clock/ voltmeter

[Jimbo]

hi everyone,
is it possible to connect the voltmeter to the clock wiring and clock wiring to the voltmeter?
ive only just realized my voltmeter is on all the time! and the clock... well.... has never really worked consistently but has never bothered me. been to busy
if they were wired the wrong way around this would make sense wouldn't it?
next question is though how on earth do you get to the rear of those dials without removing the entire dash?

 

[Turn & Burn]

I've got my dash out at present to do a clean / tidy up and repair the cracks. I'll check all the plugs and see what's possible.

I believe the best way to do instruments only is via the glovebox, ie remove this first, but there is also a Nissan Service bulletin that details how to do this. You may need the 'force' to feel your way round blind behind the dash.

Cheers

 

[Vaughan]

Hi Jimbo this is a very awkward task!well for me anyhow.I took my glove box out recently
to change the clock.I was hoping a 260 clock would swap for a 240 clock but the wiring is different!
Probably best if you could remove the glove box and the heater controls to give yourself more hand room(if you understand the meaning)
Will be interesting to here other people's comments.I still think removing the dash maybe the easiest in the long run?

 

[Turn & Burn]

The 2 larger plugs on the instruments are definitely swappable (I've just tried it). There is a 2nd plug on the voltmeter / fuel gauge, there is only one place this can go.
The plugs normally mount in a housing (See attached photo, 1st plug on left), the 2nd, 3rd and 4th plugs are shown dismounted from the housing. You should be able to get at these without releasing the instruments, and disconnect the instrument side without dropping them off the housing. To split the plugs squeeze the small arms on the sides and pull apart at the same time.

To remove the instruments you need to release the straps shown in the photos by undoing the single lower Philips screw. I should imagine this will be tricky, esp to get them back in after.

I would try taking some pics with your phone first, you may be able to determine if there is a change in wire colour either side of the plug

 

[jonbills]

I'm pretty sure the voltmeter is meant to be on all the time. I do my gauges by removing the heater fascia. Enough room to get at the 3 little gauges at least.

 

[Jimbo]

thanks for all the help guys i will give it go and see if i can get any pictures of the wiring, then we can see whats what hopefully.
i would have thought the voltmeter would be a fairly big drain compared to the clock being on all the time (what i mean by on all the time is whether the keys in the ignition or not).
plus it would explain why the clock never keeps time as it must be switched off every time i take the key out?
seeing turn and burns pictures how similar the plugs are would makes sense theyre the wrong way around.
hopefully this fixes it as it does seem a bit of an awkward job to change them.
thanks guys

 

[Pete]

Take out the seats,makes access easier, only 4 bolts per seat.

 

[jonbills]

The clocks are famously unreliable & the voltmeter isn't a drain, honest. Most likely the clock is just duff. You can have hours of fun replacing the insides with another electromechanical clock mechanism.