I'd break something. Once out, I had a really hard time removing the actual clock from the housing and figured I'd wind up breaking THAT!

But with the clock finally out, I could see a crack in the solder on 510 (imagine that), but it was on the side under the display. I hadn't read (further up in this thread) that it was possible to remove the display to allow for easier access by "unsoldering," so instead I just soldered very, very carefully.

Took the clock back to the car and hooked it up and started the happy dance when it lit up--whoo-hoo! NEXT challenge, though, was trying to get the clock back in the housing and really, really, REALLY didn't want to break it at that point since it was working!

Finally got it the housing, plugged it back in and the numbers lit up, BUT I also had red horizontal lines across the face of the display. Well darn! I figured I DID break the clock!!

I hooked it up anyhow, had to force the whole business back into the dashboard and with all that jarring around, the buttons all managed to recess a bit. I thought about pulling it all out and trying again but knew that would be seriously pushing my luck. Instead, I was able to use a pen to push in the buttons to set it, and for some unknown reason, all the red horizontal lines disappeared!

So long story short, the clock is back in the dash and it's working. The button issue really bugs me, but since I know I can set it anyhow--and it's not noticeable unless you look really closely--it's certainly good enough for now!

Again, many thanks for the info in this thread!

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Sharon
www.art-rageous.net

AeroScott

Best...thread...ever! Seriously, I was googling to find a used clock to install, and my searches led me to this thread. I'm kicking myself for not checking here first! The clock on my wife's 1999 Forester has been dead for several years, but it's working again thanks to this quick fix. Not only that, but I think I think I've convinced her to keep me around for awhile!

marchul

Woohoo! Just did this today. It works!!

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82 Volvo 242t+ic -- *boing!*
98 L 5spd -- Stock...

craigr

You know, it's a lot better to fix your existing clock as opposed to finding a used one or even buying a new one. Chances are that a used or new unit will wind up having the same problem, but a fixed clock will almost certainly stay fixed

craigr

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www.cir-engineering.com

Roo

I'm glad this is helping so many people solve their clock problem for FREE.
<off topic>
To the former user who just posted up an advertisement selling the fix:

You weren't a vendor, this most CERTAINLY is not the thread to make your first post in, and is the reason you're no longer here. Trying to charge our members $40 for this service is umm...

...simply ludicrous.

</off topic>

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-There is no such thing as can't, only won't.

Roo

You trying to put my little eBay business out of business or something?


I used to bring home the clocks, repair them, then my wife would sell them on eBay. Made some decent money doing that too...

...oh well. If anyone has a broken clock that needs repair, and lacks the technical skillz or tools to do it, please contact either myself or Peaty.

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-There is no such thing as can't, only won't.

craigr

Not at all and in fact quite the opposite I think it would be better to get a fixed clock from you than to buy a new or otherwise used option. If an owner can't solder than getting one from someone who can is the best way to go.

I do SMD repair professionally and see this kind of manufacturing defect all the time. It's not like Subaru clocks are the only thing that has this problem. Most breakages with electronics come from bad solder joints and there isn't a thing actually wrong with the parts. If you get a new one it will have the same chance of having a defect as the original, but if you fix the solder joints than you can be sure that there is no defect.

craigr

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www.cir-engineering.com

junebug

I think I'm the 75th or so who has fixed and responded to the thread. I'm sure it has helped many more people who have simply come across via Google-ing as I did. Fixed it today on my (new to me) 2002 Forester. As previously mentioned, I have clicked your "add to SenorSubie's reputation" icon. Bravo!

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2002 Forester S
2000 Legacy GT