ADAS Calibration | 6 Alarming Signs you need Calibration
Essential Things to Know About ADAS Calibration
Experienced vehicles owners would tell individuals planning to buy one that they should consider including upkeep when setting a budget. That is how important car maintenance is. You want to make sure that your vehicle is always in good working order, so you run into problems that could be avoided by regular, proper upkeep.
Whether you are currently a car owner wanting to know more about the things you should do to keep it in an optimal condition, or you are a would-be owner, one of the most important procedures to understand is ADAS calibration. Here are some of the most essential things you should know about it.
What is ADAS and Why Does it Need Calibration?
ADAS stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, a feature that comes in many modern car models. There are lots of different forms, which, in their optimal state, can help make driving much more convenient and safer.
If you think that ADAS is a new thing, you will be surprised to know that they are present in many old car models, just in a less advanced form. Automatic wipers and headlights are great examples of earlier types of ADAS.
Today, lots of vehicles have more innovative versions such as lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian automatic braking, and automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, parking assist, and many more.
ADAS typically use different technologies to function. For example, your vehicle can have a parking assist or self-parking feature with the help of cameras and other sensors that measure distances and spaces. These sensors are typically located inside the car’s windshield.
The thing about technology is they need to be properly set up to work ask intended. While they offer convenience and added safety measures, what drivers need to understand is that such techs are not infallible.
They need to be calibrated to make sure that they work according to the dynamics of the car in which they are being used. ADAS calibration is the process of letting the system adjust to the make and model of the car, as well as its current state.
It can be done dynamically or statically, and always by a professional. Dynamic calibration involves professionals using a mobile device plugged into a car while driving it at a certain speed and distance in the right weather conditions. Static or fixed calibration is done in a workshop using professional tools.
Is ADAS Calibration Important?
This technology is here to stay, so you might as well plan to have it calibrated as soon as you purchase your car or some time in the future after using it for a while. It is part of your car’s upkeep, which means that it is indeed an important procedure.
Keep in mind that it is designed to help drivers, and it is totally acceptable to take advantage of what it has to offer, so long as drivers do not become overly reliant on it and it is not treated as a replacement driver with ADAS calibration.
So, why is it important? Remember that it helps drivers in many ways, such as triggering emergency brakes to avoid accidents. An uncalibrated system can falsely trigger this effect, which can cause accidents while on the road.
In short, failure to calibrate your ADAS can cause it to malfunction due to its sensors sensing its surroundings wrongly, which can be more dangerous not only to you and your passengers but also to other drivers and pedestrians.
Tell-Tale Signs You Need an ADAS Calibration
Now that you know the importance of an ADAS calibration, you want to make sure that yours is properly adjusted and attuned to your car. Now, just because you have had this procedure done to your car before does not mean that that is all you need to do.
You will need to have it recalibrated if need be. Not sure whether you need to go to your trusted car shop for calibration? Check out these signs.
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Steering Problems
One of the most overlooked signs that the system needs calibration is steering problems. You might find your wheel vibrating, pulling to one side, or difficult to steer. This can be because the system is falsely detecting that you are getting out of lane or other related issues.
If you feel that your steering wheel is not optimal as it used to function, then you might want to have your ADAS calibrated.
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You Installed New Tires or Had Them Realigned
Functions of cameras and other sensors used in ADAS depend on the dimensions of your car upon calibration. Any changes that can affect the height at which these sensors are installed can cause issues with the system.
Changing tires or realigning them can lead to a slight change in the height of your car, which means that a recalibration is in order.
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You Installed New a Windshield
One thing that many people tend to neglect to consider is a windshield replacement. Remember that ADAS sensors are placed behind windshields, which means that placing a new one can have an impact, even if it is just slightly off.
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Your Car Took a Hit
Getting into an accident without ADAS calibration can have a huge impact on your vehicle. It can result in unseen issues such as those in this driver assistance system caused by your windshield moving slightly or your tires falling out of alignment.
In fact, you should immediately have your car checked by professionals if you get into an accident to avoid major issues than your ADAS needing recalibration.
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You Can’t Remember When Your Last ADAS Calibration Was
Say, you had your system calibrated for the first time after buying it. You may have had ADAS calibration after that. If you are not sure whether you need to do it again, just try to remember when the last one was. If it is so long ago that you can’t recall, you should probably drop by your trusted car shop.
The Bottom Line
ADAS calibration is an important part of your car’s maintenance. Increase the safety of your driving by making sure that this system is properly set up. Combined with responsible driving, you can minimize the chances of issues while on the road.