Hi , i have tried what you mention for hb88rc let say i am doing the programing and it is currently 10 am. (example) i want it to be on at 7am and off at 7pm for the entire week i do as the instruction tell me to do and when i put it back on auto it don't start and won't untill i have it make one cylce is there another way of doing it thak you richard dubuc

Try removing battery, and then reprogram timer.

Some timers are reset when battery is removed.
Newer digital timers keep programs in memory when battery is removed, but in that case the instruction manual shows steps for resetting timer and deleting programs.

The HB88RC manual does not show steps for deleting programs or resetting timer.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Intermatic-timers-and-manuals.html#hb88

HB88RC is discontinued timer, replaced by 2-outlet HB800RCL or 1-outlet HB800RCH.
Timer functions should work in AUTO.
Try resetting timer by removing AA battery, reinstall fresh battery, and then reprogram timer.
When programming is finished, press clock button and timer should be in AUTO mode and current time displayed.
If you want to change mode, then press mode button. When exiting mode, press clock button and timer should be back in AUTO mode.
If functionality does not restore, then timer has gone bad.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Woods-timers-and-manuals.html#6-24
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/hb88rc.pdf

You posted under Intermatic HB88RC timer
If you have different timer, add a comment

HB88RC timer manual:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/hb88rc.pdf

HB88RC programming Instructions:
Install AA battery in timer so display will show, and you can program

Set clock:
Hold down clock button.
Press day button until current day displays.
Press Hour button until current hour displays.
Press min button until current minute shows.
Release clock button

Program timer:
Press PROG button until 1 ON displays
This is Event1 ON
Press Day button until selected day or days displays for event1 ON
If you want all week long, then press day button until all days show: MO TU WE TH FR SA SU
Press Hour button until 5pm shows >> this is event1 ON
Press Min button until :00 displays for event1 ON

Press PROG button until 1 OFF displays
This is Event1 ON
Press Day button until selected day or days displays for event1 OFF
Match days with ON time: so press day button until all days show: MO TU WE TH FR SA SU
Press Hour button until 7pm displays >> this is event1 OFF
Press Min button until :00 displays for event1 OFF

When programming is finished, press clock button to display current time

When programming is finished, press MODE button to select MODE > you want AUTO for timer programs to operate
Press MODE button once and this is manual override, and lights come on.
Press MODE button again and RDM displays, this is for random timer operation
Press MODE button 3rd time, and timer is set to AUTO
After setting MODE to auto, press clock button to display current time.

Plug timer into receptacle.
Plug lights into timer.

You posted under Intermatic HB88RC timer
If you have different timer, add a comment

HB88RC timer manual:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/hb88rc.pdf

Here's HB88RC programming from the top:
Remove batrery from back of timer to reset timer and clear everything.
Re-install AA battery in timer so display will show, and you can program

Set clock:
Hold down clock button.
Press day button until current day displays.
Press Hour button until current hour displays.
Press min button until current minute shows.
Release clock button

Program timer:
Press PROG button until 1 ON displays
This is Event1 ON
Press Day button until selected day or days displays for event1 ON
If you want all week long, then press day button until all days show: MO TU WE TH FR SA SU
Press Hour button until 7pm shows >> this is event1 ON
Press Min button until :00 displays for event1 ON

Press PROG button until 1 OFF displays
This is Event1 ON
Press Day button until selected day or days displays for event1 OFF
Match days with ON time: so press day button until all days show: MO TU WE TH FR SA SU
Press Hour button until 12pm displays >> this is event1 OFF
Press Min button until :00 displays for event1 OFF

When programming is finished, press clock button to display current time

When programming is finished, press MODE button to select MODE > you want AUTO for timer programs to operate
Press MODE button once and this is manual override, and lights come on.
Press MODE button again and RDM displays, this is for random timer operation
Press MODE button 3rd time, and timer is set to AUTO
After setting MODE to auto, press clock button to display current time.

Plug timer into receptacle.
Plug lights into timer.

Add a comment any time.
A lot of folks have written in about this timer going bad and they have been unable to program the timer. Of course most timers work perfectly fine.

Outdoor timers
http://www.intermatic.com/products/timers/consumer%20outdoor%20timers/digital%20timers.aspx

HB88RC timer
http://www.intermatic.com/products/timers/consumer%20outdoor%20timers/digital%20timers/hb88rc.aspx

HB88RC Manual:
http://www.intermatic.com/~/media/files/intermatic/products/instructions/timers/hb88rc%20-%20english.ashx

Timer takes AA battery installed from back
Instructions say: Set timer to AUTO using MODE button. This will let programs run.
To override current program, press MODE once for ON-or-OFF override.
Press MODE again to enter RDM or random mode. RDM shows on display.
Press MODE third time for AUTO. Usually, AUTO will show on display.

Just program it as noted previously and put the timer in Auto. Set the clock to 1 min BEFORE your earliest timer program is set to come on. When the clock hits the correct time, it will turn on. Then set the clock to the correct time and you're golden.

HB88RC manual online:
http://www.intermatic.com/~/media/files/intermatic/products/instructions/timers/hb88rc%20-%20english.ashx

These timers are frustrating sometimes, fortunately this timer can be unplugged to set programs under good lighting.
When I have problems, I set it down for a while and then go back to it later.
Right now I own 25-30 different Intermatic, Woods, GE, Utilitec timers for testing and programming difficulties. Each one offers different points that are confusing.

Some new timers are simply defective. One guy today had 2 defective Woods timers, which made me suspect electric line needs line analysis. You might try your timer in another plug, for example indoor plug in another part of house to double check line is not interfering with timer electronics.

Reading HB88RC manual, there is not Dusk-dawn option, and programming steps are pretty straightforward compared with other timers.
This leads me to believe there is some small thing missed or line is bad, or timer is defective.
Return it if it's defective.

Here are some trip-up points, and they may not apply to you.

1) Current day has to be set. Hold clock button down while setting current time.

2) When programming, each event requires ON time and OFF time. For example event1 ON has to be set and then event1 OFF has to be set. Then set event2 ON and then event2 OFF.

3) When programming, check screen carefully to make sure 1ON appears, and then 1OFF appears in screen exactly like Fig1 and Fig3 shows.

Now I frequently e-mail Intermatic asking for manual clarification, and they e-mail back ... sometimes their manuals are a little bit off here and there. But this manual looks clean and matches what I see in other timers.

4) Each ON time requires OFF time for same choice of days. For example ON 7pm Tuesday and OFF 9pm All-days-of-week will not work correctly.

5) ON 7pm Tuesday and OFF 7pm Tuesday will not work.

6) Conflicts in programming cause some timers to skip programming: For example event1 says ON
at 7 pm Tuesday and OFF 9pm Tuesday, but event2 says opposite.

7) Since manual override works correctly, we know Load is functioning, and we know plugs on timer are working. Timer load can be lighting or pumps or heaters, but manual does not specifically say florescent. So timer MIGHT not work for compact florescent bulbs. If you have CFL bulb, try another type of Load: for example incandescent table lamp.

And that's everything I know, like Bubba Gump shrimp.

http://www.intermatic.com/products/timers/consumer%20outdoor%20timers/digital%20timers/hb88rc.aspx

HB88RC is 7-day plug-in digital outdoor timer that uses AA battery installed on back of timer to power the display.
People write to fixya frequently report Intermatic timer stops working after replacing battery.

To check if your timer is still functional:
Press and hold clock button.
Press Day button until current day shows in display.
Press Hour until current hour shows in display
Press MIN until current minute show in display
Release clock button.

If current time shows in display, then timer is probably still good.

To set programs:
step 1) Press PROG button until 1 and ON show on display.
This is program1 ON.
Press day button until choice of days shows for program1 ON
Press hour until hour for program1 ON shows
Press MIN until minute for program1 ON shows.

step 2) Press PROG button until 1 and OFF show on display
This is program1 OFF.
Press day button until choice of days shows for program1 OFF
Press hour until hour for program1 OFF shows
Press MIN until minute for program1 OFF shows.

step 3) Press PROG button until 2 and ON show on display
Repeat steps above to set program2 thru program7

step 4) When programs are set, press CLOCK button to return to current time

step 5) add a comment for more help

http://www.intermatic.com/products/timers/consumer%20outdoor%20timers/digital%20timers/hb88rc.aspx

http://www.intermatic.com/~/media/files/intermatic/products/instructions/timers/hb88rc%20-%20english.ashx

Let's do a checklist:
> The battery has to be installed before you program timer, so that is good.
> Press Mode button and it over-rides current program ... so mode button acts as the manual override. Try manual override and see if Load comes on.
> The manual override is the real test. Plug something else into timer and use the manual override to see if timer is able to complete a circuit.
> If manual override works then your programming is suspect. (see more below)
> If manual override does not work then electric circuit is off, or timer is bad.
> After using manual override, press clock to return to current time
> Make sure Mode is not set to random
> The clock must be keeping correct time, or you would have mentioned it
> Check that the electrical plug has power.
> Check that the Load (light, fan) operates fine without the timer.

Programming problems:
> The timer program calls for ON time and OFF time for each program. If the ON time was skipped, then timer will not turn ON.
> If there is a conflict in programming, the timer will not operate as expected. For example program1 says ON at 7 and OFF at 8, but program2 says the opposite.
> Another example is when the AMs and PMs are mixed. For example you want ON at 7am TU and OFF at 7PM TU. But the timer was set for ON at 7am and Off at 7am.
> When programming, write out a schedule so there are no conflicts.
> The ON and OFF functions should follow the same days. For example ON is set for 7am TU but Off is set for ALL week.

Here ya go:
http://www.intermatic.com/~/media/files/intermatic/products/instructions/timers/hb88rc%20-%20english.ashx