While you may think your Houston windshield repair experience is merely a matter of fixing chipped glass, there is much more beneath the surface. For Houston drivers with modern cars, one of the most vital aspects of your windshield repair is recalibrating the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) at the end of the repair. These systems are vital for key safety features in newer vehicles, including things such as lane keeping assist and automatic braking. All of these modern, technological marvels stem from the windshield – so choosing a dependable windshield repair company in Houston like Affordable Auto Glass is imperative.
Unpacking Windshield Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: Your Vehicle’s New Safety Technology
ADAS is something that many Houston drivers may be unfamiliar with, but is gradually going to change the way cars operate. This technology works like a personal co-pilot for drivers, increasing reaction time and acting as a first line of defense from avoidable car accidents. In a fast-paced city like Houston, ADAS systems are saving lives. Research suggests that over the next 25 years, ADAS windshield systems will prevent nearly 250,000 car-accident fatalities. Because of this, having a team that can accurately recalibrate these systems after windshield repair is crucial for maintaining our vehicle’s system.
Key Components of ADAS Windshields
A forward-facing camera controls windshield ADAS systems and functions as the system’s vision source. The main systems in most modern ADAS systems include:
- Lane departure warning: This system uses the camera to see lane markings on the road and signals the driver when the vehicle begins to stray outside of the designated lanes. In some models, the car can even redirect itself to maintain the centered positioning.
- Automatic emergency braking: The camera and radar sensor in ADAS systems can identify things like pedestrians, cyclists, or even other vehicles heading your way. If the driver doesn’t react within a certain window of time, the vehicle will automatically apply the emergency brake, preventing a collision.
- Adaptive cruise control: While cruise control has been a staple for drivers over the last several decades, ADAS systems are revolutionizing safety features for cruising. Not only do these cars continuously hold the specified speed, but your ADAS system will keep a safe following distance and readjust to match the car ahead of you.
- Traffic sign recognition: The camera in ADAS systems doesn’t just detect lane markings or physical shapes in front of the car; it can also detect traffic signs, including speed limit signs, stop signs, and lane merging signs.
What Makes ADAS Windshield System Recalibration After a Repair Essential
Whether you just got a minor chip repaired or invested in a full-scale windshield replacement in Houston, for cars equipped with ADAS systems, recalibration is a non-negotiable. Even if your car’s windshield looks as good as new and your visibility is at an all-time high, any slight misstep could result in devastating safety hazards. This is because of the complexity of the ADAS systems and the meticulous detail required to complete a successful recalibration. This can become a major safety concern for drivers who are expecting these signals and backups, but are instead met with nothing.
The two primary recalibration techniques that professional Houston windshield repair or replacement technicians use are:
- Static recalibration: During the process, the vehicle is stationary. We use a carefully placed target to help reset the optical sensor and check that it is fully accurate.
- Dynamic recalibration: This technique requires a technician to drive a vehicle slowly, allowing the sensor to recalibrate based on the road markings.
Several reasons can cause windshield repairs or replacements to affect ADAS systems. When it comes to replacements, the primary reason you need recalibration is that they require a complete reinstallation of the optical sensor device. An expert with precise attention to detail must carry out this procedure to align the sensor perfectly. Smaller cracks and chips that only require a windshield repair can actually be even more dangerous to Houston drivers. This is because these issues usually affect the camera’s ability to see, not the driver. In most cases, this leads to the driver not knowing that these abilities are not working properly.
At Affordable Auto Glass in Houston, our technicians constantly strive to achieve perfection in all of our recalibration efforts in order to keep our valued clients safe on Houston’s busy roads.
The Grave Consequences of Skipping Recalibration After a Windshield Repair in Houston
Many drivers don’t realize that without getting their ADAS system recalibrated, they are actually putting themselves directly in harm’s way. This is especially true in Houston, where the busy roads are infamous for dangerous, stop-and-go traffic, construction debris, and heavy rain. Even though some might write off their ADAS system’s safety features as unnecessary, or just an added layer of protection, when you grow to expect the warning signs, it can cause detrimental problems when they suddenly disappear.
Not getting your windshield recalibrated after a repair is dangerous on its own, but not choosing a professional shop with specialized technicians can also have negative consequences. Because the camera sensors require such immaculate accuracy, unskilled or DIY fixes can actually lead to a myriad of false positive lane departure warnings, unnecessary emergency braking, or other harmful system malfunctions. Not only can these malfunctions put you in danger, but they can also seriously threaten any other vehicles on the road.
These systems will continue to evolve and begin controlling more aspects of the driving experience, such as steering or even becoming fully self-driving. This is why it’s so important to get your windshield sensors recalibrated at a professional Houston repair shop after any service, no matter the size. At Affordable Auto Glass, our main priority for the past 20 years has been our customers’ safety. No matter where technology takes us, we will continue to learn and practice precise recalibration for all of our clients who have ADAS windshield sensors.
Why Choosing a Professional Windshield Repair Team in Houston is Crucial
At Affordable Auto Glass, we understand that the windshield is oftentimes one of the most underrated safety elements in your car’s defense system. What many drivers don’t realize is that this sheet of glass is one of the most crucial elements for a variety of reasons. Not onyl do they keep airborne debris from entering the vehicle and causing harm, they also offer important structural support for things like your vehicle’s roof and airbag deployment system.
For vehicles with ADAS systems, this is even more true. By working with a team of windshield repair experts in Houston, you can be confident in your car’s safety on the road, fully knowing that your ADAS system has your back down to the smallest detail. All of our technicians are fully certified and trained to provide detail-oriented, exact recalibration for a variety of vehicle models with ADAS systems. No matter what you drive, we can make sure it is calibrated perfectly after your service, and we have the Google reviews to prove it:
“This place never disappoints! I have had small chips fixed before, and today it was time for a new windshield! In and out quickly, personable and helpful staff always make things easier.” – Elizabeth Schooler
Contact Affordable Auto Glass Houston today for a free windshield repair and recalibration estimate!