they've got cameras, radars, and sensors tucked behind the windshield. When that glass gets replaced, those smart eyes need a reset. We call it ADAS calibration.
At Save On Auto Glass, we see drivers every day who think a new windshield is the end of the job. It isn’t. Skip the calibration and your car might brake late, drift out of lane, or miss a stop sign. This guide explains why the step matters and how we make it simple.
You’ll learn what ADAS does, when calibration is a must, and what happens if you ignore it. Let’s keep your tech working as sharp as the day it rolled off the lot.
Forward-facing cameras spot lane lines and read speed signs. Radar bounces waves off the car ahead to keep safe distance. Lidar paints a 3D map for night driving. All of them live in a housing glued to the glass.
Replace the windshield and the angle shifts—even by a single degree. That tiny tilt throws every reading off. Your lane-keep assist might tug the wheel at the wrong moment.
We explain it to new customers like this: imagine putting on someone else’s glasses. The world looks close enough, but you’ll still walk into walls. Calibration puts the factory lenses back on your car’s eyes.
Every windshield swap moves the camera housing. Factory specs allow less than half a degree of error. Hand-tightening alone can’t hit that mark.
Static calibration needs a level floor, target boards, and a scan tool. Dynamic calibration means a 20-minute drive on marked roads while the car teaches itself. Some models want both.
We follow the maker’s exact checklist. Skip it and the car logs a fault code. That blinking light is your first clue to make sure everything lines up again.
Lane-keep pulls you toward the shoulder instead of the center. Emergency braking triggers in light traffic and causes rear-end crashes. One customer braked hard at 70 mph because the system saw a “ghost” car in an empty lane.
Insurance companies notice. Some deny claims if ADAS was disabled by a botched install. A $300 calibration can prevent a $10,000 payout fight.
Night rain turns deadly fast. Misaligned cameras can’t read wet lane markings. The car thinks the road is clear and drifts. We’ve recalibrated rigs after close calls just like this.
Dashboard icons flash: steering wheel, exclamation mark, or “Front Camera Blocked.” Lane assist yanks the wheel at odd times. Cruise control refuses to engage above 40 mph.
Adaptive headlights aim too high or low. Traffic signs don’t appear on the cluster. Any of these means the eyes behind the glass need realignment.
Pull over, snap a photo of the warning, and call us. The sooner we scan, the cheaper the fix.
The whole job takes two to four hours. You wait with free coffee or we drive you home.
Factory glass has the exact thickness and curve. The aftermarket can be off by millimeters. That warps the camera view and fails calibration every time.
We stock OEM for 98 percent of models. The extra cost up front saves recalibration loops and safety headaches later.
6,000-lumen LED target boards. Hunter alignment racks level to 0.1 degree. Autel and Launch scan tools speak every brand’s language. Heated chambers cure adhesive at 100 °F for perfect bonds.
DIY shops skip half this gear. The result: soft codes that pop up weeks later. Our gear leaves nothing to chance.
Our vans carry fold-out targets and portable scan tools. Park in any flat lot and we calibrate on site. No tow, no rental car.
Same-day slots fill fast. Book by noon and we’re there before dinner. Rain or shine, the van is climate-controlled for perfect results.
Comprehensive policies pay for OEM glass and calibration with $0 out of pocket in most states. We direct-bill State Farm, Geico, Progressive, and 40 others.
One call verifies your glass rider. Upload the estimate, sign once, done. Customers walk away owing nothing 9 times out of 10.
The gel pad behind the glass detects droplets. Wrong adhesive thickness and wipers run nonstop. We match factory gel every time.
Embedded wires carry current. Aftermarket glass fries the grid. OEM only, plus a multimeter check before you drive off.
The projector aims at a precise wedge in the glass. Misalignment blurs the image. We test HUD focus at three speeds.
Bumps, curbs, and frame flex can knock it out again. We recommend a quick scan after any front-end work or if warning lights return.
Annual alignment checks catch drift early. Bundle it with tire rotation and stay ahead.
Tape a target to the wall and wave a scan tool? The car laughs and logs “Calibration Failed.” Factory protocols demand exact distances and lighting.
YouTube “dynamic drive” videos skip the pre-scan. Codes hide until the next rainy night. Spend $29 on a video or $299 on safety—your call.
A mom in a minivan got a cheap replacement down the street. Two weeks later her Subaru braked for a plastic bag at 65 mph. Rear-end mess, totaled bumper. Our recalibration fixed the ghost braking in 45 minutes.
A teen driver ignored the lane-warning light. Car drifted on I-75, clipped a semi. Insurance traced it to an uncalibrated camera. Claim denied. Lesson: cheap glass isn’t cheap.
Drivers searching for reliable service often type sterling heights windshield repair into Google hoping for ADAS expertise. Choosing a shop that invests in targets, tools, turns out perfect.
Want to know the difference between factory glass and knock-offs? Read our full breakdown on OEM vs aftermarket next.
ADAS calibration isn’t an upsell—it’s the final step that makes your new windshield safe. One degree off and thousands of dollars in tech become blind.
At Save On Auto Glass, we treat every camera like it’s protecting our own family. Factory glass, precision targets, zero shortcuts. You drive away with every feature working exactly as designed.
See a chip? Feel a tug from lane assist? Reach out today. We’ll keep your car as smart as the engineers intended.
Save On Auto Glass, based in Sterling Heights (43917 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights, MI 48314), is a trusted, locally owned auto glass repair and replacement company serving Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan since 1998. Specialising in fast, affordable windshield repair, full auto glass replacement, power window repair, back glass replacement, and ADAS safety system recalibration, the company provides both in-shop and mobile service for maximum convenience. Known for its lifetime warranty, deductible assistance, and commitment to fair pricing, Save On Auto Glass is backed by hundreds of 5-star customer reviews and certified technicians, operating with same-day availability and easy scheduling through their website https://saveonautoglass.com or on their primary line, +1 586-991-5339.
Name: Save On Auto Glass
Address: 43917 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights, MI 48314, United States
Phone: 586-991-5339
Website: https://www.saveonautoglass.com/