Retrofitting radio controlled clock

notorious · #1 26th August 2013, 10:23 PM

A8s were equipped with radio controlled clock. Clock is synched with long wave time/date transmitter in Frankfurt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DCF77).

Benefits are obvious -- clock is always right and no more worries with adjusting clock by one hour for daylight saving. In radio controlled clock mode we have radio antenna mast symbol displayed:

UK cars didn't come with this feature because, I think, transmitter always sends CET time (either UTC+1 or UTC+2 depending on daylight saving time) and UK is, as always, a little bit different:

But we have functionality to adjust time by one hour once the clock is in radio controlled mode. This feature was specifically designed for those who drove out of CET time area.

When I saw Goran's new LHD manual car from Germany I decided to try to retrofit this feature. Here's how receiver looks like. It comes with wires and 3-pin electrical connector that connects directly to unused socket on the back of instrument cluster, made specifically for that receiver.

Additionally, we'll need to order bracket and 3 screws that cost pennies:

On FL D2s standard receiver location is under the dash:

I will keep this thread updated when I finish installation.

Conan_the_Librarian · #2 27th August 2013, 08:34 PM

Loving your work.

awolfinsheepsclothes · #3 27th August 2013, 10:26 PM

Nice work I did wonder about this feature

notorious · #4 6th September 2013, 10:10 AM

Update: This is very easy plug and play installation.

All you need to do is to plug receiver into instrument cluster from behind.
Then wait a couple of days and you'll see antenna mast symbol. This means that your clock is now in radio controlled mode.
In this mode you can't adjust minutes, but you can adjust hours. By this you're effectively telling instrument cluster the delta
between your local time and the CET time in Frankfurt.

And you don't need to remove dashboard for that. You can only remove lower trim where your knees are
and there's just enough space to connect electrical connector from the back of instrument cluster via removed knee trim opening.

I found that reception in the standard receiver location under centre of the dash is not very good perhaps because I have a-thermal heated windscreen.
Decided to secure the receiver elsewhere in the car, perhaps behind the lower right panel where most of electrical fuses are.
Undecided about exact location yet.

Pictures!

To be continued ...

notorious · #5 6th September 2013, 10:23 AM

I highlighted the place where you need to look for connector if you access via removed knee panel.

View from behind the cluster (this is picture of PF cluster, but it doesn't matter):

Also, behind the cluster there is standard recess for the radio clock receiver! It can be nicely secured there with 2 bolts from my first post. But Audi decided not to mount it there. Perhaps I should try that recess!

notorious · #6 6th September 2013, 10:32 AM

you will need to tell cluster that radio controlled clock is now connected. This is done with VAGCOM / VCDS.

Select adaptation channel 19. The lower bit should be changed from 0 to 1.

After installation wait at least 24 hours. Antenna mast symbol will appear during night hours and clock will be adjusted during night hours too.