Windscreen replacement and camera calibration

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Applicability depends on the engine, equipment and vehicle specification. Selecting a brand alone does not identify a particular vehicle.

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When driver assistance systems are involved

Vehicles equipped with a front camera for driver assistance systems. The calibration procedure and values are determined for the particular vehicle.

On a vehicle with camera-based assistance systems, replacing the windscreen may also affect their correct operation. The camera installation and calibration requirements specified by the manufacturer for the particular system must be followed.

The need for calibration after windscreen replacement or repair is checked according to the specific system and the work carried out. The same procedure cannot be applied indiscriminately to every vehicle or every minor glass repair.

What needs to be distinguished

What you have noticed	What to report or distinguish
Glass replacement or work on the camera	Whether that particular version requires calibration and how its completion is confirmed.
Camera and radar	These are different sensors; a requirement for one does not automatically apply to all of them.
An assistance system reports restricted operation	There may be several causes, including an obstructed sensor view.
No warning after repair	The absence of a warning light does not replace a required operation.

Camera, radar and the vehicle's equipment

A camera behind the windscreen and a radar at the front of the vehicle are not the same component. Depending on the design, their data is used by different systems or cooperating functions. The name of an adaptive cruise control or lane assistance system alone therefore does not determine the calibration procedure.

The workshop needs the vehicle's exact specification and information about glass replacement, an accident or a previous repair. Requirements are checked against the equipment fitted and current manufacturer documentation.

Calibration must be completed successfully

Depending on the version, calibration is carried out statically in the workshop, dynamically during a specified drive or using a combination of both. An ordinary road test does not in itself replace the required calibration procedure.

If the manufacturer requires calibration after the work, that requirement does not depend solely on a warning light coming on. After the repair, ask for confirmation of which operation was necessary and whether it was completed successfully. Any failure to complete it must be resolved for the particular system.

Restricted assistance does not yet identify the cause

A message stating that an assistance system is unavailable does not automatically mean a faulty camera or missing calibration. Dirt, snow, a film or an obstruction in the relevant sensor's view may also be responsible; displacement or damage is another possibility.

After stopping safely, you can check that the relevant area is clean and unobstructed, following the handbook. Do not interfere with the sensor or its bracket or change their position. Persistent messages, damage or a change in behaviour after a repair require professional assessment.

What to tell the workshop and how to proceed

Note the exact message and the circumstances when it appeared. If you have a record of a previous calibration, give it to the workshop together with details of the work carried out.

Do not rely on an assistance system that reports a restriction or behaves unusually. Follow the handbook and assess the particular situation when deciding on the next steps. Do not test its operation by deliberately provoking emergency braking or steering intervention.