Overhead compass reset

[chucks97expy]

Still new to this site but it has helped me out greatly! hope this can help someone else out. I've owned my 97Eb for a year now and have replaced many things it needed and have now moved on to the little things that need attention. My overhead compass always read W. I tried resetting it and have read many forums, no good. I even replaced the overhead computer(with a used one) thinking that was the cause. Still nothing. Not until I noticed a little black plastic box sticking out from the window side of my rear view mirror. It has wires that lead into the roof and a little hole that a paper clip can fit into. Could this be it? no way right? Guess what? It sure was. Slide a paper clip into this little hole and hold for a few seconds and you will see the letters CAL light up under the direction letter. Drive around in circles slowly 3mph until it calibrates and the letters CAL will go off and your done!

 

[GAINMOB]

are u positive u have this option...I don't on mine

 

[bedrck46]

On On ON

 

[braddaddy]

has anyone had their temp/compass go out? Mine is out...no display. Looking in junkyard for replacement...no luck yet.

 

[bedrck46]

check fuse #2 and #6 and #23 in the central Junction Box (under dash fuse panel) if they are good then most likely the compass sensor needs replaced or the display in the overhead console

 

[chucks97expy]

are u positive u have this option...I don't on mine

yeah on my 97 expy eddie B I have a small black plastic thing sticking out of the back of the rear view mirror. It has a small hole under it and thats how i reset my compass

 

[chucks97expy]

I dont have an owners manual as my truck was bought used and since its a 97 everything I've read says the reset for the compass is next to the heater/air conditioning control knobs. Mine is not there. The reset for mine is behind the rear view mirror. Also if anyone would like to know the 97 is the first year for the expedition hense I also dont have problems with plugs blowing out as my spark plugs are one piece and threaded all the way down like most older engines. Considering I've done all the work myself and I do own the Original FORD dealership repair books here's also a little tid bit of advice when wiring up a head unit/radio.....ford used different color wires at different times on the same year truck. Again ask me how I know? 6 hours to wire up a radio and yes of course I tried using the "easy to use" plug connectors that you can get anywhere. Not everything is as it seems from an 'owners manual'

 

[chucks97expy]

Depending on the year of the truck, I've read that a small circuit comes loose on the circuit board for the compass itself. Seems everyone has had good luck taking it down and just resoldering it back in. Google it, god knows I did lol.

 

[bedrck46]

Go to this site and you will find a copy of the owners manual that you can down load https://owner.ford.com and you will see on page 52 is the procedure to reset the compass

 

[superexpy]

are u positive u have this option...I don't on mine

Yes!

 

[Mediamonkey11]

On page 52 of the 1997 owners manual is a complete write up of how to do this. I am often surprised by some questions that I read on this forum asking for information that is in owners manuals. Use to have an old saying that was always told to me when I was much younger. When all else fails read the directions

Dude, really? Please stop sounding like a jerk, especially since the OP was just trying to help in the first place.

Just to be clear, I'm not calling you anything, merely pointing out that's what you come off as.

 

[thewizardatst24]

Just don't do like I did. I mounted my cellphone holder beneath the mirror. Didn't realize that it has a SMALL magnet to tell the phone to go into the car mode! Really drove me nuts because it wouldn't calibrate until I moved the phone holder. I was worried I would have to find the compass module because it was slightly damaged when the passenger seat caught fire when the rubber EGR hoses carbonized causing an over rich condition which caused the cat converter to get hot enough to melt the wiring under seat causing a short circuit which caused the fire!!!!! Fortunately my nephew was hurt or injured, just had the **** scared out him. Burning foam rubber blacked out ALL the windows better than any film I have seen. Bought the car from him for $500 and have been working on it since.