VDO Clock Repair (incl pictures)

[mingmong]

Hi everyone. Like many others before my VDO clock decided it was time and stopped working. So I decided to open it up and have a look inside.
Gaining access inside is the hardest part. Firstly I bent the outer bezel using the smallest jewelers screwdriver I had.


Here’s the result of my careful prying.


Next I slowly went round the bezel using a slightly larger screwdriver. Carefully repeating the process until I could get some slim nosed pliers into the gap.



Once the bezel is bent back enough it was a simple case of popping it off from the main clock body. Here are the various parts lined in the order they come off in.



Next de soldered the earthing pin on the rear.



And here are the faulty capacitors.



Desoldered from the circuit board and replaced with two new 16v 100 micro Farad, taking care to get the polarity correct.



Tested overnight and kept perfect time

Gave all the cogs a gentle brush clean too.

Resoldered the earthing pin. If your clock happens to be missing the sticker/ label on the back then I’d recommend putting some tape over this hole to stop any dust particles from entering the clock mechanism.



Reassembly was fairly straightforward. I’d advise you don’t touch the dial face (which I did of course). Took me a while to clean my fingerprints off using isopropanol followed by some anti-static foam cleaner in order to get it back to looking normal again.

I used a large flathead screwdriver to gently press the outer bezel back into place and a black marker pen to cover the small scratches. Luckily these can’t be seen once the clocks back in the car, due to the rubber gasket.






Hope this helps if your clock stops ticking.
All the best -Mark

[DRACO A5OG]

Nice Work!

[JJ 911SC]

Thanks for sharing that, should enable some to save a bundle.

[30westrob]

An other good option if the quartz movement is beyond repair. You can buy a used working VDO Quartz clock from say a Volvo, Sabb, ect. They often use the same movement. Check the back of the donor clock to check for the same mounting configuration. An easy swap to your clock housing after you open per the excellent post above. Rob

[Ferrino]

This is something on my list, but I've never soldered anything other than wiring terminals: what sort of soldering iron do you recommend for soldering caps to the board?

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Ferrino

This is something on my list, but I've never soldered anything other than wiring terminals: what sort of soldering iron do you recommend for soldering caps to the board?

Nothing special, wait until the iron is hot, melt some solder on the tip (flat one is good) and away you go.

Cleanness is premium, clean the tip and the board with alcohol.

[Drbraunsr]

Didn't think this story was headed for a happy ending ---- I was pleasantly surprised.
Good / clean job with good documentation.

Well done !

[Lake Guy]

On my list also -looks doable so thanks for the great post

[mingmong]

Thanks everyone. Glad to contribute something back to this fantastic forum.

[TRACKS]

question - my 1974 VDO Quartz clock has 2 capacitors in it that say 47 micro farad .... so i guess i should replace with the same ( not 100 micro farad stated above )

correct ?

[MBAtarga]

Replace with the same value as is removed...

[TRACKS]

thanks

[gptom]

going with the same value microfarad and go higher on the voltage rating is a good step for more reliability. If there is a voltage spike, 16v does not give much headroom, 35v would be a better choice and the modern caps will still fit

[calidude]

Started the same project and waiting for new caps to solder in

[calidude]

New caps soldered in and works like a charm! Tick tock

Gray thread and diy, thanks

[TheSecondChris]

I followed these instructions and was able to repair the analog clock in my '84 944, which makes a big difference in my enjoyment of the car, so thanks a lot!

[PRE-H20]

Soooo I have a 74 911.

Reading through some of these CLOCK repair threads.

Mine already doesnt work so why not try and DIY ?

stumped after 2 min.... this sucks, and gonna be a long road I'm guessing.

Black wire off!
Brown wire off!

What is that last attached wire?
How is it attached?
How do I disconnect it?

[grant lyon]

That's the illumination bulb/lamp/socket for the clock. Wire goes in thru a brown insulator disk, and outboard of both is metal rim that captures the disk. The metal rim extends inward as a cylinder forming the socket. Bulb socket inserts into a larger tube fixed to the clock base. Wobble/twist the metal rim (rolled bead) and pull outward and the bulb-socket and bulb will come out. See another thread to see the open cylinder into which the bulb sock inserts.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/874417-911sc-clock-repair-annotated-photos.html
See post #2, 2nd Photo, about 7 O'clock orientation you see the open tube with the bulb socket removed.

You can also see the open tube (bulb socket removed), mostly side view, in post #14 of this thread 1st photo and 2nd photo.

[PRE-H20]

I'm so far down the rabbit hole I cant see daylight!

and I have no idea what I am doing or what I'm looking at ! geesh!

I knew knew KNEW this wasnt going to be easy!

Sooooo I got it taken apart.....

When I took it apart the little orange gear EITHER fell out or I somehow knocked it loose, I was very careful taking it apart though.

No one mentioned the pictured little brown washer OR that lil black sponge looking thing pictured. All that is normal right?

The little BLUE cans are the ones that I am supposed to replace right?

Any insight/help on that little orange gear? (there are no broken parts I can see and nothing else fell out)

[stormin48061]

Can u let us know where to source the capacitors? PP have them? Thx