ADAS camera and sensor calibration in Pretoria
If your car has a camera behind the windscreen for lane keeping, emergency braking or adaptive cruise, a new screen usually means the camera has to be recalibrated.
What ADAS is and where the camera lives
ADAS stands for advanced driver assistance systems. On many newer vehicles a forward-facing camera sits on a bracket bonded to the inside of the windscreen, just behind the rear-view mirror. It reads lane markings, road signs and the vehicle ahead. It feeds features such as lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and some adaptive cruise systems.
Some cars also use radar in the grille or bumper, rain and light sensors on the glass, and cameras in the mirrors. A windscreen job mostly affects the camera and sensors on the glass itself.
Why refitting a windscreen moves the camera
The camera is set up to look at the road from an exact angle. When the old screen is cut out and a new one is bonded in, the glass and its bracket will not sit in precisely the same place. The height of the adhesive bead, the bracket position on the new glass and small differences in the glass shape all change the camera's aim, even when the fitter has done everything right.
A camera that is out by a fraction of a degree can misjudge how far away the car in front is, or where the lane edge is. For that reason most vehicle manufacturers require recalibration after a windscreen replacement. The fitter should check the procedure for your exact vehicle before the job starts.
Static and dynamic calibration, honestly explained
There are two main methods, and the manufacturer decides which one your car needs. Some vehicles need both.
Static calibration is done standing still, usually indoors, with printed targets set at exact distances and heights in front of the car, and a diagnostic tool connected to the car. It needs a level floor, good light and space. Dynamic calibration is done by driving the car at set speeds on roads with clear lane markings while the tool tells the camera to relearn. The UK's Institute of the Motor Industry has reported industry experts noting that most manufacturers specify static methods, and that dynamic runs can be upset by things like heavy rain.
That is why a calibration may not finish in one go on a stormy Pretoria afternoon, and why faded road markings can be a problem for dynamic runs. Naked, the insurer, says calibration usually takes an extra day after fitment on its claims. [CONFIRM: whether fitment businesses covering Pretoria calibrate in-house, through a calibration partner or through the dealer]
What is involved in a calibration
A properly run calibration after a new windscreen typically includes:
- Check the specification. Confirm from the VIN which systems the car has and which calibration method the manufacturer requires.
- Pre-scan. Read the fault codes before work, so existing faults are recorded and not blamed on the new glass.
- Prepare the car. Correct tyre pressures, an empty boot, a level floor and the right fuel level, as the procedure requires.
- Run the calibration. Set up targets for static work, or take the car on a set route for dynamic work.
- Post-scan and test. Clear codes, confirm the systems report as calibrated, and road test.
- Hand over the record. Ask for a printout or report showing the calibration was completed.
The sensor shortcut to watch for
SAMBRA, the motor body repairers' association within the RMI, published an account of a fitment where the camera sensor was removed from the old windscreen and glued onto a substitute screen that lacked the right camera markings, with black primer painted round the mirror area so it would not be noticed. Warning lights came on as soon as the car was started.
SAMBRA's advice is that sensors and brackets are not always supplied on the glass, that there are many versions, and that you should check with an expert before the glass goes in. Ask the fitter which screen part they are fitting and whether its camera window and bracket match the original. Our guide does my car need ADAS recalibration has a checklist.
ADAS calibration around Pretoria
Newer SUVs, double-cab bakkies and premium cars carry most of these systems. See SUV and 4x4 windscreen replacement and bakkie windscreens for vehicle-specific notes. Local pages cover Waterkloof, Menlyn, Silver Lakes and Hazeldean and Centurion.
Calibration usually goes together with windscreen replacement. When you send an enquiry, tell us the make, model and year, and whether you see a camera housing behind the mirror. That helps the fitment business quote correctly the first time.
What drives the cost
We do not publish prices. The fitment business quotes you directly once it knows the exact vehicle and the damage. These are the factors that usually make the difference:
- Which systems the car has: a single forward camera, or camera plus radar and other sensors.
- Whether the manufacturer requires static calibration, dynamic calibration or both.
- Whether the work is done by the fitter, a calibration specialist or the dealer.
- Software access for the make and model; very new models may only be supported by the dealer.
- Extra time if weather or road markings stop a dynamic run from completing.
- Whether calibration is covered as part of an insurance glass claim.
Our guide to what a windscreen replacement in Pretoria depends on explains how to compare quotes fairly.
ADAS camera and sensor calibration by suburb
By vehicle type
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my car has an ADAS camera?
Look behind the rear-view mirror from outside. A black housing with a lens window in the glass usually means a camera. Your owner's manual or the dealer can confirm which systems are fitted.
Can I skip calibration if no warning light comes on?
No warning light does not prove the camera is aimed correctly. A misaligned camera can misjudge distances or lane positions without showing a fault. Follow the manufacturer's requirement.
What is the difference between static and dynamic calibration?
Static calibration uses printed targets in front of a stationary car. Dynamic calibration is done by driving on marked roads while a diagnostic tool guides the camera. Some cars need both.
Why might calibration take longer than the windscreen fitting?
Some cars need a workshop with targets, and dynamic runs need clear road markings and decent weather. Naked says calibration usually takes an extra day after fitment on its claims.
Can the old camera bracket be glued onto a new windscreen?
That is the shortcut SAMBRA has warned about. The correct screen should have the right bracket and camera window for your vehicle. Ask the fitter to confirm the part before fitting.
Does insurance pay for calibration?
Many insurers treat calibration as part of the glass claim when the manufacturer requires it. Check your policy and ask the insurer to confirm.
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