01
Camera
Some camera-based systems may be positioned around the windscreen or other vehicle locations, depending on the vehicle. Relevant repair or disturbance may require assessment according to the applicable procedure.
ADAS / Repair — Doc. HZ-ADAS-AR-01
After accident repair, what happens to ADAS?
Modern vehicles may use cameras, radar and other systems around areas affected by collision or body repair.
After relevant repair work, the vehicle, fitted system and applicable procedure determine whether ADAS assessment, diagnostics or calibration is required. Horizon supports vehicle owners and repair professionals with the ADAS stage of the repair.
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Sec. 01 — Repair Context
Why can accident or body repair affect ADAS?
Depending on the vehicle, ADAS components may be mounted in or around parts affected by collision damage or repair. Relevant areas may include the windscreen, front bumper, grille, body panels, mirrors or other mounting locations.
Repair work may involve removal, replacement, repositioning, adjustment, structural or body repair, and geometry-related changes where relevant to a fitted system.
The repair context determines the ADAS requirement. Repair does not automatically mean calibration.
Sec. 02 — Repair Record
What changed during the repair?
These questions help establish the repair context before the relevant vehicle-specific ADAS procedure is determined. They are information points, not universal calibration triggers.
Begin with the repair record, not the calibration type.
01
Repair area
What part of the vehicle was affected?
What part of the vehicle was affected?
Record the area repaired and whether it is relevant to a fitted camera, radar or other system.
02
Components
Were relevant components disturbed?
Were relevant components disturbed?
Note whether a sensor or related component was removed, replaced, repositioned or adjusted.
03
Body / structure
Were mounting or reference areas repaired?
Were mounting or reference areas repaired?
Consider body or structural work around a relevant component or its mounting conditions.
04
Glass
Was relevant glass involved?
Was relevant glass involved?
A windscreen or other glass component may form part of the repair context for a fitted system.
05
Geometry
Were vehicle conditions changed?
Were vehicle conditions changed?
Depending on the procedure, suspension, geometry, ride height, loading or setup may be relevant.
06
System status
Is there system information to assess?
Is there system information to assess?
Warnings, fault codes or other system information can help inform the appropriate next step.
Sec. 03 — The Decision
Calibration is not the first question.
The first question is what repair was carried out and what the relevant vehicle and system procedure requires. Depending on the case, the next step may be assessment, diagnostic scanning, checking component status, calibration, verification or another repair action before calibration can be completed.
01
Understand the work carried out.
02
Identify the relevant system and procedure.
03
Determine the next action from the evidence.
Sec. 04 — System Context
Why is the ADAS technician interested in the repair?
The system may depend on a component, its mounting position and the conditions around it. Repair context helps identify what needs to be assessed.
02
Radar
Radar sensors may be positioned behind or around bumper, grille or body areas, depending on the vehicle. Work affecting a relevant component or its mounting/reference conditions may require assessment.
Sec. 05 — Documented Workflow
The accident-repair ADAS workflow.
Repair context → technical handoff
- 01Repair context
Understand what was damaged, removed, replaced, adjusted or repaired.
- 02System identification
Identify the relevant fitted ADAS systems and components for that vehicle.
- 03Procedure
Determine the applicable vehicle and system requirements before choosing the next action.
- 04Assess / diagnose
Carry out relevant assessment or scanning where appropriate.
- 05Calibrate
Perform the applicable calibration where the procedure requires it.
- 06Verify
Check the relevant outcome and system status.
- 07Document / handoff
Record relevant work and provide appropriate evidence or documentation.
Not every vehicle follows an identical sequence. Some issues may need to be resolved before calibration can be completed.
Sec. 06 — Diagnostics
Scanning informs the decision.
Following accident or body repair, diagnostics or scanning may be relevant depending on the vehicle, system and work carried out. A fault code can provide useful information, but it does not by itself determine the complete repair or calibration requirement.
The absence of a fault code does not by itself determine whether calibration is required either. Horizon provides diagnostic support, ADAS resets and pre/post scanning where appropriate.
Diagnostics are part of the assessment context, not a substitute for the applicable vehicle procedure.
Sec. 07 — Calibration Context
Where calibration is required, the method follows the procedure.
01
Static calibration
Static calibration is performed at Horizon’s calibration facility in Cardiff where the applicable vehicle and system procedure requires it.
02
Dynamic calibration
Dynamic calibration can be carried out mobile where appropriate and where the relevant procedure and conditions allow.
Further readingRead general ADAS calibration guidance
Sec. 08 — Technical Handoff
Horizon fits into the repair journey.
For the repair professional
The bodyshop owns its repair process.
Horizon supports the relevant ADAS stage following accident or body repair. That can include assessment, procedure-led diagnostics or calibration where required, verification and relevant documentation before the technical handoff back to the repairer.
- 01Body repair
- 02ADAS handoff
- 03Assessment / procedure
- 04Verification / documentation
- 05Hand back
For the vehicle owner
Start with what was repaired.
If the vehicle has been returned after an accident and you have a warning, a question about ADAS or a recommendation for further assessment, Horizon can help determine the appropriate next step within the relevant scope.
- 01Repair completed
- 02Question or system information
- 03Relevant assessment
- 04Next step where required
Sec. 09 — Prerequisites
The component is only part of the repair context.
A relevant camera, radar or other component may have been replaced or disturbed. That may introduce requirements for assessment, calibration, diagnostics or configuration considerations depending on the vehicle and job.
These requirements vary by vehicle and procedure. Any configuration or programming requirements, and the support available for them, depend on the vehicle and job.
01
Vehicle conditions
Geometry, suspension-related conditions, ride height, loading or setup may be relevant depending on the procedure.
02
Repair completion
The relevant physical repair or component condition may need to be confirmed before certain calibration procedures can be completed.
03
Calibration environment
The required environment and conditions depend on the vehicle, system and applicable procedure.
Horizon does not provide four-wheel alignment. Any required geometry or repair condition belongs to the wider repair process.
Sec. 10 — Completion Record
The record follows the procedure.
Where Horizon carries out relevant ADAS work, verification and applicable documentation form part of the procedure-led approach. For professional repair work, this can support a clear technical handoff back into the wider repair process.
- Verify
- Check the relevant outcome and system status following the applicable procedure.
- Document
- Provide relevant calibration reports or documentation where applicable.
- Handoff
- Return the technical record to the customer or repair professional within the relevant repair context.
Documentation supports the ADAS stage; it does not replace bodyshop repair records or prove total vehicle safety.
Horizon Insight
Repair context
The repair tells the ADAS technician what to assess next.
A collision repair is not a calibration instruction by itself. The useful record is what changed around the vehicle: the repair area, components, body or structure, glass, geometry and system status.
That context lets the relevant vehicle and system procedure lead the next step. Sometimes that is calibration. Sometimes it is diagnostics, a condition check, verification or another repair action first.
After Accident Repair — Frequently Asked Questions
Questions after the repair.
Does every accident repair require ADAS calibration?
No. The repair area, affected components, vehicle, fitted system and relevant procedure determine whether ADAS assessment or calibration is required.
Why can bumper repair affect ADAS?
Depending on the vehicle, radar or other components may be positioned behind or around bumper and grille areas. Removal, replacement, adjustment or repair in a relevant area may require assessment according to the applicable procedure.
Does replacing a radar sensor mean it needs calibration?
A replacement or disturbed component may introduce additional vehicle-specific requirements, which can include assessment, diagnostics or calibration. The applicable vehicle and system procedure determines the next step.
Can Horizon calibrate ADAS after a bodyshop repair?
Horizon can provide relevant ADAS support following accident or body repair. The work is assessed against the vehicle, fitted system and procedure, with diagnostics or calibration carried out where required and appropriate.
Does a fault code mean calibration is required?
Not necessarily. A fault code can provide useful information, but it does not by itself determine the complete repair or calibration requirement. The same applies when no fault code is present.
Can ADAS calibration be carried out mobile after accident repair?
Dynamic calibration can be carried out mobile where appropriate and where the relevant vehicle procedure and conditions allow. Static calibration is performed at Horizon’s calibration facility in Cardiff.
What if my vehicle has already been repaired?
Horizon can assess the relevant situation and determine the appropriate ADAS next step within scope. The previous repair is not assumed to be incomplete or faulty.
Does wheel alignment affect ADAS calibration?
Vehicle geometry or other conditions may be relevant to a particular procedure. Horizon does not provide four-wheel alignment, so any required geometry or repair condition may need to be confirmed or completed as part of the wider repair process before certain calibration procedures.
How long does calibration take after accident repair?
Timing varies according to the vehicle, system, repair, diagnostics, procedure, calibration method and required conditions. Horizon can advise more accurately once the relevant situation has been assessed.
Need the ADAS stage of the repair assessed?
Request a quote for the relevant ADAS stage, or use the procedure-led guidance to choose the pathway that best matches your situation.