After installing a new battery, I needed to update the car clock in my 1993 Plymouth. The owners manual proved to be useless:
Electronic Digital Clock - The procedure for setting the clock varies slightly with each radio. The correct procedure is in the Chrysler Sound Systems Manual.
The Sound Systems Manual was not in the glovebox. I don’t think I’ve ever owned one. amazon.com had one for sale for about $20, but for $20, I’d buy a wristwatch and just ignore the car. E-bay had a 1978 version, but in 1978, the clock was probably set by turning a knob on the face of the clock.
So I decided to provide an illustrated guide, because, after several mornings of fiddling around, I finally figured out the procedure. Sorry about the quality of the images below, they were all taken during rush hour, with one hand on the radio knob, the other on the camera, and my legs on the steering wheel. That evening, I was trying to set my clock to 4:30.
The wrong time on the Chrysler Clock. Note my cassette adapter, which effectively makes the stereo a high-tech MP3 player (via the wire hanging out the front).
Step 1: Turn the radio on. The Chrysler engineers were clever to make this a feature. I would suggest tuning into a station that plays soothing music, because you are going to need it. This is perhaps the biggest secret held in the Chrysler Sound Systems Manual.
Turning the Radio on. 92.7 is a local smooth jazz station.
Step 2: Press the SET button. This enters program mode. You should see a “P”. Since the radio is on, you could choose to set one of the 5 radio presets. Pressing one of the 5 buttons will set the current station to that button, but that is not our mission.
Press the SET button. You will see the “P” which means you are now ready to program this high-tech device.
Step 3: Press the SEL button. This will allow you to change the hour. If you want to change the minutes, press the SEL again. From here on out, the process seems a little less like a cruel joke, and more like a normal stereo.
switching from hours to minutes is easy as pie with another press of the SEL button.
Step 4: Use the TUNE knob to change the time In this example, I need to turn 7 back to 4. Or forward to 4, depending on which way I turn the knob. Brilliant! If you need to change the minutes, press the SEL button again as described in Step 3, and then turn the TUNE knob.
Turning the knob. The most fun part of this process.
Step 4: Press the SEL Button again to end your programming session
If you do not see the correct time, listen to some nice music and try again after you settle down.
Step 5: Enjoy the clock’s digital goodness.
that is a really spiffy looking clock/radio. i wish i had one that awesome ;).
this was very helpful!
This is truly the 21st Century when you can find something like this on the internet! Thanks, your efforts are appreciated. God bless.
Yeah, awesome. You have no idea how much this helped.
One piece of advice, next time do this in your driveway, not during rush hour!
excellent info and very concise..Thank You vety much
I don’t have a problem w/ the picture quality at all. I have a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan and I’ve had a problem with this radio before. Unfortunately, I caved in after not being able to figure it out for myself and had the dealer do it for me when I went in to service it. When I received my car back, I asked for instructions on how to re-set the clock if it were to happen again, but for some strange reason they were reluctant to do this (Hmmm!). I then went home, called up corporate headquarters and complained about the dealership and their lack of helping out someone who meticulously had my car serviced by them for 2 years without fail. Within 2 business days, I received a package from Chrysler with a detailed instruction manual for the radio. The portion on how to re-set the clock was highlighted by one of the people in the office. I also received a call from the dealership telling me that my next servicing is free of charge including oil change and checking fluids. I was satisfied, but it’s a sad case of events when I have to go out of my way to complain to corporate on something that they should have taken 5 minutes out of their day to aid me with. Thank you for posting this. I hope it helps a lot of people who suffer from looking at the wrong time for months or years (in some cases) at a time. Take care.
God! Finally found it! Why does this thing is not in the owner’s book??
Thanks!