Nowadays when everyone is concerned about Safety, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems ADAS is the backbone of your car safety systems. It is not a system in itself but a blend of technologies that work together to make the drive safe for the occupant as well as others on road. ADAS is a key technology initiative to keep the driver aware of the situation around him while driving. It helps the driver to avoid any kind of collision or mishap by processing information through different sensors and automated systems.
ADAS not only give information to the driver, but it also has automated or enhanced feature to control your car ride like in the case of Automated Cruise Control. In case the driver fails to act timely it can override manual safety features and automatically apply brakes or steer the wheel to avoid any road mishap. It not only keeps occupant safe during the ride, but it also helps to keep the highest safety standards in case of a collision like tightening your seat-belt, controlling car brakes to avoid car skid, inflating airbags, or cutting fuel supply to avoid fire in case of an accident.
Apart from these, there are some other ADAS parts that help you drive in comfort. Rain and Light Sensor installed on your car windshield helps you during rain and dim light. Adaptive Cruise Control helps to keep a check on car speed to have a safe distance from other vehicles on road.
There are many ADAS systems available in the market like the Mercedes Pre-safe System. All major car manufacturers are investing very hard time, money, and human resource to keep up with the pace of development. It is really important to have a Safety system that can keep the occupant safe in case of a mishap or on the other hand avoid such a situation.
As far as your Windshield is concerned a lot is happening in new windshields. There are lots of systems that are part of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and are available on your car windshield. The most common is the Rain and light sensor, Front Optical Camera, Infra Red Camera, and also Lane assistance system / Lane departure Systems.
In case of damage to your car’s windshield, it is imperative for you to check which ADAS system your car has. It is very important for your safety to get your windshield replacement under a trained technician. Windshield Store suggests you go only for OEM windshield in case of damage in your car glass it is beyond repairable. Is your windshield repairable our team will help you assess that correctly. Is your windshield repairable our team will help you asses that correctly?
After the replacement of your car windshield, it is also necessary to re-calibrate these Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. We suggest you go for only Genuine parts so as to keep your ADAS intact. Aftermarket parts may be cheap but they can compromise your car’s safety.
A Windshield Light Sensor looks similar to a Rain Sensor. Often they are available as a combined unit installed beneath your rearview mirror in a special mount and touching the windshield’s inner surface. The windshield Light Sensor is also visible from the outside as a transparent box in the place of the rearview mirror holder.
Why is Light Sensor important for my Car?
Windshield Light Sensor help to control your car’s headlights. It keeps tracking the type of illumination around you while you are driving. Sometimes while driving for extended hours you can’t keep a track of the amount of light around you and how fast is night falling. While you are so busy driving you forget to switch on your headlights which can be dangerous for you as well as other drivers on road. Windshield Light Sensor does this for you, it keeps track of sunlight intensity and switches on the headlight if sunlight is not good enough for driving. Automatic control of your headlights also helps to conserve your car battery.
Does it need to be replaced during windshield replacement?
If you got your windshield cracked due to some unfortunate reason and need it to be replaced or repaired. It doesn’t mean you also have to replace your windshield light sensor. In most of the cracks, your windshield got repaired if your crack it less than a coin size. If it is more than it you need a windshield replacement but it doesn’t amount to a light sensor replacement. You need to check whether your light sensor got hit directly or if there is some sort of damage to its wiring. Otherwise, it is ok to use your old sensor with the brand-new windshield.
Where Should I buy A new Windshield Light Sensor?
For most of car brands and models, Light Sensors are readily available in the aftermarket. Here at Windshield Store, we suggest you go for an OEM Light Sensor for your car. OEM re-installation is the best way to ensure that it works properly. If your light sensor is not right it will affect car illumination and will also drain more battery than OEM. It will affect your battery life.
Windshield Rain Sensors support the field of vision of the driver and try to keep it clean while there is rain. It helps drivers by automatic rain detection and wiper control. Which ultimately lower driver load and avoid distraction. Rain Sensor helps to keep your car safe in the rain so as does the other cars on the road.
Does My Car Windshield Have a Rain Sensor?
Typically not all cars have a rain sensor. Only certain car segments offer it. You can easily find out simply by looking at the white transparent/blue mark on your windshield at the rearview mirror position. For some models, there is a combo Rain-Light Sensor mounted beneath Rear View Mirror in a special bracket.
How Does a Rain Sensor Work?
A Windshield Rain Sensor works on the principle of total internal reflection. A windshield rain sensor typically has a photodiode which helps to keep track of the amount of light reflected through the outer windshield layer back to it. As there are droplets or raindrops on the windshield, the amount of light reflected back to it decreases, and hence photodiode detects this decrease in light intensity. Which helps it to automatically start the windshield wipers. Most Cars with Rain sensors have the AUTO feature on Wiper Stalk.
Does my windshield rain sensor need replacement?
Most of the time though your windshield got broken, but your rain sensor is ok. Before you decide to change your windshield Rain Sensor you should consult your windshield replacement center or call Windshield Store to know more about windshield replacement faqs. If your windshield got hit directly by the Rain Sensor, you should get it replaced. You should also inspect the condition of the Rain Sensor wire. If it has deteriorated you should consider replacing it. But in most of the minor cracks in the Windshield, the Rain Sensor remains intact and doesn’t require any replacement.
Car Designers are working hard to make your driving more and more pleasant. In this quest, engineers are working hard to keep the noise level minimal in the passenger cabin and make it more soundproof. Through years of testing, engineers find that car windshield is a major source of sound transmission inside the passenger compartment. It leads engineers to a new innovation in cars i.e. Acoustic Windshield.
Source of Noise in a Car
Car Engine
Air Fluctuations on the windshield at high speed.
Air drag at the edges of the car and mirrors
External noise due to other vehicles on the road
One way to reduce the noise level in the compartment was to increase windshield thickness. Which ultimately translates into high weight and hence reduced performance and body restructuring. It’s not only expensive but also impractical as increasing thickness only reduces marginal noise levels.
How is Acoustic Windshield made?
Engineers find an innovative way to reduce noise. They sandwich a transparent acoustic vinyl layer between windshield lamination. This additional Vinyl layer absorbs noise in tune to 2-3 dB. It helps to make the inner cabin quiet enough that passengers that allow people to converse without shouting. An additional layer also helps in reducing windshield thickness without negatively affecting noise levels. It also helps to shave off Car weight and hence make it more efficient.
This new Vinyl layer is also applicable in car sidelites that further improve noise levels inside the car cabins. An additional benefit of this acoustic windshield is that it helps to absorb harmful UV radiation and hence is also helpful for health perspective.
If your car has an Acoustic windshield installed, you just got it replaced by an Acoustic one. Tough ordinary windshields cost low on your pocket, it will not be a nice saving. An ordinary windshield will change the characteristics of your car and hence you will feel increased noise levels in your cabin.
You should also look at the windshield monogram/logo during windshield replacement for its technical specifications. Usually, an Acoustic windshield logo has “Acoustic” or the letter “A” mentioned in it. At Auto Glass Masters the acoustic windshields we use are with PVB Lamination of the best quality supplied by OE manufacturers like AIS, Saint Gobain, Pilkington .
You may wonder which is most suitable for you – to get your windshield repair or a new windshield replacement). Is your repaired windshield have sufficient strength to support your car and is it safe for you and your family?
Here is your answer: Windshield repair is a scientifically tested and proven technology. These resins used by branded repair kits have strength equal to your brand-new replacement windshield.
In fact, many glass shops use reduced quality (cheap) glass to replace your windshield. This increases their profits – but significantly reduces the clarity and safety of your windshield. The same holds true for the adhesives used in replacement jobs. Some adhesives are far better than others, but also more expensive.
You can actually be put in harm’s way if the replacement shop uses an inferior adhesive. You must also pay attention to SDAT (Safe Drive Away Time) or your windshield could launch from your vehicle if you were in an accident within a few hours of the replacement job completion.
Repairing a crack in front car windshield save cost & time, stop the windshield crack from spreading and you get a durable windshield without replacement.
At Windshield Store, we use Esprit™ Repair Kits. Esprit ™ is a European windscreen repair tool manufacturer. Established in 1981, Esprit is one of the leading companies in the development, manufacture, and supply of windscreen repair equipment. Esprit has also worked with and been approved by many motor manufacturers including Ford, BMW UK, Honda, Jaguar, Nissan, and Peugeot as well as being an OEM supplier to one of the leading manufacturers.
There are considerable chances of windshield cracks and chips due to some stone or any other small object which got smashed into your windshield when you are driving on a Highway or Off-Road.
The question arises ” Is my windshield repairable ?”
Of Course, you can visit your nearest car glass shop for an inspection. But its always better to inspect the damage yourself first and get an idea if can it be repaired or if should I get it replaced.
Here is how you get to know which type of windshield damages are repairable, it depends on four factors.
Size of crack: All cracks under 6 inches in length or smaller than the size of a coin.
Type of crack: Star Break (short radial cracks coming off of the impact point), Bulls-Eye (circular damage caused by circular object) or Partial Bulls-Eye (aka Half Moon, also caused by a circular object, the damage is not completely circular), Crack Chip (single crack size of a coin), Ding (same as Crack Chip), or Pit (small piece of glass missing) can be easily repaired.
Depth of crack: Any impact on the upper layer of the windshield which doesn’t damage the laminated membrane is repairable.
Location of Crack: Even good repairs may leave behind some discoloration, mistiness or unevenness, and if the damage is in the driver’s line of sight, the repair would decrease clarity and reduce visibility. The technician must consider all potential drivers of the vehicle when determining the line of sight over the steering wheel because this can vary depending on the height of each driver. Any crack that is at or very near the windshield’s edge, or any chip at or near the edge that has caused the windshield to start cracking, attenuates the strength and integrity of the windshield and its bonding to the surrounding metal frame, which in turn compromises passenger safety.
You must also remember there are some cracks that are not repairable based on there size and position.
on the inside of the windshield
deep damage on both layers of glass
damage over rain sensor, internal radio antenna
damages that reach into the driver’s critical viewing area
complex multiple cracks very long cracks (i.e. over 18 inches long)
contaminated cracks
edge cracks and chips
Suggestion: Once you have checked yourself it’s always wise to go to an expert for windshield repair and professional advice.
