Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Compass Calibration
The compass module has 2 types of autocalibration; slow-cal and fast-cal. Slow-cal ensures that during normal vehicle operation the compass performs auto-calibration functions to keep the compass sensors in their proper operating range. Whenever the ignition is On and the CMTC receives PCI bus data indicating that engine RPM is greater than zero, auto-calibration is performed continuously.
If the calibration information stored in the compass module memory is not within the normal range after a power-up cycle, the compass will display CAL. The CMTC with enter into the fast-cal mode until calibration is complete.
To enter the compass into Manual Calibration mode, perform the following steps:
- Drive the vehicle to an area away from any large metal objects or overhead power lines.
- Ensure that the proper variance zone is selected. See "SETTING MAGNETIC ZONE VARIANCE ."
- The ignition switch must be in the On position and the CMTC display must not be blank.
- Press the STEP button and scroll to the Compass/Temperature display.
- Press and hold the STEP and US/M buttons simultaneously until CAL begins flashing and then release the buttons.
- CAL is displayed without flashing.
- Drive slowly, less than 4 MPH (8 KPH) in 3 complete 360 degree circles.
- CAL will remain illuminated to alert the driver that the compass is in the calibration mode.
- After calibration is complete, CAL will turn off.
If the compass appears unable to be calibrated or the compass displays false indications, the vehicle may need to be demagnetized.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.