I am not a collision shop; do I need to worry about Advanced Driver Assistance Systems?

Post by Pat O'Neill, July 30, 2019, Tips

ADAS, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems in today’s motor vehicles are already helping to save lives and prevent injuries. A number of today’s new motor vehicles have technology that helps drivers avoid drifting into adjacent lanes or making unsafe lane changes, or that warns drivers of other vehicles behind them when they are backing up, or that brakes automatically if a vehicle ahead of them stops or slows suddenly, among other things. These and other safety technologies use a combination of hardware (sensors, cameras, and radar) and software to help vehicles identify certain safety risks so they can warn the driver to act to avoid a crash.

So, the question is if you don’t run a collision repair shop do you need to even worry about ADAS? In short, yes, you could be providing sub-par services and hindering the safety mechanisms of the vehicle if you repair glass, side mirrors, headlights, steering, alignments and dent repairs.

Repairs that will likely require an ADAS calibration:

• Glass replacement
• Interior or exterior mirror removal or replacement
• Thrust alignment
• Steering angle reset
• Suspension modifications
• Any repair affecting ride height, including tire or wheel size changes
• Removal or repositioning of any sensor, camera, radar, or LIDAR unit

These technologies have made today’s vehicles the safest in history. Similarly, advancements in engine technology make current model-year vehicles the most fuel efficient ever and with each succeeding model-year, fleets are taking delivery of better-built vehicles. Contributing to this increased reliability are engine and transmission component engineering, onboard diagnostics providing early warning of impending malfunctions, and longer-lasting synthetic motor oils.

It is essential to recognize ADAS components while repairing vehicle systems and take care to position them correctly and calibrate them after any repair. Because these systems are relatively new, some vehicles have required software updates (reprogramming) in some of their modules, which may also necessitate performing a calibration of the sensor or camera.

Examples of sensors that may be affected with these repairs:

• Glass Repair and Replacement
  • Heads up display
  • Rain sensors
  • Infrared or Solar Glass
  • Light Sensors
• Radiator Replacements
  • Cameras and Radars need recalibration in certain models
• Alignments, Steering
  • Cameras, Radars, Lasers for detection, steering torque/angle, and sometimes acceleration
• Headlight Restoration and Repair
  • Adaptive Headlights
  • Dynamic Headlights
  • HUD Systems
  • INVD Systems
• Dent Repairs
  • Depending on the location of the dent and proximity of sensors, lasers, radars

If your business repairs or replaces any of these components, we can assist you in getting the right tools and equipment to assist in proper repairs.

Chesapeake Automotive Equipment  provides top-of-the-line general shop and automotive equipment to commercial automotive-related businesses ranging from independent mom and pop auto collision and repair shops to heavy-duty repair facilities to auto dealership groups along the East Coast. Whether you are looking for wheel aligners, balancers, lift racks, tire changers, brake lathes or inspection equipment, you can find it all at Chesapeake Automotive Equipment, all backed with unparalleled customer service, training, and on-going support.

We serve customers in Maryland, Virginia, Metro D.C., West Virginia and Delaware. Contact our sales team at 800.604.9653 to find the right solution for your business.