'94 J30 11 yr experience - still great! Need help please...

[Nusz1]

Hi everyone, awesome board for J30 info. Thought I'd share my experience to add to the pool. I've had my '94 since '97 and only major problem was the transmission dying at about 175k. It was replaced with a transmission from a ~75k (according to the junk yard) accident car and so far is ok at 190k, a bit sluggish off the line compared to before but can downshift and do highway passes just fine. The car has been solid and is still tight. It was dealer serviced according to their schedule with the 60k $1000 timing/water pump/plugs type of tune-ups, 30k transmission flushes on the motorized fluid pump machine, 3-4k oil changes, etc. until about 150k... hehe. Since then I've been skipping their "checks and labor hours" menu offerings and sticking to the essentials and common sense along with independant service from a mechanic friend... The car is still solid and tight on original springs and struts, had front tension rods replaced once. One window regulator under warranty back in the day, and a DIY ebay Bose unit from a '96 Maxima a couple years ago. Knock sensor was recently replaced, along with rusting exhaust headers. Sunroof just leaked water into the map lights for the first time ever 2 days ago. I'll be following the clean-out DIY and replacing the rubber seal shortly. Sunroof works perfectly in all directions. The steering rack is now permanently stiff, with the power assist coming on once or twice a day for a few seconds. Other than that nothing major.

Here are my current issues:1) Clock illumination is partly dead/partly discolored. I changed the a/c control bulbs already, but I cannot get the friggin' clock out though. I reach behind it nd pull the clock/vent assembly outward, and the right side and middle come out with ease, but the left side is stuck to the point where i'm afraid to pull too hard and snap something. Anyone have any tips?

2) Keyless entry has not worked for last 2 years, but i just got a renewed interest in sorting it out. I replaced the batteries and tried Carlos's re-pairing DIY on fuzzycats.com but no luck... I do not have any mysterious locking/unlocking/alarm issues happening, and the power locks work fine from inside the car and from the door's keyhole. Any ideas there? Some electronic module or controller to look for?

3) You guys think it's the steering rack that is gone or maybe the relay/servo having troubles? I have fluid and wetness on the electrical connectors on the steering rack and the transmission connectors as well... but the levels are in check and don't seem to be dropping...

Thanks for any help you can provide!