calibration required after replaced windshield?

[QuantumPion]

I had a bunch of rock chips and cracks a couple months ago in my 2019 stinger. I've been waiting to get the windshield replaced and Safelite finally has the 2019 windows in stock. They told me that they do not have the equipment necessary to calibrate the various sensors after replacing the windshield, and that I would have to take it to the dealer to have that done.

However when I called my local Kia dealer, the service tech said he had never heard of any calibration being required and didn't know what I was talking about, and just advised to bring it in after replacing the windshield if anything did not work right.

So who is correct here? It makes me nervous, I don't want to find out that the smart cruise control was miscalibrated the moment after my car rear ends someone...

 

[Helo58]

Not sure with the Kia, but this isn't unheard of. When my Lexus windscreen was replaced, the sensor for the windshield wipers did, in fact, have to be calibrated. Those who didn't have it calibrated were constantly having issues with the auto setting of the wipers.

 

[SteveCo]

I had my windshield replaced several months ago, due to a crack from a rock impact. The car has the camera based LKA, rain sensing wipers, and heads-up display - and no calibration was required. Everything has continued to work perfectly post-install.

The smart cruise distance keeping is done by the distance ranging equipment located behind the sensor plate in the middle of your upper grill.

 

[StungBlueGT2]

I had a bunch of rock chips and cracks a couple months ago in my 2019 stinger. I've been waiting to get the windshield replaced and Safelite finally has the 2019 windows in stock. They told me that they do not have the equipment necessary to calibrate the various sensors after replacing the windshield, and that I would have to take it to the dealer to have that done.

However when I called my local Kia dealer, the service tech said he had never heard of any calibration being required and didn't know what I was talking about, and just advised to bring it in after replacing the windshield if anything did not work right.

So who is correct here? It makes me nervous, I don't want to find out that the smart cruise control was miscalibrated the moment after my car rear ends someone...

I had almost the same experience, but my Kia service knew exactly what was needed and calibrated the cameras and sensors. It cost $159 for 1hr of labor to do all the diagnostic testing and said I had to submit the invoice to my insurance for proof the install was completed properly. Luckily in FL windshield replacement is free so I was reimbursed every penny.

Not sure why your dealer is oblivious, but mine said it was good I came to them as it would have been a liability if the lane departure wasn’t recalibrated.

Not worth taking the risk and suggest trying a different dealer that actually knows what they are doing.

 

[SteveCo]

Thanks for posting this.

After seeing this, I looked up the LKA in the KGIS - and sure enough, a calibration of the unit is noted as a requirement after the windshield glass is replaced. Looks like either my glass shop failed to disclose to me that this was a requirement, or simply didn't get that information themselves. I'll be contacting the dealer to see about having this done, and retroactively bill the insurance company.

The KIA procedure requires special alignment targets, so likely isn't something that most glass shops would be able to carry out on their own.

 

[SteveCo]

Realistically, I'd be more concerned about this if it was an actual 'auto drive' application like on a Tesla, or even the more advanced system the Stinger has on the SK home market cars. The LKA seems to do just as good a job of subtle steering corrections as it did before the replacement, and I can't see any difference in how the 'lane departure' alert activates either. I'm going to assume they coupled it to the new windshield in pretty much the same spot as it came off the old one.

I will mention it to the dealer next time I'm by there.

 

[Aether]

Is it possible to just reset the sensor in the windshield via just disconnecting the battery?

 

[Crisis]

I had my windshield replaced under an insurance claim a couple years ago, so I had no problem with the local body shop taking it to the Kia dealer to get it calibrated. Didn't think anything about it until I received a photo radar ticket in the mail about a month later. Now this really confused me because it was a stationary photo radar installation that I'd foolishly forgotten about a couple months earlier (and received a ticket), so I was very diligent to keep my speed down in that area. I started doing all kinds of investigation to prove that the ticket was wrong. I checked my calendar and that's when I realized that the body shop had my car for the windshield replacement at that time. Called them up and, sure enough, it was the shop's owner driving it to the dealership for the calibration that morning. He paid the ticket with no argument and told me that he really liked my car.

 

[rpoffen]

I had a bunch of rock chips and cracks a couple months ago in my 2019 stinger. I've been waiting to get the windshield replaced and Safelite finally has the 2019 windows in stock. They told me that they do not have the equipment necessary to calibrate the various sensors after replacing the windshield, and that I would have to take it to the dealer to have that done.

Well that sucks. They have commercials on TV touting that they will recalibrate all your advanced safety systems after they replace a windshield.
False advertising.

 

[G-753255]

Not sure with the Kia, but this isn't unheard of. When my Lexus windscreen was replaced, the sensor for the windshield wipers did, in fact, have to be calibrated. Those who didn't have it calibrated were constantly having issues with the auto setting of the wipers.

Non sense …. I have been doing auto glass for 34 years .. rain sensors don’t get calibrated , the tech may have not replaced the rain sensor gel or patch and that can cause issues , or air bubbles the the sensor gel can cause issues.

 

[Hockster]

I'm on my 4th windshield, had a recalibration done once, never noticed a difference at all from the times I didn't get anything recalibrated. I never use LKA however, not sure what else the cameras as used for.

 

[blnewt]

I had my windshield replaced under an insurance claim a couple years ago, so I had no problem with the local body shop taking it to the Kia dealer to get it calibrated. Didn't think anything about it until I received a photo radar ticket in the mail about a month later. Now this really confused me because it was a stationary photo radar installation that I'd foolishly forgotten about a couple months earlier (and received a ticket), so I was very diligent to keep my speed down in that area. I started doing all kinds of investigation to prove that the ticket was wrong. I checked my calendar and that's when I realized that the body shop had my car for the windshield replacement at that time. Called them up and, sure enough, it was the shop's owner driving it to the dealership for the calibration that morning. He paid the ticket with no argument and told me that he really liked my car.

Just saw this thread and posting, what a great morning chuckle to go w/ my coffee, thanks for that!

 

[ElChanclo]

I never use LKA however

That's wild to me. It takes over most of the tiny steering adjustments you have to process and make during long drives, saves me from so much fatigue. I've noticed I arrive in a much better mood.