Why Is Auto Glass Calibration Important?
As a Tucson driver, you already know that having a strong, reliable windshield is crucial. However, windshield care goes beyond repairing chips and other forms of minor damage. In some cases, you may also need auto glass calibration service.
Are you unsure why you should get your windshield calibrated—or even what this service is in the first place? Keep reading for Max Auto Glass’ complete overview of what windshield calibration can do for your vehicle.
ADAS and Your Windshield
Today’s windshields are very cutting edge. With modern technological advances, today’s windshields are much more sophisticated than you might assume. To truly understand why auto glass calibration is so important, you’ll need to read up on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
ADAS is an umbrella term covering all sorts of features that work together to keep drivers and passengers safe on the road. These features are powered by an array of sensors in your vehicle—most prominently, a camera mounted behind the windshield. Of course, ADAS features aren’t just there for your peace of mind. Research suggests the addition of ADAS to consumer vehicles could prevent up to 40% of passenger-vehicle crashes.
What Are the Top ADAS Features?
Not all cars with ADAS capabilities have the same feature lineup, but some common features include:
- Automatic emergency braking: Have you ever had to slam on your brakes to prevent a car crash? If so, you know situations like these can really test your reflexes—and reacting just a fraction of a second later could have had severe consequences. Automatic emergency braking lets your vehicle analyze the road ahead and respond to potential hazards with superhuman speed.
- Lane-keeping assist: Accidental lane departures often play a role in car crashes, so no matter how careful you are, it can’t hurt to have some extra help. With lane-keeping assist, your car can detect possible upcoming lane departures and “nudge” you back on track before they happen.
- Traffic-jam assist: Every long-time Tucson driver knows how unpleasant it is to get stuck in traffic. While ADAS technology can’t help you avoid traffic jams, it can make it easier for you to deal with them. In situations where traffic has slowed to a crawl, the traffic jam assist feature will help out with throttle management, brakes, and steering.
- Adaptive cruise control: No matter how old your vehicle is, it probably has some form of cruise control. However, some newer vehicles boast an advanced version of this feature called “adaptive cruise control.” This feature analyzes the traffic around you and automatically adjusts your speed to match.
In addition to these features, your ADAS-enabled vehicle may come with the following:
- Adaptive light control.
- Blind-spot monitoring.
- Automatic parking.
- Driver drowsiness detection.
- Electric vehicle warning noises.
- Tire pressure monitoring.
- Pedestrian detection.
- Traffic sign recognition.
Why ADAS Calibration Is Essential
As can be seen, ADAS features are powerful tools for protecting your safety on the road. But there’s a catch: you can only make the most of these capabilities if your sensors are correctly calibrated. After all, ADAS is all about collecting and analyzing data from sensors. When these devices are even an inch out of place, they won’t be able to supply the accurate data your ADAS features depend on.
Because your windshield plays a key role in many ADAS functions, it stands to reason that this component needs to be appropriately calibrated for these systems to work. It’s wise to take care of windshield calibration:
- After windshield replacement.
- When you change your vehicle’s suspension.
- In response to wheel realignment.
- If your windshield camera gets disconnected or reconnected.
- Any time you get a relevant dashboard error message.
What Type of Auto Glass Calibration Do You Need?
Once you’ve learned a thing or two about how ADAS features work, it’s not hard to see why you need professional windshield calibration every so often. What you might not know is that there are actually two different types of auto glass calibration, and the variety you need depends on your vehicle manufacturer’s requirements.
One of the primary forms of ADAS calibration is known as “static calibration.” If your vehicle uses this calibration system, a fixed target or marker will be placed in front of your car during the calibration process. Meanwhile, dynamic calibration requires your vehicle’s cameras and sensors to experience movement. That means your car needs to be taken out for a driving test, traveling on closed roads at a steady speed. No matter what type of calibration your vehicle relies on, you can expect this task to take roughly one to two hours.
Know Where To Go for Auto Glass Calibration
There’s no denying it—taking auto glass calibration seriously can go a long way toward keeping you safe while driving in Tucson. Still, not every auto glass shop in the area is up to the challenge of ADAS calibration. When you need this service, try to find a local auto glass company that can deliver:
- Skilled workers and quality diagnostic equipment: As you might expect, precision is vital when it comes to calibrating windshields. That means the technicians working at your auto glass service provider should be Dow-certified or Auto Glass Safety Council™-certified—or, ideally, both.
- A high level of accessibility: Any Tucson auto glass company can have multiple locations in the area. However, the best businesses in this industry go above and beyond by providing convenient mobile service free of charge.
- Money-saving opportunities: No one wants to overpay for any auto glass service, auto glass calibration included. But your auto glass shop shouldn’t just charge reasonable rates, either. They should go a step further by offering additional ways to save, including promotions and financing options.
- Other auto glass services: Even if you only need ADAS calibration right now, who knows what auto glass work you’ll have to take care of in the future? That’s why it’s best to find an auto glass company that can repair and replace your windshield and back/side glass.
For all these perks and more, look no further than Max Auto Glass— Tucson’s most widely trusted auto glass service provider and a BRAKEmax Tire & Service Centers division. We’re more than ready to recalibrate your windshield and provide any other auto glass services you need. Take the first step by requesting a quote today!
