Clock and OBC not working

[Brian4]

Just re taxed the car and had a quick warm up drive yesterday and noticed there was no display on the OBC or clock. Checked fuses and ok. It is the round digital one has anyone got any ideas what to check next please.

 

[GazHyde]

Are you able to get behind it and check the connections?

 

[Brian4]

Might have a try later. Car washing duty at the moment. Thanks Gary

 

[Brian H]

There is a back light bulb to n the OBC IIRC, without this you will not see the numbers, shine a torch directly on the screen and you should hopefully see son numbers.

 

[Brian H]

Just checked with an old unit I have, the bulbs are little LEDs soldered to the main PCB so probably won't be that.

 

[Brian4]

thanks @Brian H just read elsewhere that possibly as the battery was flat a few weeks ago if I disconnect for a minute or so and then reconnect the OBC should work again. Will try tomorrow and report back. Thanks for looking .

 

[Brian4]

Well battery disconnect didn't work and can't read the obc from INPA so possibly the unit has died over the winter. More investigations ongoing.

 

[Brian4]

I couldn't work out how to unplug the connector and couldn't get at the two screws that hold the digital clock/OBC in so removed the centre console last week. It all came out easily enough. When I worked out how to unplug the Clock/OBC depress the tab and push the release/insert lever the plug came out.

I had bought a clock in case I couldn't get it going again and I found the connector for the clock small plug with 3 wires.
I tried the obc again and it came on with the prompt to set the time so I thought great so put the centre console back together loose ish and tried again set the time and then turned off the ignition and the clock half stayed on and wouldn't restart so few grumpy words later I put it all back as we were away for the weekend and needed the car for Tuesday to get the new steering wheel.

Decided today to fit the clock so had a look again to see if I could remove the old unit without removing the console but thought give it one more try so unplugged the obc and then plugged it back in, still dead. Unplugged it again but got called to do another job, 15 mins later tried the replacement clock and it worked and was just going to start removing the console and thought one more try and it came up with the set time prompt, set the time and left it with the key in the first position for 5 to 10 mins then turned ignition on and got all the readings when pressing the indicator switch. Turned ignition off and back on and still working. Well pleased.

Moral of story is if OBC isn't working either unplug or disconnect battery for 15 mins before reconnecting and leave in position 1 for a couple of minutes before trying with the engine on.

 

[Mark Collingwood T]

Brilliant and straightforward solution to blank OBC on Z3 after battery change. Thank you very much

 

[Vic Simpson]

I couldn't work out how to unplug the connector and couldn't get at the two screws that hold the digital clock/OBC in so removed the centre console last week. It all came out easily enough. When I worked out how to unplug the Clock/OBC depress the tab and push the release/insert lever the plug came out.

I had bought a clock in case I couldn't get it going again and I found the connector for the clock small plug with 3 wires.
I tried the obc again and it came on with the prompt to set the time so I thought great so put the centre console back together loose ish and tried again set the time and then turned off the ignition and the clock half stayed on and wouldn't restart so few grumpy words later I put it all back as we were away for the weekend and needed the car for Tuesday to get the new steering wheel.

Decided today to fit the clock so had a look again to see if I could remove the old unit without removing the console but thought give it one more try so unplugged the obc and then plugged it back in, still dead. Unplugged it again but got called to do another job, 15 mins later tried the replacement clock and it worked and was just going to start removing the console and thought one more try and it came up with the set time prompt, set the time and left it with the key in the first position for 5 to 10 mins then turned ignition on and got all the readings when pressing the indicator switch. Turned ignition off and back on and still working. Well pleased.

Moral of story is if OBC isn't working either unplug or disconnect battery for 15 mins before reconnecting and leave in position 1 for a couple of minutes before trying with the engine on.

Hi Brian,

My OBC was dead after my battery ran flat. I struggled checking all the connections as I thought I must have disconnected something when I fitted a new DAB radio. Tried everything until i found you post which worked exactly as you said. Disconnected battery for just over 15 minutes, left key in position 1 for a few minuted before turning on the ignition. Bingo !!
Thanks for sharing this as I would never have guessed and would have spent money for nothing.
Cheers.V

 

[david d]

Hi , my clock and OBC stopped working , checked the usual things no joy , then left it for about 5 weeks while having an operation , went to start the Z battery flat , recharged then the clock has no display but it started clicking away ( noise ) and doesn't stop with or without ignition on , so disconnected it noise gone any ideas , thanks