11/07/2025
That guy is Rocking a sweet stash LOL!!! That thing takes talent!! LMAO 🤣🤣 Awesome.
Ok, so in all seriousness, if you get into an Accident and bring your vehicle to a shop for repairs, at a MINIMUM, your Body Shop should perform a Pre-Repair and a Post-Repair Diagnostic Scan (Vehicle Safety/Health Checks).
Most (if not every) vehicle manufacturer (OEM) has a Pre- and Post-Scan Position Statement by now that explicitly states that these Scans are required by Repairers.
Each OEM Position Statement stresses the importance of performing these procedures.
If your vehicle has a Published Position Statement that explicitly states that Repairers are required to perform these procedures, and the Repairer ignores these instructions and just starts to dig into your vehicle, it could lead to major problems during, and following the repair.
If your Body Shop isn't, at a minimum, following these very basic initial and final procedures mandated by the OEM, chances are that they are NOT consulting ANY of the OEM service and repair procedures for your specific vehicle.
If a repairer is Not consulting and/or following OEM service/repair procedures/guidelines when "repairing" your vehicle, not only is it Not safe for the repairer, the driver and others on the road, but it could also be considered an unauthorized modification of your vehicle and void any warranties.
The Body shop could also be neck high in Liability if any of the systems fail or cause bodily harm. If they cant reference the Diagnostics and/or proper procedures used as proof that they were Not negligent in the repair of your vehicle, this can lead to very big, unwanted, and unnecessary issues down the line.
You need to ask yourself, is this the Body Shop for me? Am I willing to risk not only myself or my family, but all the other drivers and/or pedestrians on the road as well?...
Most OEM Position statements also include mention of Electrical systems, specifically ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems).
If your vehicle is equipped with ADAS, aka:
1) Cameras:
a) forward-facing (located in the center front windshield).
b) Rear back-up (on the trunk lid, liftgate handle areas, or in rear bumper).
c) Wide-angle, all-around 360 degree, (cameras located in both LH & RH side mirrors, front bumper/grille, and rear bumper).
2) Millimeter Wave Radars (behind the emblem in the front bumper/grille, or behind the front bumper on both LH & RH sides).
3) Blind-spot Radars (behind the rear bumper or Quarter panel on both LH & RH),
4) Utrasonic Parking Sensors (the small circular sensors located in the front or rear bumper covers).
Any time one of these components is unplugged and moved (in any way) from its original position it REQUIRES RE-AIMING AND RECALIBRATION.
Even if Not Directly Damaged in an accident/collision, if any of these systems are Removed and then Re-installed (R&I'd) to access another part that has been damaged, these systems STILL REQUIRE AIMING AND RE-CALIBRATION.
If any of these components are Replaced (Repl) due to accident damage or from any other malfunction, they REQUIRE AIMING AND CALIBRATION, and may also REQUIRE PROGRAMMING (depending on the specific part and OEM).
Re-Aiming and Re-Calibration are VERY SPECIFIC procedures requiring SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT. These systems are designed to work within specific tolerances and unit of measure. Shops ARE NOT supposed to just check if it works after Disconnecting/Reconnecting (D&R) or R&I. These components require RE-AIMING AND RE-CALIBRATION in order to function as designed. The systems need to "SEE" the road or an object in a VERY specific way. If they are Not properly mounted, aimed, and calibrated, then the SAFETY OF YOURSELF, YOUR VEHICLE, OTHER PEOPLE, AND OTHER VEHICLES/OBJECTS COULD BE SEVERLY COMPROMISED if the equipped ADAS does not "SEE" or is Not "LOOKING" where it is supposed too.
Many people (both consumers/drivers, and other Body shops) do Not understand the intricacies of these systems themselves. Your RADARs, Cameras and Sensors all "TALK" to other systems and components in your vehicle. They are all interconnected within Communication Network (Can-Bus) of the vehicle. It differs from each vehicle manufacturer (OEM) to manufacturer, based on what the overall capability of what the system is designed for, which makes consulting the OEM service procedures and hiring a qualified Shop or technician to perform the work is very important.
For instance, Many OEM's REQUIRE a Re-Calibration of the Forward-facing Camera (which is attached to the bracket behind the windshield at the top-center) and/or the Millimeter wave Radar (located behind the emblem/grille/front bumper), and/or the Blind Spot Radars (located on the sides behind the rear bumper or quarter panels) if and when you bring your vehicle into the mechanic shop for a WHEEL ALIGNMENT.
YES!!! This is the TRUTH for many different Models (Toyotas, Hondas etc)...!!!
WHAAAAAAAT?!! "I NEVER KNEW THAT!!" How many people knew/know that the OEM actually Requires a Recalibration of all these systems after such a routine procedure like a wheel alignment?
Subsequent Re-calibration of these systems is required after a wheel alignment because as part of or following a wheel alignment (which can change the ride height and the way that a vehicle shifts, sways, and/or pulls etc.) the STEERING ANGLE SENSOR is then re-zerod and the max-steering angles are then stored (calibrated). GUESS WHAT? The Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) is where the Camera and Radars take their orders from. It directly "talks" to these components, which in turn "talk" to other systems, such as the SRS (Supplemental Restraints System)/Airbag/Seatbelts, your ABS (anti-lock brake system)/Emergency braking, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), and even your Adaptive Headlights!
So, once the vehicle has been realigned and the steering angle sensor recalibrated, these ADAS systems also require Recalibration because they are "taking their orders" from the old SAS and vehicle parameters which were skewed. They need the new and ACTUAL parameters to incorporate into the systems equipped. It is important because this determines the actual middle or zero point of the vehicle. This in turn provides ACCURATE Driver SAFETY Assistance in things like LANE KEEPING ASSIST, BLIND SPOT MONITORING, ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE, INTELLIGENT/ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, PEDESTRIAN WARNING etc.etc.
Yes the ADAS will still "works" if you do not recalibrate after an alignment, BUT IT IS NOT "WORKING AS DESIGNED" AND IS NOT "WORKING" ACCURATELY. The ADAS needs to be reading the road and/or objects based on the new and correct settings obtained following the alignment and SAS rezero.
When Life or Death can be determined by just a few inches, this Accurate Recalibration MATTERS!
BE AWARE, if your vehicle is equipped with ANY of these systems and if you are ever in an accident and subsequently need to bring your vehicle to the Shop to be fixed, I urge you to ask your Body Shop what the OEM specifically requires with concern to ADAS during your Repair, and ask them to show you the OEM Position Statement(s).
Some Shops understand the Need for Aiming and Calibrating, but do Not have the specialized equipment to perform the required procedures themselves. In this case they will typically make arrangements to tow your vehicle to a SUBLET Calibration company or Schedule a mobile company to perform the requirements following the actual physical repair of your vehicle. But you WANT your Shop to Acknowledge the need.
BEWARE, If any Body Shop brushes this off and doesn't at least make mention of Diagnostic Scans (Pre & Post-Repair) AND AIMING CALIBRATIONS (USING SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT) it doesn't necessarily mean they are purposely being negligent, however, they may just Not have the knowledge, or expertise necessary to perform a proper and safe repair on your specific vehicle (year, make, & model). THIS SHOULD BE A RED FLAG. DO NOT pass go, DO NOT collect $200 (Monopoly reference) 😀.
As stated above, some Shops, even if they R&I or D&R one of these components, do Not understand that these NEED to be RE-AIMED/CALIBRATED. Some just think AIMING means Reconnecting, checking if the system "works," and eyeballing where they "think" the radar, sensor, or camera should be mounted and the direction it should point. This practice is FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED and could put you in danger if any of these systems are misaligned by even 1 degree put of tolerance. Think about it, 1 or 2 degrees over distance increases the margin for error within the field of "vision" of the component. ASK more questions. WHAT DO THE OEM PROCEDURES SAY?
Come see us @ ANNISQUAM AUTO BODY & our sister company ADAS GLOUCESTER LLC for all of your Repair and ADAS Aiming & Calibration needs.
If you choose to have your vehicle "physically" repaired at another shop, you can still have them SUBLET the Required ADAS Calibrations over to us at ADAS GLOUCESTER LLC if they are not equipped to perform the proper procedures themselves.
We offer a LOCAL solution to the ADAS Calibration problem. No long and expensive vehicle transport costs out of town to the Dealerships. No long wait. We will work with any of the shops in town to ensure your vehicle is SAFETY restored to pre-loss condition following an accident.
Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have regarding ADAS. We also help our customers and Sublet partners navigate through the Insurance gauntlet by providing proper documentation to get the INSURANCE Company to Pay for these required procedures Mandated by your OEM.
Ryan Blanchard
Massachusetts Licensed Auto Damage Appraiser NPN #21125167
ADAS Calibration Specialist
(978) 283-1533
[email protected]
Annisquam Auto Body
ADAS Gloucester LLC
12 Pond Rd.
Suite #'s 1-2
Gloucester MA 01930
