DEAD CLOCKS

[galantboy]

Hi all im new to this so forgive me being a bit rubbish, i have just bought my 4th 406 its a 2003 HDI 11o with satnav and half leather seats and loads of other things like cruise control and so on.
but though its a bit beat....not been well looked after its an ex abulance car so that figures i guess,
anyway the whole dashboard is totally dead, heater and MPG display works fine just no speedo, or warning lights etc its just like its unplugged. but looking at the state of the clocks it looks like ba baracus has been changing bulbs in it.
does anyone have any advice or even clocks i can borrow to try atall??? pretty desperate

[lozz]

hi there: Are you sure it was an Ambulance and not a taxi,
sorry if this sounds daft but sometimes they splice into wires to link up meters,
Might be worth taking clocks out and checking the wiring also look on top of gearbox and check see its not got a t peice on top of it ,

[Doggy]

Hi & welcome to the site.

Your 2003 car has the later, ''fully multiplexed', electrical system, meaning among other things, your clocks are connected to the cars body system interface, (BSI), by a communications link, not indiviual wiring fro each instrument. (The various gauges can be actuated via the diagnostic connector for test purposes).

It's definetely worth taking the clocks out to look for a loose plug. Don't disturb anything within the ignition on, or within 15 minutes of turning it off, as this could affect the milometer reading.

Next, try searching for 'BSI reset' and try that.

Try posting your location - someone nearby may have a diagnostic system & be prepared to test your clocks.

[galantboy]

hey thanks people, yeah im 100% that its been an ambulance its got previous MOTs from lancashire ambulance service and brackets still on the rear shelf for fancy lights.
iv only had it a few days so not had chance to do much with it, but the clocks dont do anything and someones been there before me anyway as the needles are all loose and buttons are missing, Idid wonder if its been stolen at some point but dont think so as theres no obvious lock damage and it has 2 original keys.
im in nottinghamshire by the way if thats any help to anyone or anyone near by can offer any help i would be most greatfull

[galantboy]

YAY.......dead clocks sorted...they had lost the earth somewhere along the line so took a new earth from the back of the diagnostics socket and earthed to body......alls good...and the car only has 110 thousand miles on it...bonus!

[Gary406]

good job there.

but you may wanna check the main earth point on the car. follow the neg wire from battery and look were it joins onto body.

earths dont just loose there connection sumwere in the line. .

and it has proven to be a big gremlin. a member named no2lurch had this earth problem a few months ago.

[Doggy]

Well done sorting that out.