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Clock Accuracy

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by skip737, Apr 18, 2015.

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  1. skip737

    skip737 Karting

    Dec 31, 2008
    115
    Lodi, New York
    Full Name:
    WJH
    #1 skip737, Apr 18, 2015
    I've had my 16M for over a year now. One very annoying little thing is that the digital clock gains about a minute a week. I really do not enjoy resetting it about every month. Does anyone out there have the same problem? Is there any way to improve the accuracy with a software menu to recalibrate it? I cannot find any mention of this anywhere. It seems incredible that the clock in a $300,000 car is not anywhere near as accurate as a $20 Casio watch. Most high end digital watches and timers have a way to recalibrate the mechanism with a known error correction. Does the clock in my Ferrari have such a feature? I'm not holding out much hope for this. I think that they just don't care about something they consider so trivial.
     
  2. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,169
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #2 tazandjan, Apr 18, 2015
    My 575M clock works exactly the same way.
     
  3. bobster_rulez

    bobster_rulez Karting

    Mar 5, 2012
    102
    #3 bobster_rulez, Apr 18, 2015
    Both my 430 and 575 gain more than 1 minute per week,
     
  4. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 mwr4440, Apr 18, 2015
    A minute a week?

    A Rolex is probably not that accurate. A $10.00 Casio is better.

    And I still want Submariner Gold and Steel, Blue Face.


    Possession of that is my last material goal on this earth. All the rest I have met and exceeded or they became OBE.
     
  5. GordonC

    GordonC F1 Rookie
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    Aug 28, 2005
    4,163
    Calgary, AB, Canada
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    Gordon
    #5 GordonC, Apr 18, 2015
    A Rolex that's running properly is way more accurate than a minute a week - I haven't had to reset my Daytona in months, it's still less than a minute off.

    Ironically, the quartz analog clock in my 1984 308 keeps perfect time! Funny that the digital clock in a newer Ferrari doesn't tell the time as well. :D
     
  6. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,100
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    Brian Crall
    #6 Rifledriver, Apr 18, 2015
    Without a doubt, the most accurate instrument in the car.

    Put some masking tape over it.
     
  7. ChuckStyl5

    ChuckStyl5 Karting

    Mar 28, 2004
    180
    The Armpit
    #7 ChuckStyl5, Apr 18, 2015
    In 430 models you can shut the clock off
     
  8. porphy

    porphy Formula 3
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    Dec 9, 2009
    1,209
    LouisvilleKY/Switzld
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    Randall Gatz
    #8 porphy, Apr 18, 2015
    A Rolex is probably not that accurate. A $10.00 Casio is better.

    And I still want Submariner Gold and Steel, Blue Face.


    Possession of that is my last material goal on this earth. All the rest I have met and exceeded or they became OBE.[/QUOTE]

    Check out pduggan.com if you could consider a used one but like new with a guarantee. No affiliation; just a satisfied repeat customer.
     
  9. bobster_rulez

    bobster_rulez Karting

    Mar 5, 2012
    102
    #9 bobster_rulez, Apr 19, 2015
    I have lots of rolex's and patek's and 1 minute a week would be great!
     
  10. Mr. V

    Mr. V Formula 3

    Oct 23, 2004
    1,247
    Portland, Oregon
    #10 Mr. V, Apr 19, 2015
    My Ferrari-sourced automatic watch also runs fast, about a minute every couple days.
     
  11. muk_yan_jong

    muk_yan_jong Formula Junior

    Oct 11, 2008
    569
    Full Name:
    Brian McK
    #11 muk_yan_jong, Apr 19, 2015
    just be happy it's not your ODO creeping up...
     
  12. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 mwr4440, Apr 20, 2015
    THANX!!!!!

    I'll do that.

    :)
     
  13. 360+Volt=Prius

    360+Volt=Prius Formula 3
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    Raimondo
    #13 360+Volt=Prius, Apr 20, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2015
    There are two solutions that are guaranteed to resolve your problem. Most people forget about these tricks:

    1- after starting your car, place it in gear, and depress the accelerator pedal to the floor. Drive as fast as you can for as long as possible. According to Einstein's famous Theory of Relativity, the faster you travel the more time will slow down. The added benefit will be you will also age slower so it's a win/win!

    2- using the theory of gravitational time dilation I.e. The stronger the gravitational potential the slower time will pass. Have the car dropped into the Challenger Deep portion of the Mariana Trench. This will bring you about 6 miles closer to the earth's core and should slow down your clock.

    Just trying to be funny, ...

    I would find a way to turn off the clock display, or do as I did with my golf game. Dont look at it (Don't keep score).


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  14. cheesey

    cheesey Formula 3

    Jun 23, 2011
    1,921
    #14 cheesey, Apr 21, 2015
    car clocks are voltage sensitive... the accuracy of the clock depends on the stability of the car battery voltage... as long as the battery voltage stays within the designed range, the clock will keep good time... the clock can be used to monitor the quality of the car battery... as the battery ages it will go out of spec sooner allowing the clock to lose time... requiring the clock to be reset more frequently
     
  15. skip737

    skip737 Karting

    Dec 31, 2008
    115
    Lodi, New York
    Full Name:
    WJH
    #15 skip737, Apr 21, 2015
    Modern quartz crystal clocks and watches are not voltage sensitive at all, as long as they are powered with a battery source that stays within the design limits, which are quite large, and well within the voltage output of almost any battery that will start the car. The design voltage is usually a range between 10-15 volts. These quartz clocks are much more sensitive to temperature changes. Check out the Wikipedia article about quartz timekeeping. Besides, in my case, the clock gains time. It never loses it. How does that fit into your theory about voltage related slowing? Older, non-quartz based clocks may very well lose time as the battery voltage drops off, however. They use a completely different timing mechanism.
     
  16. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,100
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
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    Brian Crall
    #16 Rifledriver, Apr 21, 2015
    You are correct

    Prior to quartz most automotive clocks used a spring that was electrically rewound so voltage mattered little.

    In any event I was serious that your clock is probably the most accurate display in the car. It is what it is.
     
  17. Mr. V

    Mr. V Formula 3

    Oct 23, 2004
    1,247
    Portland, Oregon
    #17 Mr. V, Apr 21, 2015
    I look at my phone to see what the correct time is so that I can reset my watch accordingly.

    It's a changing world.
     

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