You picked the car up with a new windshield, and within a mile the dash lit up: lane keeping unavailable, pre-collision system off, or a camera symbol with a line through it. An ADAS warning light after windshield replacement is common, and it is rarely a fault in the car. It is usually the car telling you that the camera behind the mirror cannot see properly, or has not been aimed since the glass changed. This article goes through what the messages mean and what to do about each.
Why the camera reacts to new glass
On most newer cars, a forward facing camera sits on a bracket bonded to the inside of the windshield. I-CAR, the collision repair training body, says that camera controls lane departure warning, collision braking and adaptive cruise control, and that removing the windshield is one of the events that may require aiming it again. The new glass puts the camera at a slightly different angle, and the car’s software knows its view is not what it expects.
The messages, and what usually causes them
| What you see | Common causes |
|---|---|
| Lane keeping or lane departure unavailable | Camera not yet calibrated; camera view blocked; a dynamic calibration not yet finished |
| Pre-collision or automatic braking off | Camera not calibrated, or on cars that pair it with radar, a sensor that does not agree with the other |
| Adaptive cruise unavailable | Camera or radar not ready; sometimes a dirty sensor face |
| Warning comes and goes | A dynamic calibration still learning; glare, rain or a smeared patch in front of the lens |
| No message, but the car drifts or brakes oddly | A camera that is working but aimed slightly off |
Ask Impex about a calibration
Three short steps: what happened, the vehicle and how to reach you. Mention any warning on the dash and when it started.
When the light is expected
Some cars put up a warning until a dynamic calibration finishes. I-CAR describes dynamic calibration as driving the vehicle at or below a set speed for a set time or distance, and notes it may need roads clear of snow or rain without heavy traffic or many curves. If the technician tells you the car will finish learning on the road, a message for the first stretch of driving can be normal. If it is still there after the drive you were told to make, it is not.
What to check yourself
- The glass in front of the camera. Wipe the outside of the windshield behind the mirror. A film of cleaner or a smear from the install can blur the view.
- Anything stuck to the glass. A toll transponder, parking pass or dash camera moved into the camera’s view during the job.
- The radar face. If your car has radar in the grille or bumper, make sure it is clean.
- Restart the car. Some messages clear once the system checks itself at the next start.
If none of that clears it, call whoever replaced the glass. Do not rely on lane keeping, automatic braking or adaptive cruise until the car says they are working.
When no light comes on at all
No warning does not prove the camera is aimed right. A camera that is working but slightly off can pass its own self-checks and still read the lane lines or the gap to the car ahead a little wrong. That is why the vehicle makers list windshield replacement as a calibration event whether or not a light comes on. Signs to watch for are lane keeping that tugs when you are centered, warnings for cars in the next lane, or braking for shadows.
How Impex avoids the problem
Impex performs ADAS calibration on site immediately after windshield replacement, and its technicians complete static and dynamic calibrations in one visit. Impex says most calibrations take between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Because the glass is checked by VIN before the visit, the procedure for your vehicle is known before the job starts. Impex also performs radar calibration on site, without a separate dealership appointment. Read ADAS camera calibration in Raleigh for the full procedure.
If someone else did the glass
If your windshield was replaced elsewhere and the camera was not calibrated, or you are not sure it was, Impex can calibrate it. Give the VIN and describe the warning, and you will be told what the car needs. In North Raleigh the service is mobile; see the service areas. Raleigh Autoglass is a website of Impex Auto Glass and is not connected with any other business that uses a similar name.
Warning light since your new windshield? Call Impex Auto Glass about a calibration in North Raleigh.
Questions people ask
Is a warning light after windshield replacement normal?
It can be while a dynamic calibration is still finishing on the road. A warning that stays after that, or appears after a job with no calibration, means the camera needs attention.
Can I drive with the ADAS warning on?
The car will usually drive normally, but the systems the warning names may not work. Do not rely on them until the warning clears.
Will the light go away on its own?
Sometimes, if it was waiting for a dynamic calibration or a restart. If the camera was never calibrated, it will not fix itself.