Message Center - Service Information: Adjustments Dodge Avenger II facelift

COMPASS VARIANCE ADJUSTMENT

Note. If the vehicle is equipped with a Chrysler Uconnect™ GPS (Navigation Radio), the navigation system will provide the compass direction, so the Variance and Calibration menus will be unavailable. The compass performs accurately based upon GPS signals rather than based upon the Earth's magnetic field.

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Note. If the vehicle is taken on long trips into a new variance zone, the compass accuracy may be affected. Compass variance may need to be manually adjusted to the proper variance zone setting to restore accurate compass indications.

Note. The factory default for the compass variance zone setting is zone 8.

Compass variance, also known as magnetic declination, is the difference in angle between magnetic north and geographic north. In some geographic locations, the difference between magnetic and geographic north is great enough to cause the compass to give inaccurate readings. To optimize compass accuracy, the compass variance should be properly set according to the compass variance map zone for the region where the vehicle is being operated.

If the Remote Compass Module (RCM) is being replaced with a new unit, if compass readings appear to be inaccurate or if a manual compass calibration is being performed, check and adjust the variance zone setting using the appropriate procedure.

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In vehicles not equipped with the optional Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC), there are two methods for checking and adjusting the variance zone setting. The variance zone can be displayed by depressing the odometer/trip odometer push button (21) located on the instrument cluster face just below and to the right of the odometer; or, by using the RESET push button (3) in the EVIC switch pod (also known as the odometer switch pod) located in the left horizontal spoke of the steering wheel. Once the current zone is displayed, it can be adjusted using either the odometer/trip odometer push button on the instrument cluster, or by using the STEP push button (4) in the EVIC switch pod.

To view or adjust the compass variance zone setting

1. Using the Variance Settings Map, find your geographic location and note the zone number.
2. Start the engine but leave the manual transmission in the Neutral ( N ) position or the automatic transmission in the Park ( P ) position.
3. Depress and hold the odometer/trip odometer push button or the RESET push button for approximately 10 seconds, until the current variance ( VAR ) zone number is displayed. Then release the push button. NOTE: The default variance zone number setting is 8. During programming, the variance zone number will wrap around, from zone 15 back to zone 1.
4. To change the zone, press and release the odometer/trip odometer push button or the STEP push button to increase the variance zone number upward incrementally. Repeat pressing and releasing the appropriate push button as necessary, until the desired variance zone number is reached.
5. After about 10 seconds, the new variance zone number is stored in memory and the compass will resume normal operation.
6. Confirm that the correct directions are now indicated by the compass.

MANUAL COMPASS CALIBRATION

Note. Manual calibration is required anytime a new Remote Compass Module (RCM) is installed. Upon installation of the new RCM, the CAL (calibrate) message will appear in the instrument cluster display. The RCM will automatically calibrate if the vehicle is driven very slowly in two or more complete circles, away from large metal objects. The RCM can also be manually calibrated by performing the following procedure.

Note. Confirmation that the proper variance zone is programmed is recommended whenever manual compass calibration is performed. Refer to MODULE, COMPASS, STANDARD PROCEDURE .

Note. If the vehicle is equipped with a Chrysler Uconnect™ GPS (Navigation Radio), the navigation system will provide the compass direction, so the Variance and Calibration menus will be unavailable. The compass performs accurately based upon GPS signals rather than based upon the Earth's magnetic field.

The electronic compass unit features a self-calibrating design, which simplifies the calibration procedure. This feature automatically updates the compass calibration while the vehicle is being driven. This allows the compass unit to compensate for small changes in the residual magnetism that the vehicle may acquire during normal use. If the compass readings appear to be erratic or the CAL (calibrate) indicator is displayed, perform the appropriate manual calibration procedure. Also, any time a new RCM is installed, it must be manually calibrated using the appropriate procedure.