GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Compass Calibration

The compass is self calibrating but under certain circumstances the compass may have to be calibrated especially if the vehicle is driven over long distances. If the compass heading is blank or the driver information center (DIC) shows CAL, the compass must be re-calibrated.

Depress the Menu button to get to the COMPASS ZONE item. Depress the Set/Reset button to scroll through the available compass zones. Depress the Menu button to get to the COMPASS CALIBRATION item. To calibrate the compass, depress the Set/Reset button until the CALIBRATION BEGUN DRIVE UNTIL DONE message appears DIC. Drive the vehicle through two circles less than 5 mph in a magnetically clean area. The calibration will be complete when the CALIBRATION FINISHED message is displayed in the DIC.

Compass Magnetic Variation Adjustment


Object Number: 300398  Size: SH

Compass variation is the difference between magnetic north and geographic north. In some areas of the country the difference is great enough to cause the compass to give a false reading. If this occurs, the compass variance must be set. View the variance zone map to determine the correct zone. The zones are numbered 1 through 15. While the DIC is in the COMPASS ZONE item, the DIC will display the current compass zone. Depressing the Set/Reset button will scroll through the available compass zones. Depressing the Set/Reset button for a few seconds will select the displayed compass zone.

You cannot reset the Compass/Temperature mode. This mode is retained during ignition OFF.