Chevy compass won't calibrate

RayP(MI) · Oct 17, 2018

Recently had to replace grandma's
grandkid hauler. Got her a '14 Tahoe.
Has more bells and whistles than I can
account for. The electronic compass is
off by 45 degrees. SE when car is
pointed due east for instance. I have
tried to recalibrate several times
according to the manual, with no
success. Driving in circles in
calibrate, when in the calibrate mode,
etc. They have the continent divided
into zones according to magnetic offset.
We are in zone 9, and I have tried that
along with several adjacent zones with
no success. Am I missing something here?
We are 6 degrees off true north here.
Any tips?

johndeere720GA · Oct 17, 2018

I have read that you should avoid trying to calibrate near large metal objects or under power lines.

RayP(MI) · Oct 17, 2018

Middle of empty hayfield.

johndeere720GA · Oct 17, 2018

well i am out of ideas.
unless you are sitting on a pile of iron ore?

ke8wo · Oct 17, 2018

I had a similar problem more than a year ago on my 2015 Chevy Equinox. Same symptom .. display said could not calibrate the compass. Dealer tried lots of things and ended up replacing cell phone / gps module. Works great since.

gary

Dave BN · Oct 17, 2018

Wifes Buick Lucerne has similar problem. Sometimes the compass is accurate sometimes off by 30 to 45 degrees. I have reset it, changed compass zones, disconnected the battery- No help. Hate to spend money at the dealer for such a minor problem.

Dave

Jdr315 · Oct 17, 2018

Make sure you compass module isn't loose. We had a service bulletin at one time on a different manufacturer where they were Installed the wrong direction. If they aren't pointed in the right direction they will be off.

Hanky · Oct 17, 2018

Glad to see I'm not the only one with this problem, have a new work jobbing van, same problem, never knew their was a compass, and when I found it, it's off by 180 degrees, nothing I have tried has made it better.

Funny, my personal car, (Ford) has never had a problem with the compass.

Good luck.

Bob · Oct 17, 2018

INTERESTING!

I've probably had a half-dozen or more GM vehicles that had a "compass" in the rear view mirror and I've never paid attention to their accuracy, or relied on them.

JUST curious of why that function is so important to you?

I didn't realize that in this era of onboard navigation systems or "stick to the windshield" Garmins or the nav options on smart phones that anyone still looked at a "compass"???

WOW, once again I've learned something here!

jimg.allentown · Oct 18, 2018

I saw this problem come up when I worked in a Lincoln dealership. Ford even issued a TSB on it.
The problem in this case was some residual magnetism in the roof of the vehicle. The solution was to degauss the roof. This was done using a degaussing coil like the one that was used on the older color television sets. Maybe this would work. Maybe not. Just my added little bit.

RayP(MI) · Oct 18, 2018

Yeah, I have a TomTom, but after some
missteps, I have learned not to trust
it completely. Still like to second
guess the navigation. My mental compass
is pretty good, but would like to have a
confirmation from time to time.

RayP(MI) · Oct 18, 2018

Not that lucky, sand gravel and rocks all the way down!

Hobo,NC · Oct 31, 2018

I ran across this today.

https://www.autoserviceprofessional...727301J0M&ajs_trait_oebid=3671F9146356B0M

Chevy compass won't calibrate

RayP(MI)

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johndeere720GA

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RayP(MI)

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johndeere720GA

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ke8wo

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Dave BN

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Jdr315

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Hanky

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Bob

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jimg.allentown

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RayP(MI)

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RayP(MI)

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Hobo,NC

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