To increase the safety of the car occupants, cars have a series of sensors and cameras that provide real-time situational awareness to the driver and cars onboard computer systems, collectively they are called Driver Assistance Systems or ADAS. Car features like lane departure warning, traffic signal detection, automated braking, lane-keeping assistance, pedestrian detection, etc. create a safe environment on the road.
What is windshield calibration?
Some of the ADAS sensors are attached on the front windscreen these include rain/light sensor, lane departure warning sensor, night vision, and IR cameras, lane-keeping assistance. Optimizing such sensors and aligning cameras available on the car windscreen as per OE standards is known as windshield calibration.
Why your windshield need calibration?
Cars driver assistance system guide the driver through traffic, dark, and bad weather. In the center of these is the windshield camera that provides images of the road ahead. In case of any damage to your car windshield, the camera may get misaligned and can give wrong information to you regarding the distance of other cars in front or even may not work properly during low visibility. Misalignment of even a few millimeters can be disastrous on a highway. So, it is always advised that after any windshield replacement such systems should be recalibrated by an expert.
Though windshield calibration may increase windshield replacement costs, it is always recommended. A calibrated windshield keeps you and your car safe and can assist you in case of any imminent threat on the road that may cause a collision.
Read more about cars advanced driver assistance system.
When do you need a windshield calibration?
As per the car manufacturers, anything that leads to damage to the car windshield or affects the functionality of the sensor requires you to get your windshield sensors recalibrated. It includes
- A new windshield replacement
- Wheel alignment change
- Car suspension change
- Fault develop in the car camera
- Partial disconnection of the camera
How is windshield calibration done?
Depending upon the type of driver assistance system available in your car, your workshop can opt for a dynamic or static windshield calibration.
Static or fixed calibration: In this case, the car needs to be placed in a customized workshop to adjust the camera and sensor parameters. The ADAS calibration tool has different settings for different car manufacturers, which precisely optimize all sensor settings to the OE standards.
Dynamic or mobile calibration: This calibration needs the car to be driven on a well-marked road in specific conditions and for a specific time period on a prescribed speed. For this, a handheld ADAS calibration tool is connected to the car with predefined settings.
How much time does the windshield calibration take?
Time depends upon the make and model of your car, but ideally, 1 hour is enough to calibrate the ADAS.
What is the cost of windshield calibration?
Windshield calibration may cost you around ₹ 3500 – ₹ 8000. But it depends on the make and model of your car and the type of ADAS fitted in your car.
Which technologies or sensors are affected during calibration?
The following car systems or features can be affected due to poor calibration
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keep Assistance
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Adaptive High Beam
- Collision Avoidance
- Forward Collision Warning
- Driver Monitoring System
- Pedestrian Protection System
- Traffic Signal Assistance
- Parking Assistance System
- Wrong-Way Driving Warning
- Hill Descent Control
- Blind Spot Monitor