I installed the Daystar upper dash panel, the one with the couple of slots to hold things like a cell phone. The compass is wired to the bottom of this panel. Something that I have noticed is that if I put my cell phone in the slot immediately above the compass (where the phone is a perfect fit), the compass starts to drift, or the direction display in the gauges might just turn off. If I remove the cell phone, the drifting will eventually stop, and the compass will return to normal behavior. If the display has turned off, the compass display will come back after restarting the Jeep.

The cell phone has a metallic case, but I don't know if this is the factor, or if it is the radio signals from the phone that mess up the compass.

A couple of questions:

1) Has anyone else noticed this behavior?
2) Will I cause permanent damage to the compass if I keep using the Daystar panel to hold my cell phone? (I bought the panel so I can keep my cell phone there, so I can then use both cup holders as cup holders).

 

I'll have to try it. See if mine does this.

 

Yeah, it does do that with some (looks like most) phones. I don't think it'll cause any permanent damage though.

 

I have the same panel and also keep my phone up there and havent noticed any change but that could be cause i dont really ever view the compass. Men dont Get Lost, they just find new scenic ways home!!

 

I have read post in the past of others having that issue and the cell phone was the problem.

 

same dash panel. my cell screws up my compass everytime i put it up there.