Hello everyone! I am a recent GTO->G8 GT convert and am very pleased with the car. Aside from the nagging issues that are well known (i.e. the Atari gauges), I am having some technical difficulty with my mirror's compass. Now I have taken the car into the dealer and had them "attempt" to calibrate the compass and fail. They have since replaced the mirror only to have the exact same problem. They are stumped and so am I. The mirror always says I am going South regardless of direction. The dealer says I should wait and see if there is some new software for it in the future, but I seriously can't believe that this is a common problem. After all, I have searched the boards and see no mention. Does anyone have any ideas? Could I be calibrating it wrong? I did recently have the windows tinted with a metallic tint, but everyone so far has said that should be a non issue. Suggestions?

Thanks in advance....

What do you want us to suggest to you? You haven't said a word about how you are calibrating.
Did you at least get to the magnetic zone settings on your mirror? Did you find an empty parking and drive around in circles when it told you to?

Also, there are no programming updates that can be done to the mirror. It doesn't have 2 way communication data ports.

Did it work before you tinted the windows?

Sorry for not providing further detail. Yes, we have performed the calibration procedure according to the manual (i.e. driving in circles, etc.). Yes, we have set the magnetic zone.

As for whether it was working before we tinted the windows, well, that is a little tougher to answer. We got the windows tinted the day we bought the car and it was such a hectic day that I never really paid any attention to the compass. Both the dealer and the window tinter says they have never heard of tint affecting a compass.

At this point I do have to wonder. Seeing as we have replaced the mirror and it still does not work, it would seem that either the calibration method we are following is incorrect or the tint is somehow affecting things.

For the record, I agree that the dealer is full of s$#% about a software upgrade. The service manager keeps telling me that this is a common problem and that is often the solution, but I have yet to talk to someone with this problem.

I guess I am mostly wondering if anyone else has experienced this? What is the method of calibration that everyone is using?

Not to be a smart a**, but what the hell does window tinting have to do with compass calibration? I fail to see how there could be any connection between the two.

As for mine, it works fine. Followed the instructions in the manual for setting my zone, and that was it.

mac

Is the compass 12v? Wondering if its possible to put power to it outside the car? That would eliminate the "metallic" tint as a possible (seems unlikely though) cause.

Not to be a smart a**, but what the hell does window tinting have to do with compass calibration? I fail to see how there could be any connection between the two.

As for mine, it works fine. Followed the instructions in the manual for setting my zone, and that was it.

mac

They used metallic tint. It'd been known to ruin radio reception. Since out Ant. is above there's no issue with it.

not meaning to state the obvious, but have you tried to calibrate the compass with all the windows rolled down to see if it's possibly a tint issue. I have 15% and 5% on my windows with no issues, but I can't say it's metallic tint.

Changing out the mirror should have no effect since the compass is probably not in the mirror, just the readout. Every driver angles mirror differently. This would be like swapping out the dashboard becasue a wheel sensor doesn't go out. (so maybe I'm wrong)

There could be a loose connection somewhere wit hteh possibility that S is default display and being disconnected calibration is having no effect. I've never had a compass fail in any vehicle that has had them so I don't put stock in the dealer saying it is all too common.

Thank you for the suggestions.

The dealer told me that the compass is completely internal to the mirror, but I have my suspicions. After I bought the car, I found the On-Star box in the trunk swinging around. It had apparently come out of its holster. Now, I brought this up to the dealer and they said that shouldn't be a problem. The On-Star is operating without fault. As for rolling down the windows to calibrate... yeah, I tried that too, but still nada. I am seriously at a loss. This is the first vehicle I have bought with a compass in the mirror and I can't believe this is happening. I am just glad it isn't a critical function of the car, just more of an annoyance.

Changing out the mirror should have no effect since the compass is probably not in the mirror, just the readout. (so maybe I'm wrong)

There could be a loose connection somewhere with the possibility that S is default display and being disconnected calibration is having no effect.

From the G8 Service Manual:

The inside rearview mirror (ISRVM) uses 2 magnetic field sensors for compass direction. One sensor is for north and south, the other sensor is for east and west. The ISRVM supplies a signal and low reference to each sensor. As the vehicle travels with or against the earths magnetic pull, there will be a change in voltage on one or both sensors. As a result of the change in voltage, the ISRVM changes the heading on the compass display. The internal fault detection for the compass is handled by the ISRVM.

It would appear that none of the wires going into the ISRVM are just Compass specific, so if other functions are working, so should the Compass.


Pin....Wire Color.......Circuit No........Function

1-2.........--.................--.............Not Used

3.......0.3 BK/BN...........723............I/P Module Disable Switch - Signal

4.......0.3 BK/PK............353...........I/P Module Suppression Indicator Control

5-7.........--...................--............Not Used

8.........0.3 BK..............1450...........Ground

9........0.5 L-GN...............24...........Backup Lamp Supply Voltage

10...........--....................--...........Not Used

11....0.3 D-GN/WH...........2514.........Keypad Signal

12....0.3 L-GN/BK.............2515.........Keypad Supply Voltage

13.....0.5 PK/BU...............1339.........Ignition 1 Voltage

14.....0.3 YE/BK...............2516.........Keypad Green LED Signal

15.....0.3 BN/WH..............2517.........Keypad Red LED Signal

16..........--......................--............Not Used



As weird as it sounds, trying the ISRVM outside the car would be interesting. Although hard to wire up.

A better check might be to try it (or the first one) in another G8, if the dealership has one.

From the G8 Service Manual:


It would appear that none of the wires going into the ISRVM are just Compass specific, so if other functions are working, so should the Compass.

As weird as it sounds, trying the ISRVM outside the car would be interesting. Although hard to wire up.

A better check might be to try it (or the first one) in another G8, if the dealership has one.

I would certainly like to try the mirror in another G8, but I bought the only one my dealer had. They have three more coming, but they don't know when. When I get back to the US, I might give them a call and try that suggestion. It would be very interesting to see the results. As I said in my previous post, it is more of an annoyance than anything...

Maybe you yourself are magnetic sir.

Have you been involved in any radioactive mishaps or perhaps an exposure to high voltage and acid?

I just got my '09 GT yesterday. The compass gets readings, but they are not correct. Once in while it appears to be correct, but that could be coincidence. Tonight, I was clearly traveling south on a north/south highway and it was telling me I was going W/NW. I've set the correct region (6 for Texas) earlier today, but it's still wrong. I do not have tinted windows (yet). Any ideas? I haven't talked to my dealer yet since it's Sunday, but I will have them look at it when I have it in for detailing on Thursday.

I just got my '09 GT yesterday. The compass gets readings, but they are not correct. Once in while it appears to be correct, but that could be coincidence. Tonight, I was clearly traveling south on a north/south highway and it was telling me I was going W/NW. I've set the correct region (6 for Texas) earlier today, but it's still wrong. I do not have tinted windows (yet). Any ideas? I haven't talked to my dealer yet since it's Sunday, but I will have them look at it when I have it in for detailing on Thursday.
if you set the zone, you most likely need to just calibrate it.
set it to calibrate and drive in circles when it tells you to.

or

ask the dealer ;)

Thanks, I'll try the calibration mode. I read through the manual, but missed the paragraph on that. If that won't work, I'll ask the dealer. Thanks.

The calibration fixed the wonky directions I was getting from the compass. I'm glad there were no cops around when I was driving in circles in the high school parking lot down the street at midnight. :)

Oh they were there, the video is on you tube as we speak. Woohahaha.:secret:

Damn, it's back to giving me the wrong directions. I guess it's service time. Sad to need service on a brand new car. :(

I am also experiencing the same issues. I set the correct zone, put it in calibration mode, and drove around in circles in a parking lot below 5mph. about 7 circles one way and it still didnt work. Drove around the other way 4x. Still didnt work.

I gave up because it is late, and dont want to get f'ed with by the po po at 1230am.

Well, tried the calibration to the tee like the manual says.:judge: Even had the old lady in the right seat.

Results?:bs:

Anyone else got suggestions?

I just had my car in for its first service, so I mentioned the compass issue, how I'd set the region and calibrated it twice. They didn't say much, but they did replace my rearview mirror under warranty and so far so good. If that changes, I'll post here.

Okay, reviving an old thread to see if there is any new news.

Mine reads NW most of the time, but some days it's absolutely correct. Started happening after the National G8 Meet last year. I'm wayyyyyy out of the B2B warranty, so any fix would be my time or dollar. I prefer time.

I wonder if it's just a bad connection between the magnets and the processor? I thought it might have something to do with the radiant barrier in the roof of my house blocking a signal, but one of the previous posts seems to negate that.

If I find something I'll be sure to post up.