Just drove home my new C6.

The compass is showing W when it should be showing E. I've done the zone change via the on/off button. I've tried holding the left map light too but that doesn't switch me into selecting a zone. Not sure why it's reversed. N and S are correct. Anyone ever have this issue? TIA.

~Paul

 

Don't laugh but try driving the car is 3 tight circles and see if it calibrates itself

 

Your owner's manual describes how to calibrate your compass.

 

Yeah, I had read that in the manual. Tried it after reading what you said. Seemed to work, but then went out to dinner. When I drove home, it was back to being wrong. Don't tell me I need to do this everytime I want to go somewhere?! Will try it again tomorrow.. Maybe try 5 times around this time. Seems wierd though. Will let you know.

~Paul

 

Did the act of holding the on/off button for the auto-dimming mirrors ever produce a zone number on the display? Read page 2-35 in your owner's manual, but substitute the words "on/off button" for the words "left map light button."

 

As mentioned in the original post, the zone change came up with the on/off button, but did not with the left map light button. Not sure why. Does the car need to be off, or in accessory mode for the left map light button to work? I tried holding it in for what seemed to be over a minute from both the light being on 1st and off 1st.

~Paul

 

The left map light button has absolutely nothing to do with the compass variance and I don't think it has anything to do with compass calibration..

Compass Calibration

If after two seconds the display does not show a
compass heading, there may be a strong magnetic field
interfering with the compass. Such interference may
be caused by a magnetic antenna mount, note
pad holder or similar object. If the letter C appears in
the compass window, the compass needs calibration.
The mirror compass can be calibrated by driving
the vehicle in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the
display reads a direction.
The compass can be placed in calibration mode by
pressing and holding the left map light button until a C
appears on the compass display.

Compass Variance

Compass variance is the difference between earth’s
magnetic north and true geographic north. If the mirror
is not adjusted for compass variance, your compass
could give false readings.
The mirror is set in zone eight upon leaving the factory.
It will be necessary to adjust the compass to
compensate for compass variance if you live outside
zone eight. Under certain circumstances, such as a long
distance, cross-country trip, it will be necessary to
adjust the compass variance.
To adjust for compass variance, do the following:
1. Find your current location and variance zone
number on the zone map that follows.
2. Press and hold the left map light button until a zone
number appears on the display.
3. Once the zone number appears on the display,
press the on/off button quickly until you reach
the correct zone number. Stop pressing the button
and the mirror will return to normal operation.
If C appears in the compass window, the compass
may need calibration. See “Compass Calibration”
listed previously.

I know the words "left map light button" should be replaced with "on/off button for auto dimming" under the heading "Compass Variance", but I think that may also be the case under the heading "Compass Calibration." Try it and see. Good luck.

Try while in accessory mode. If nothing, try it with the engine running.

 

..and it turns out the owner's manual is Wrong!

After trying the left map light to get the compass to go into Calibration Mode over and over (car off, car on, accessory mode only, map light starting off, map light starting on and combinations of all the above), I tried the on/off mirror button again that I knew would get me into the variance mode. Voila! After holding it down even longer, I got a verticle CAL to the left of compass readout. Once in that setting, I drove around in tight circles about 3 times and the CAL went away. Did a test drive around the neighborhood and all is well. Whew!

~Paul

 

Glad you got it fixed. The book actually has it right 2 pages later. On pages 2-36 and 2-37, they use the term "on/off" button, which they had described earlier, but it's still not clear that it's the auto-dimming on/off button, not the map light on/off button.

Yes, the book does have a few errors.