What would make the clock reset in my car every time I shut it off?

Question

I just replaced the battery a month ago, and now the clock resets itself to midnight whenever I shut off the ignition.

It is a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am. The stereo is the original GM “Monsoon” brand stereo. These are all good answers, but why would it start doing this just now? I’ve owned this car for two years, and it has never done this. The battery connections were exactly the same as they were with the old battery (it’s the threaded bolt connector type).

Answer 1

the radio has 2 power sources (discounting lamps etc)
1- power for audio connects to Ignition + (&accessory )
2- memory keep alive connects to hot all the time buss.
assuming car is stock and not aftermarket radio and not monkey wired by some yahoo,(sorry)

the possibles:
memory wire broken or fuse on this lead blown.
are there anyother circuit dead like the cigarette ligher?
some times the radio connects to cig fuse, very common.
or
bad radio memory circuit or hidding fuse in radio.
it think too , this is the yellow EIA standard color for memory wire. of top of head.

Answer 2

You don't say what car you have, but, for some reason the power to the clock is shut off totally with the ignition. There was probably a multi-lead to the battery that was left off somewhere along the way, that fed the low-current maintenance of things like the clock. Did you by some chance change the negative battery end from one that had other leads on a jack to a straight terminal without an adaptor for the other leads?

Answer 3

. This might be simlar to the radio's anti-theft system. I think you have to 're-set' the clock by pushing both the hr and min buttons in for 5-6 seconds. And do it 2-3 times. ?
If that doesn't work, walk in to a dealer's Parts Dept [the Service Dept is usually too busy] and tell the counter guy that after you replaced the car battery., the radio keeps reseting. I'm sure it's nothing new to these guys. Or maybe the battery clamps are a little loose?

Answer 4

some opportunities, Failing cellular interior the battery, the starter is taking each and all the present and resetting each and every thing else. undesirable or corroded battery cables or terminals. that is no longer allowing each and all the battery cutting-edge to attain the electrical powered equipment. could additionally no longer completely value the battery. Failing starter. each and every so often whilst a starter is failing, that is going to draw too a lot cutting-edge. each and all the the remainder of the structures interior the motor vehicle get reset. Failing alternator or voltage regulator. no longer completely charging the battery. of those, the battery or battery cables are maximum probable the source of your concern

Answer 5

I've got a 96 gmc Sonoma I put a radio in it but it dead one of those you buy from a part store I cut the old wires to put the plug for that radio on it .When it dead I went to a junk yard to get the right wire for my truck and a radio I still have the old one that come out of the truck I hook up wires right with color to color ,But when I cut the truck off it resets itself gos to am and the clock gos to 12 I was thinking that radio was bad so I put the old one back in but it does it also what could it be

Answer 6

is it a aftermarket stereo if it is it might be the wiring the yellow wire that goes to the battery for the memory might be hooked up to the ignition wire or fuse so when you turn off the car it losses the memory.

Answer 7

The car should have a fuse that is for the memory on the stereo that is probably blown look at your owners manual in the fuse section and it should tell you which fuse it is and if it is in the fuse box inside the car or the elec. center under the hood

Answer 8

is obviously a short. fastest way to correct simply re-wire to constant pos and neg. otherwise a guessing game.

Answer 9

the clock isnt conneted to the batterey power

Answer 10

double check all your ground wires