Why should I have my windshield recalibrated?
What appears to be just a window of glass when you drive, actually doubles as an advanced piece of technology. Your cars' windshield is build to protect you in many more ways than you know. All modern vehicles are covered with cameras and sensors everywhere, including behind your windshield. Your windshield will need to be in perfect allignment to get proper reads from all cameras and sensors.
At the forefront of modern vehicle technology is Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems or ADAS. ADAS is a set of technological features that increase the safety of driving a vehicle. This sytem uses a human-machine interface to improve the drivers' ability to react to any dangers on the road.
Toyota's version of ADAS is called Toyota Safety Sense or TSS. Toyota Safety Sense refers to all messages and alerts that pop up in your vehicle. The system does so by communicating with your windshield and all the other cameras and sensors throughout the vehicle.
To make sure that TSS can properly communicate with your windshield, it will occasionally need recalibrated. This helps ensure the safety of the driver and all passengers in the vehicle.
For example, lane tracing assist will alert you if your car goes over the road markings. Another example of utilizing TSS would be when another vehicle is quickly approaching and they move into your blind spot. TSS will detect this object and alert the driver to be aware, advising them to not to change lanes.
Both examples and many other sensors and warnings fall under the Toyota Safety Sense system of the vehicle.
What Does TSS have to do with my Windshield?
The windshield needs to be in perfect relationship with the many sensors and cameras mounted in the vehicle, primarily with the multi-function camera centrally mounted behind the top of the windshield.
When a new vehicle is purchased, the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) windshield will already be calibrated and ready to roll. If the windshield needs to be recalibrated and is unattended to or is calibrated incorrectly, then it could lead to mistimed or false alerts that could cause the driver to make an inaccurate decision.
For example, if the vehicle is set to apply the brake automatically, and the windshield isn’t calibrated correctly, it could lead to braking at the wrong time.
Unfortunate and dangerous situations can occur due to the windshield being off by the slightest of degrees. The Lum’s Auto Center Team knows that the most important aspect of windshield calibration is the safety of the people. It is crucial to have a trained technician diagnose and run a proper calibration of the TSS system to ensure that it is safe and ready to hit the road.
What is the Process of Windshield Calibration?
Lum’s Auto Center will do a diagnosis on your vehicle and windshield to find the issue. A trained technician will then ensure the windshield replacement is an exact match for the vehicle. The technician will double check for any misalignments and ensure the adhesive is applied correctly. They will use special calibration tools to precisely measure and adjust the windshield to avoid potential safety hazards.
Toyota Features that Utilize Windshield Calibration
TSS comes with many different features, a few of them being the Pre-Collision System w/ Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD) and Road Sign Assist (RSA).
Toyota Pre-Collision System w/ Pedestrian Detection– This system combines cameras and sensors to detect possible objects in a vehicle’s path and apply automatic braking when necessary.
Road Sign Assist- RSA detects speed limits, stop signs, certain warning signs, etc. and displays them on the multi-information display.
More TSS Safety Features
When Should I have my Windshield Calibration Done?
There are multiple instances where a windshield will need to be recalibrated. A few examples are:
- After a windshield replacement
- Following wheel realignment
- Change of car’s suspension
- If the camera has become disconnected or reconnected
- When your dashboard alerts you with an error message
When one of these actions takes place, you will want to have your windshield recalibrated immediately. In some cases, like windshield replacement, this occurs directly after following the procedure.
Which Toyota Vehicles come Equipped with Toyota Safety Sense?
All new and used Toyota models come equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, some at each of the 4 TSS levels. These include TSS 3.0, TSS 2.5 & 2.5+, TSS 2.0, and TSS-P. Read our Toyota Safety Sense article to see which level of TSS your car comes equipped with.
Where Should I have my Windshield Calibration Done?
If you live in or around Seaside and Astoria, OR or Long Beach and Ilwaco, WA then you have the benefit of visiting Lum’s Auto Center to get your windshield recalibrated.
At Lum’s Auto Center our highly trained certified technicians will use their experience and expertise to calibrate your windshield. We will make sure you can hit the roads with an extra sense of security!
Give us a call at 503-861-1144 or stop by Lum’s Auto Center at 1605 SE Ensign Lane to talk with one of our knowledgeable service advisors. We will do our best to answer any question you may have to ensure you’re comfortable with the entire process of recalibrating your windshield.
