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2006 Volkswagen Passat Compass Malfunction

Tiny
CMM933
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 70,000 MILES
My MFD will not display the compass direction.
My thought was to reset or recalabrate the compass.
I cannot find the Compass selection anywhere under the set up menu.
I tried driving in circles thinking it might reset itself automatically, no luck.
What's going on? What should I check?
Vehicle does not have the Navigation system option.
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Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 AT 10:09 AM

14 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi cmm933,

Thank you for the donation.

Try the following and see if you are able to activate the compass.

COMPASS MODULE, ACTIVATING
To activate compass module, rear window heater must be adapted as follows:

"Â Activation must be performed with vehicle standing still.

à † Switch ignition on.
à † Wait 10 seconds
à † Switch on rear window defroster.
à † Wait 10 seconds
à † Switch rear window heater off.
à † Switch off ignition
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Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 AT 12:12 PM
Tiny
CMM933
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I performed the compass activation as outlined but no change. I still see MFD in place of the compass direction (N, S, E, W) within the display and no listing for compass under the setup menu.
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Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 AT 3:29 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Did you install any magnetically adhered antena or accessories to vehicle?

Was any thing done prior to this occurring?
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Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 AT 6:46 PM
Tiny
CMM933
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Yes, I did start using a cell phone powered GPS program and this is about the time the compass in my '06 Passat went away.

If this is the reason for the compass failure, how do I get the compass back?

Thanks!
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 AT 7:39 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
The compass would be affected by magnetic fields so you have to check where these magnetic fields are being generated from those accessories installed and relocate or remove them.

There is no other alternative.
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 AT 7:58 AM
Tiny
CMM933
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  • 8 POSTS
Yes, I have stopped using the GPS unit yet it has not brought the compass module back. There are no other items that would create a conflicting magnetic field.

I think I am going to locate the compass module and attempt to unplug it then plug it make in.

Any other suggestions?
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 AT 8:06 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Has the GPS unit been removed from vehicle?

Did you reactivate the compass after disconnecting the GPS?
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 AT 9:03 AM
Tiny
CMM933
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  • 8 POSTS
Yes, without any change.
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 AT 12:34 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Apart on the activation procedures and the following schematic, our database does not have any information on the diagnosis of the fault.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/192750_CompassCircuit06PassatGif61_1.jpg



Compass system is linked to computer datalines so appropriate scan tools might show you something.

Check the fuse if you had not done so yet.
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Thursday, November 4th, 2010 AT 7:00 AM
Tiny
CMM933
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  • 8 POSTS
Thanks, yes it might be one of those things the dealer might have to handle.
Regarding the fuse. This as well came to mind and when I went looking for the compass fuse as indicated in the owners manual, there was not a fuse in that slot (right dash board #3)
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Thursday, November 4th, 2010 AT 8:07 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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  • 41,815 POSTS
It could be slot # 1 or # 3 depending on the production. Could the fuse have been removed without your knowledge?
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Thursday, November 4th, 2010 AT 8:12 AM
Tiny
CMM933
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  • 8 POSTS
I believe there is a fuse in slot #1 so I will go back and look and remove and replace and see if this will correct it. No way a fuse was removed.

My fear is if the compass module is bad this is a $300.00+ part.
One of my other thoughts was to unplug then plug in the module.
I did locate the satalite radio box in the trunck but not a seperate compass module.
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Thursday, November 4th, 2010 AT 9:18 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Guess checking the fuse and resetting the compass module by disconnecting the power supply is the only thing you can do for now. If it fails, then you would have to visit the dealer to get it checked.
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Thursday, November 4th, 2010 AT 9:23 AM
Tiny
COKICA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Dears all,
I have problem with compass on Passat 2.0 from 2007y. With MFD2 navi.
Everything works normally until I replaced the battery. Since then, all at zero as seen in Fig. What do I do?
Kind regards and thank you in advance!
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Friday, November 8th, 2013 AT 1:24 AM

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