Clock loses a couple minutes a month

[charlieb]

Wylee,
If you would like me to make an appointment at your local dealer to get this issue taken care of, just let me know.
Breanne
Chevrolet Customer Service

wylee if you dont have a phone or cant figure out how to call your dealer to make an appointment i also could call for you in case breanne is busy that day!but i will be honest with you unlike breanne, it may cost you a small fee(to be determined by dealer)probly only 90.00 diagnostic fee if this issue is not covered by warranty.you must pay this fee before we release the vehicle back to you wether you authorize the repaire or not.again thanks breanne for the helpful generic response

[jamelar]

I've never done anything with the dash clock on an Aveo, but I have synchronized 12 volt automotive clocks.
The ones I've seen will have a tiny variable capacitor. You would need a pin out of the main clock integrated circuit or timer circuit to find the timer clock pulse, then using an oscilloscope set to line sync, to compare to the 60 cycle (highly accurate) from the power company. Adjust the capacitor with a non-metallic tool until the two signals are steady with each other.

I realize this is far beyond what most readers here would be prepared to do, but that's how I've done it.

Of course, the other way is to adjust the variable capacitor ever so slightly and check the clock in a month, readjust accordingly. As to weather you turn the capacitor CW or CCW, that's a 50/50 chance game.

Or replace it. Or live with it.

[AveoJunk]

You would need a pin out of the main clock integrated circuit or timer circuit to find the timer clock pulse, then using an oscilloscope set to line sync, to compare to the 60 cycle (highly accurate) from the power company. Adjust the capacitor with a non-metallic tool until the two signals are steady with each other.

LOL. I guess you took an electronics class or something. Yeah, I have an oscilloscope in my back pocket. And are you sure you want to adjust the cap? More than likely it is the R1 or R2 value that is controlling the pulse frequency. or just replace the 555 timer chip?

[xintersecty]

The ones I've seen will have a tiny variable capacitor. You would need a pin out of the main clock integrated circuit or timer circuit to find the timer clock pulse, then using an oscilloscope set to line sync, to compare to the 60 cycle (highly accurate) from the power company. Adjust the capacitor with a non-metallic tool until the two signals are steady with each other.

I realize this is far beyond what most readers here would be prepared to do, but that's how I've done it.

Of course, the other way is to adjust the variable capacitor ever so slightly and check the clock in a month, readjust accordingly. As to weather you turn the capacitor CW or CCW, that's a 50/50 chance game.

Or replace it. Or live with it.

Old school design with 555 timer chip and R/C circuit. Your right about the power company having a good steady signal. I write software for electrical meters and we can use our internal crystal (drifts) or the power company. Most of the time we synch with the power company.

[petrified.rabbit]

I've never done anything with the dash clock on an Aveo, but I have synchronized 12 volt automotive clocks.
The ones I've seen will have a tiny variable capacitor. You would need a pin out of the main clock integrated circuit or timer circuit to find the timer clock pulse, then using an oscilloscope set to line sync, to compare to the 60 cycle (highly accurate) from the power company. Adjust the capacitor with a non-metallic tool until the two signals are steady with each other.

I realize this is far beyond what most readers here would be prepared to do, but that's how I've done it.

Of course, the other way is to adjust the variable capacitor ever so slightly and check the clock in a month, readjust accordingly. As to weather you turn the capacitor CW or CCW, that's a 50/50 chance game.

Or replace it. Or live with it.

will you come make the clock on my stove match the clock on my microwave? :P

[wylee]

wylee if you dont have a phone or cant figure out how to call your dealer to make an appointment i also could call for you in case breanne is busy that day!but i will be honest with you unlike breanne, it may cost you a small fee(to be determined by dealer)probly only 90.00 diagnostic fee if this issue is not covered by warranty.you must pay this fee before we release the vehicle back to you wether you authorize the repaire or not.again thanks breanne for the helpful generic response

Haha, yeah I think this is probably a $200+ fix at the dealer....and I'm not very confident that it would be fixed with the first replacement.

Of course, the other way is to adjust the variable capacitor ever so slightly and check the clock in a month, readjust accordingly. As to weather you turn the capacitor CW or CCW, that's a 50/50 chance game.

This is the kind of info I had hoped for. I will probably pull the clock out and see if I can find the adjustment...worst case if I break mine, I'll have to pick up another inaccurate clock from the boneyard.