Honda Car Clock comes alive with a bang.

[Wdyorchid]

My digital LED display on my 1988 Honda Accord works on a cold day but dies on
hot day by failing to come when the ignition is turned on. Gently, I bang
really hard on the dashboard then it comes alive until the next day.
I notice a four-watt resistor that runs really hot (could almost
light a cigar) but I could trace voltages going all the way to the IC. May the
IC lost ground? But how do we diagnose something when Honda doesn't provide a
diagram. I like to fix this one because I have several Hondas with the same
symptom. What If I use a functioning identical clock and take measurements?
Parts are easy to find since I have a shoe-box filled stash of these
clocks in my basement.
-Thanks

 

[Jerry G.]

Look for cold solder connections on all the connections and on the
circuit board. Also check for any parts being mechanically
intermittent.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
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Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
Instruments http://www.zoom-one.com/glgtech.htm
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My digital LED display on my 1988 Honda Accord works on a cold day but
dies on
hot day by failing to come when the ignition is turned on. Gently, I
bang
really hard on the dashboard then it comes alive until the next day.
I notice a four-watt resistor that runs really hot (could
almost
light a cigar) but I could trace voltages going all the way to the IC.
May the
IC lost ground? But how do we diagnose something when Honda doesn't
provide a
diagram. I like to fix this one because I have several Hondas with the
same
symptom. What If I use a functioning identical clock and take
measurements?
Parts are easy to find since I have a shoe-box filled stash of
these
clocks in my basement.
-Thanks

 

[Allodoxaphobia]

... I like to fix this one because I have several Hondas with the same
symptom.

Then,
You ain't the only one with the problem.
Honda knows about the problem.
The information about the problem exists somewhere.
If you're tenacious enough, you may get the information.

Jonesy

 

[Wdyorchid]

Your advice is correct about the cold solder coonection. I'd resolder
everyhting and its working again in 2 years. I would have never attempt this.
You've figured it out for me. Thank you for your help.

-W

 

[LASERandDVDfan]

Your advice is correct about the cold solder coonection. I'd resolder

everyhting and its working again in 2 years. I would have never attempt this.
You've figured it out for me. Thank you for your help.

Also look around for any leaky electrolytic capacitors.

Your problem is not unique. I have a Ford Taurus with the electric florescent
clock which had the same exact problems. Reflowing the joints with solder and
replacing a leaky capacitor fixed it. And, there were resistors that ran hot
in it, too. This is actually normal operation, although the heat is probably
what helped the cracks to form in the first place. - Reinhart