What does CAL mean on instrument cluster? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Marty1965 · 09-20-2020, 02:44 PM

Went out today today to take a Sunday drive in my 2011 V6 Camaro LT with 110K on it and all I got was a clicking sound from the starter. Checked the battery with my Fluke and it only had 8.5V on it. Charged the battery until I had 13V, it tried to start but didn't. While trying to start the driver side window came down an inch and the wipers cycled. I noticed CAL on the instrument cluster, too. Put my Innova code reader on it and it showed no codes but only 11.5V. What am I going to have to go from here to get it running again? I thought and did find out CAL means calibrate but I need to know where to go from here.

Thanks!

hunter1660 · 09-20-2020, 04:41 PM

Sounds like it needs a new battery...the cal is for the compass..everything should straighten up with a new battery.

Vegas Bound · 09-20-2020, 10:01 PM

CAL is calibrate for the compass. If I don't drive it for a while it shows up and after a few minutes the compass works.

Marty1965 · 09-21-2020, 01:32 AM

I got a new battery and I believe everything is ok. At least the engine ran but I haven’t had a chance to drive it yet. My wife says she can’t view the tire pressure readings on her phone app but maybe I’ll have to drive it a while. I did have the message on cluster to open and close driver door and work driver window down then up. Had to do that three times to get that to vanish. About the CAL display, I read some posts from 2011 that said in order for the compass to calibrate, you should drive in circles for a while in a parking lot. One guy said that sounded like a good excuse to do doughnuts!

09-20-2020, 02:44 PM	#1
Marty1965 Drives: 2011 Camaro LT 3.6l Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Sheridan, AR Posts: 8	What does CAL mean on instrument cluster? Went out today today to take a Sunday drive in my 2011 V6 Camaro LT with 110K on it and all I got was a clicking sound from the starter. Checked the battery with my Fluke and it only had 8.5V on it. Charged the battery until I had 13V, it tried to start but didn't. While trying to start the driver side window came down an inch and the wipers cycled. I noticed CAL on the instrument cluster, too. Put my Innova code reader on it and it showed no codes but only 11.5V. What am I going to have to go from here to get it running again? I thought and did find out CAL means calibrate but I need to know where to go from here. Thanks! Last edited by Marty1965; 09-20-2020 at 02:46 PM. Reason: left something out

09-20-2020, 04:41 PM	#2
hunter1660 Drives: 2011ss/rs camaro Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: florida Posts: 1,261	Sounds like it needs a new battery...the cal is for the compass..everything should straighten up with a new battery. __________________ . OBX LTH,Rotofab,Magnuson Heartbeat.AEM wideband, HP Tuners

09-20-2020, 10:01 PM	#3
Vegas Bound Account Suspended Drives: 2013 Sparkly Red One Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Hospitality State Posts: 2,558	CAL is calibrate for the compass. If I don't drive it for a while it shows up and after a few minutes the compass works.

09-21-2020, 01:32 AM	#4
Marty1965 Drives: 2011 Camaro LT 3.6l Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Sheridan, AR Posts: 8	I got a new battery and I believe everything is ok. At least the engine ran but I haven’t had a chance to drive it yet. My wife says she can’t view the tire pressure readings on her phone app but maybe I’ll have to drive it a while. I did have the message on cluster to open and close driver door and work driver window down then up. Had to do that three times to get that to vanish. About the CAL display, I read some posts from 2011 that said in order for the compass to calibrate, you should drive in circles for a while in a parking lot. One guy said that sounded like a good excuse to do doughnuts!