Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are crucial for vehicle safety, featuring technologies like lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. These systems rely on cameras, sensors, and radar, which must be properly calibrated to function effectively. Misalignment or malfunctioning of these components can lead to serious safety issues. Recognizing the signs that your ADAS system needs calibration is key to preventing accidents and ensuring your vehicle’s systems work as intended. With this in mind, we at Top Notch Body Shop & Mechanic would like to share these signs.
When Should an ADAS Calibration Be Done?
1) Warning Lights on the Dashboard. A common sign your ADAS system may need calibration is a warning light or error message on your dashboard. Vehicles equipped with ADAS often alert you to malfunctions, such as “Check Adaptive Cruise Control” or “Lane Keeping Assist Unavailable.” These warnings indicate that your system’s sensors may be misaligned or malfunctioning, and it’s time to have the system checked.
2) Lane-Keeping Assist Malfunctions. Lane-keeping assist helps steer the vehicle back into its lane if it detects drifting. If the system starts to steer incorrectly, pulling your vehicle in the wrong direction, it may be due to misaligned cameras or sensors. This miscalibration can lead to incorrect steering behavior, making it difficult to maintain lane position and increasing the risk of accidents.
3) Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Errors. The AEB system detects obstacles in the vehicle’s path and applies brakes to prevent collisions. If the system is triggering unnecessary braking or failing to respond to obstacles, it could be due to miscalibrated sensors. An out-of-alignment AEB system may cause either false positives (braking unnecessarily) or failure to detect imminent collisions, posing a danger to both the driver and others on the road.
4) Adaptive Cruise Control Issues. Adaptive cruise control (ACC) adjusts your vehicle’s speed based on traffic conditions to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. If the ACC system is not maintaining consistent spacing or makes erratic acceleration or deceleration, it could be a sign that the radar or sensors need recalibration. Misaligned sensors can misjudge distances and cause unsafe driving behaviors, such as speeding up or slowing down too abruptly.
5) Inaccurate Parking Assistance. Parking assistance systems rely on sensors to detect obstacles around your vehicle. If the sensors are giving false readings—either triggering alarms when nothing is nearby or failing to beep when something is—you may have a calibration issue. Proper calibration ensures these sensors accurately detect objects and help you park safely.
6) Vehicle Drifting and Steering Issues. If your vehicle drifts to one side without you steering, or you notice vibrations in the steering wheel, it may be due to miscalibrated sensors in the ADAS system. Steering angle sensors, important for lane-keeping assist and other features, must be calibrated to prevent drifting and ensure your vehicle stays on course.
7) Inconsistent Sensor or Camera Readings. ADAS systems often rely on sensors or cameras, such as those used for forward collision warning or blind-spot detection. If these systems are not consistently detecting objects or obstacles, it may indicate a calibration problem. These sensors must be correctly aligned to detect objects at the right range and angle.
Auto Repair & Body Shop Services in Dallas, Texas (Just Minutes Away from Addison, Balch Springs, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Coppell, DeSoto, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Ferris, Garland, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Irving, Lancaster, Lewisville, Mesquite, Ovilla, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, Seagoville, Sunnyvale & Wylie, TX)
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to have your ADAS system professionally calibrated. Proper calibration ensures that sensors, cameras, and radar are aligned and functioning correctly, helping to maintain your vehicle’s safety features. Regular calibration helps avoid system malfunctions and keeps your vehicle running safely and efficiently. Call Top Notch Body Shop & Mechanic to schedule your ADAS System calibration services.
