Gentex 221 Mirror With Compass
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Gentex 221 Mirror With Compass
Bought a real nice one off of EBAY. Has the map lights, auto-dim and compass only. No temp display, no homelink, etc.
JUST what I wanted, a compass only.
Took the one off of my 01 coupe and installed the Gentex, using the 7 pin connector.
The interior map lights go on when you open the doors, go off when you close them, etc.
BUT, the compass won't move off of the SE compass point.
I did an Internet search, and learned that sometimes it can take an hour or more, driving in circles to "set" the compass.
Well, I popped the mirror on this AM, drove around the block a few times, etc. and it never moved off of SE. Occasionally, when I have it in my hand, the compass will change to S, or occasionally N.
Some have told me that this is "normal", and to be patient with it.
I've turned the auto dim off/on several times, etc.
The mirror is not permanently "snapped" on the WS retainer yet, so I can still "mess" with it if needed.
Anyone have any suggestions? I assume that the compass is mechanical. There is obviously electrical power to the display. Am I missing something here?
TIA
Chuck
JUST what I wanted, a compass only.
Took the one off of my 01 coupe and installed the Gentex, using the 7 pin connector.
The interior map lights go on when you open the doors, go off when you close them, etc.
BUT, the compass won't move off of the SE compass point.
I did an Internet search, and learned that sometimes it can take an hour or more, driving in circles to "set" the compass.
Well, I popped the mirror on this AM, drove around the block a few times, etc. and it never moved off of SE. Occasionally, when I have it in my hand, the compass will change to S, or occasionally N.
Some have told me that this is "normal", and to be patient with it.
I've turned the auto dim off/on several times, etc.
The mirror is not permanently "snapped" on the WS retainer yet, so I can still "mess" with it if needed.
Anyone have any suggestions? I assume that the compass is mechanical. There is obviously electrical power to the display. Am I missing something here?
TIA
Chuck
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
I solved my problem, and thought I'd post the solution here for others to use.
My mirror came from a 2001 Lincoln Continental. I went online and found the 2001 Lincoln owners manual. There were 4 pages on "mirror calibration.
(yes, 4 pages)
1. You depress and hold BOTH maplight buttons for 6-8 seconds. A number appears in the compass window. That number is the Zone that the mirror is calibrated for. Mine was set for Zone 8, which is the factory default setting. Zone 8 is the proper Zone for me here in Florida.
If you want to change the Zone, press the right maplight button to go up, the left button to go down. I believe that there are approximately 14 zones across the USA.
2. Continue to hold BOTH buttons till the number disappears and a "C" appears. That "C" is CALIBRATE.
I drove slowly around in a tight circle. Two "laps" did the trick. The "C" disappeared, and a compass point appeared. The mirror is now performing flawlessly, "as advertised"
Thought I'd post this "for the record" in case someone else has run into this issue.
Chuck
My mirror came from a 2001 Lincoln Continental. I went online and found the 2001 Lincoln owners manual. There were 4 pages on "mirror calibration.
(yes, 4 pages)1. You depress and hold BOTH maplight buttons for 6-8 seconds. A number appears in the compass window. That number is the Zone that the mirror is calibrated for. Mine was set for Zone 8, which is the factory default setting. Zone 8 is the proper Zone for me here in Florida.
If you want to change the Zone, press the right maplight button to go up, the left button to go down. I believe that there are approximately 14 zones across the USA.
2. Continue to hold BOTH buttons till the number disappears and a "C" appears. That "C" is CALIBRATE.
I drove slowly around in a tight circle. Two "laps" did the trick. The "C" disappeared, and a compass point appeared.
The mirror is now performing flawlessly, "as advertised"Thought I'd post this "for the record" in case someone else has run into this issue.
Chuck
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
They're sorta hard to find. That being said, Gentex mirrors were used on GM, Ford, Chrysler, and many foreign cars.
You want one without the Homelink, Air bag sensors, etc.
You want a "Plain Jane" Gentex 221 with maplights, auto-dimming, and compass. Mine also has the temperature feature, but it does not work as I didn't change any wiring and/or add the temp probe. When I start the car, 0*F/0*C comes on in the compass display window for a second or two, then it reverts to compass only.
The Corvette has the temp display on the center console anyway.
I paid $42.00 which included shipping from a company on EBAY called LKQ. LKQ is a huge national auto recycling business. The mirror came with an inventory tag stating "2001 Lincoln Continental", so I knew the source. The programming on others MIGHT BE different.
Make sure you get one with the 7 pin connector like the Corvette.
Chuck
You want one without the Homelink, Air bag sensors, etc.
You want a "Plain Jane" Gentex 221 with maplights, auto-dimming, and compass. Mine also has the temperature feature, but it does not work as I didn't change any wiring and/or add the temp probe. When I start the car, 0*F/0*C comes on in the compass display window for a second or two, then it reverts to compass only.
The Corvette has the temp display on the center console anyway.
I paid $42.00 which included shipping from a company on EBAY called LKQ. LKQ is a huge national auto recycling business. The mirror came with an inventory tag stating "2001 Lincoln Continental", so I knew the source. The programming on others MIGHT BE different.
Make sure you get one with the 7 pin connector like the Corvette.
Chuck
