I was accidently pushing the reset buttons on the overhead console while the temp was displaying....I was greeted with :

VAR 1,2,3,...

What in the heck are these VAR options?

 

I don't remember, but it should be in your owner's manual.

 

It's a setting to fine tune your compass. There should be a section in your owners manual with a map, and you select what setting based on where you live. var=Variance

 

They are right on the VAR on the console. I don't have manual handy but yours should tell you the numaric value for you location. As you travel to diferent parts of the county change it for the local varaition.
There is also a CAL function. When you pull that up and drive in a big 360 degree circle it will callibrate the compass. Holding the left button down for 10 sec show the hedding in degrees.

 

That's right! the map is in the owner's manual.

 

Hey Latitud rt, I was looking at my book and for your area you should have a Variance of 10 for mid- VA east and from mid state west to Kentucky would go to a 9. I'm a 13 where I live. I needed to change mine. Hope this helps.

 

I checked mine at it was on 2....never have I ever thought to change it. I guess if I followed the compass I would always be going in the wrong direction...lol. I will adjust it to 10 to see if there is a difference.

Thanks

 

Variation is the differance between the Magnetic North Pole and the True North Pole.

In Florida the Variation is 5 degrees to the East. Not to important in cars. More important when navigating a ship or a plane. The varaition decreases as you head to the north.

Dave