Compass Variance Adjustment
COMPASS VARIANCE ADJUSTMENT
CAUTION: Do not place any external magnets, such as magnetic roof mount antennas, in the vicinity of the Remote Compass Module (RCM) located at the top center of the instrument panel. Do not place any electronic devices (cell phones, laptop computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), portable DVD players, etc.) on or near the instrument panel as the RCM performance may be affected. Do not use magnetic tools when servicing the RCM.
NOTE: If the vehicle is equipped with a Chrysler U connect(TM) 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.
Figure 1 - Variance Settings Map
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.
EXCEPT WITH ELECTRONIC VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER
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.
WITH ELECTRONIC VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER
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 MENU push button (6), until the Personal Settings (Customer Programmable Features) menu appears in the display.
4. Depress and release the Step / Down Scroll push button (4), until Compass Variance along with the current variance (VAR) zone number appears in the display.
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.
5. Depress and release the Select / Reset push button (3) to increase the variance zone number upward incrementally. Repeat pressing and releasing the push button as necessary, until the desired variance zone number is reached.
6. After about 10 seconds, the new variance zone number is stored in memory and the compass will resume normal operation.
7. Confirm that the correct directions are now indicated by the compass.