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Do the sensors on my car need to be recalibrated after a repair?
Often, yes. If your car has driver-assist features like lane-keeping, automatic emergency braking or adaptive cruise control, the cameras and radar behind them can be thrown off by a wreck or by the repair itself. Calibration resets them so they see the road correctly.
What these sensors are
Most newer cars come with advanced driver assistance systems, often called ADAS. They rely on cameras, usually mounted behind the windshield, and radar or other sensors, often behind the bumpers. Those sensors have to be aimed precisely to work.
Repairs that commonly call for calibration
- Windshield replacement, when a forward-facing camera is mounted behind the glass
- Bumper repair or replacement, where radar and parking sensors are often mounted
- Suspension work or wheel alignment that changes how the car sits
- Structural or frame repair after a collision
Whether your specific car needs calibration depends on its make, model and features. The carmaker's repair procedures say when it's required.
Learn more: What is ADAS? (I-CAR)
Questions to ask your shop
- Does my car have driver-assist sensors that this repair could affect?
- Will you check whether calibration is required, using the carmaker's procedures?
- Is calibration done in your shop, or sent out? Is it included in the estimate?
- Will I get documentation that the calibration was completed?
At Maaco Rockwall
Maaco Rockwall handles sensor calibration as part of its collision repairs. Ask during your estimate whether your car will need it.
Signs something is off
If a warning light for a driver-assist feature comes on after a repair, or features like lane-keeping act strangely, take the car back to the shop and ask them to check the calibration.