I retract the "since then no more trouble" part of my previous post. Yes, I do understand that this compass thing is just a toy but don't put it in my R520K vehicle if it's not going to work. Rather leave a space in the dashboard than put in a stupid toy that keeps failing. After calibration that takes a good 8 complete circles, the compass works okay for a few days and then its back to always going SW. I don't care if its not supposed to be a "real" navigation aid, if you put it in my vehicle, I expect it to work, even if its not accurate - it just makes me mad to see it always going SW. Damn, I miss my Gen 3 !Dean Stephens wrote:Not sure if it's the same for the Gen 3 but on my vehicle I had to recalibrate after disconnecting the battery for some electrical work. Select the appropriate Compass Calibration mode and then drive around in small but slow circles. For the record, I went clockwise (for no reason in particular) and it took about 8 complete, very slow circles before the message Compass Calibration Complete was displayed - since then no more trouble.
Hi Dean,Dean Stephens wrote: I retract the "since then no more trouble" part of my previous post.
I was thinking about your problem.
AFAIK the magnetic sensor that reads the earth's magnetic field is mounted on top of the RV meter display unit (the unit that displays clock, radio, compass, etc.).
Is there any chance that something is distorting the magnetic field in that area of your paj? (Any aftermarket DVD player, cell phone mounting, CB radio, GPS unit, Tracker unit ...). Or even any aftermarket cables run in that area drawing significant power (charger or control solenoid for second battery, solar charger, power for camping kettle ...)
Hi Andrew.
Thanks for taking the time to ponder my problem and for your valued reply.
The Pajero is only a few weeks old and I have not as yet had the chance to change or add anything - the vehicle is as it was when it left the dealership. (Well it does have a winch, but the dealer facilitated fitting, and to date I have not even tried to see if it works - winch control solenoids are behind the front bumper - far away from the compass)
Very strange thing happened last night though. Having posted my feelings about the compass and having decided I am through with worrying about or ever recalibrating it, it simply started working all of its own accord, on the way home. Strange thing this new Gen 4
Thanks again for your input.
Thanks for taking the time to ponder my problem and for your valued reply.
The Pajero is only a few weeks old and I have not as yet had the chance to change or add anything - the vehicle is as it was when it left the dealership. (Well it does have a winch, but the dealer facilitated fitting, and to date I have not even tried to see if it works - winch control solenoids are behind the front bumper - far away from the compass)
Very strange thing happened last night though. Having posted my feelings about the compass and having decided I am through with worrying about or ever recalibrating it, it simply started working all of its own accord, on the way home. Strange thing this new Gen 4
Thanks again for your input.
And then at lunchtime today for no obvious reason we are going fulltime SW again.
Hi Dean,Dean Stephens wrote:And then at lunchtime today for no obvious reason we are going fulltime SW again.
Sorry to hear this.
I am guessing that the compass on your paj is very similar to the Gen3.
If you download the Workshop manuals from the Resources section of this web site and then look in Section 54A.pdf you will find the instructions for the RV Meter diagnostics (In case you don't know, RV Meter is the term Mitsu use for the display unit that displays the clock, aircon, compass etc.) - page 54A-6 onwards.
P54A-12 covers the geomagnetic sensor mode check. It may reveal something?
I can not help with calibration but I wish someone can tell is the finer details how the Paj calibrates the compass
Someone said it is very inaccurate I can only think it is true
I drive aircraft for a hobby
Now in an aircraft the compass is calibrated with the use of a external handheld Compass To calibrate the aircraft has little magnets inside that gets adjusted to compensate for the magnetism generated by the airframe and engine (full details available in the pilot syllabus available from SACAA)
Back to the Paj Driving in circles certainly will not compensate for the inherent magnetism of the vehicle Hence the statement of inaccurate compasses
If you really want an accurate compass go to the aircraft second hand shops Buy one and get an avionics engineer to calibrate it
The compass heading in the GPS units are far more accurate as they have the deviation in the memory and calculate the North position according to that (if you ask for magnetic north)
The compass in a vehicle is just another gimmick to sell it
The same can be said of altimeters If you can not calibrate it with the correct barometric pressure or the known spot altitude is only an indication In that case use the GPS it is accurate
Someone said it is very inaccurate I can only think it is true
I drive aircraft for a hobby
Now in an aircraft the compass is calibrated with the use of a external handheld Compass To calibrate the aircraft has little magnets inside that gets adjusted to compensate for the magnetism generated by the airframe and engine (full details available in the pilot syllabus available from SACAA)
Back to the Paj Driving in circles certainly will not compensate for the inherent magnetism of the vehicle Hence the statement of inaccurate compasses
If you really want an accurate compass go to the aircraft second hand shops Buy one and get an avionics engineer to calibrate it
The compass heading in the GPS units are far more accurate as they have the deviation in the memory and calculate the North position according to that (if you ask for magnetic north)
The compass in a vehicle is just another gimmick to sell it
The same can be said of altimeters If you can not calibrate it with the correct barometric pressure or the known spot altitude is only an indication In that case use the GPS it is accurate
Hey Andrew,
No lucky - now the Stealers can fix it at the first service.
Bet after they fiddle it comes home with the dashboard rattling!
No lucky - now the Stealers can fix it at the first service.
Bet after they fiddle it comes home with the dashboard rattling!
I think you will see that the general feeling of all the posts in this thread is that we agree that it is a gimmick.ouooeenoog wrote: The compass in a vehicle is just another gimmick...
For me, I don't care how inaccurate it is cause nobody with a sound mind would actually navigate with it, but they sold it to me in a new vehicle so they will make it work. Seeing it pointing SW all the time drives me nuts.
Please let us know what they find.Dean Stephens wrote:Hey Andrew,
No lucky - now the Stealers can fix it at the first service.
Bet after they fiddle it comes home with the dashboard rattling!
Maybe take the service advisor over some rough road before they muck it up and point out that you will do the same after and it had better not rattle or else you won't accept it.
Well the Pajero has had it's first service and the dealership cannot sort out the compass either. They tell me that the calibration is being affected by the Tracker unit, only small problem with that theory is that there is no Tracker unit fitted. Now they will ask the factory for help to resolve my issue.