If your car has lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking or traffic sign recognition, there's a camera mounted to the inside of your windshield, usually tucked behind the rearview mirror. When the windshield is replaced, that camera comes off with the old glass and goes back on the new one.
That's why most manufacturers require the camera to be recalibrated after a windshield replacement.
Why a new windshield changes things
The camera reads the road through the glass and works out where the lane lines and the cars ahead are. Every windshield sits a tiny bit differently in its frame, and the camera bracket on the new glass won't be in exactly the same spot as the old one. A difference of even one degree can mean the camera is looking at the wrong part of the road a short distance ahead.
The car usually won't warn you. Lane-keep may still switch on. It just might steer toward the wrong spot, or brake later than it should.
Signs the camera is out of calibration
- Lane-keep assist nudges you toward one side of the lane
- Lane departure warnings go off when you're centered, or stay quiet when you drift
- A message such as "Camera unavailable" or "Lane assist unavailable"
- Automatic high beams or sign recognition behave oddly
No symptoms doesn't mean no problem. Many miscalibrated cameras give no sign at all.
Static and dynamic calibration
There are two ways a forward camera gets calibrated, and the manufacturer decides which one your car needs:
- Static calibration happens in the shop. The car is set up on a level floor with precise targets placed at measured distances in front of it.
- Dynamic calibration happens on the road. The car is driven under set conditions, such as a steady speed on a road with clear lane lines, until the camera finishes learning.
Some cars need one, some need both.
Before you drive away from a windshield replacement, ask: Does my car's camera need a calibration, and has it been done? If it hasn't, book it before you rely on lane-keep or emergency braking again.
How we handle it
We start with a diagnostic scan and look up the manufacturer's procedure for your exact car. We check the alignment and tire pressures, run the calibration the manufacturer calls for, then scan again and road test to confirm everything works.
Not sure what your car needs? Try our calibration checker, or call us at 360-443-7020.