Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics Trying to recontent clock - Please Help

I recontented the clock in my '00 SE last weekend. The wiring diagram in the FAQ concerning radio wire colors differed from what my car has. The blue/black wire on my car is for instrument panel lighting/dimming. The white/green wire is nonexistant on my harness, I have a yellow/green wire that handles 12V on accessory. I suggest that you use a test light on each wire on the radio harness to determine the uses for each, i.e. 12V accessory, panel light/dimmer, etc.

From what I can tell, 12V constant causes the clock to show time, but its dim and no time setting can take place. Twelve Volt accessory allows the clock to brighten up and also allows time setting via the "H" and "M" buttons. Of course, the panel light/dimmer wire allows the clock to be dimmed along with the instrument panel lights when desired.

I think the "original" method in the FAQ assumes you have the factory wiring pigtail from a donor car. I modified the factory PATS light plug(its capable of holding six wires) by switching the location of the two PATS wires so they correspond with the correct location on the back of the clock. I then found a couple of computer cables in the junk box at work, removed the wires from its plug, and inserted them into the factory PATS light plug(using the FAQ diagram as a guide). I then routed the wires to my CD player and TAPPED into them using common wiring taps(leave the CD player plugged).

As for your problem with the PATS light not working, you may just have the wires inserted on the wrong posts on the back of the clock.

I hope this helps, nel5150.

Martin