When 18-Year-Old Auto Upgrades Go Wrong: Forward Collision and Lane Departure Warning System - Advent LDWS100

by Jim Travers

Published: May 5th, 2017

when 18 year old auto upgrades go wrong forward collision and lane departure warning

If there’s anything we’ve learned with this project, it’s something we should have already known but tend to forget: Most projects turn out bigger than first imagined, and some are so large as to be either impossible, or not such a good idea after all — at least for those without the proper tools or knowledge.

Such was the case when we went to install the Advent LDWS100 Advanced Driving Assistance System. This is not to say the Advent isn’t a good device. Or to say that it is. It’s simply to say that we couldn’t get it working, so we don’t know.

Using an internal camera and GPS receiver, the system is designed to determine lane position, distance from a vehicle in front, and speed, then provide an audible warning if it senses danger. The device doubles as a video recorder if a collision occurs.

To its credit, the Advent appears to be a high-quality unit. The components all look and feel well put together, the wiring is of sufficient gauge so as to not fall apart when you try to work with it, and the wires are all color coded and labeled. That’s all good. The problem is, installing the LDWS100 is a task more than the average do-it-yourselfer is up for.

One thing that maybe should have clued us in to this is that the unit arrived in a plain white cardboard box, and not in brightly colored consumer packaging extolling its virtues with vivid photographs and bullet points. It looked like something meant more for a professional installer than a consumer.

The second clue came when we got to the installation instructions to wire the unit, which simply said to connect everything as outlined in the enclosed diagram. Said diagram consisted of a schematic with wires labeled ACC + 12V, TS left and right, and GND. It’s the TS (turn signal) one that threw us.

The device presumably won’t warn of a lane departure if a turn signal is activated, just like a factory installed system. The problem is to get to the wiring for the turn signals in our Acura means splicing into wiring in the steering column, which seemed like it held at least as much potential for damage to the vehicle as a poorly timed lane change.

I don’t necessarily fault Advent for this, but it might be nice if device manufacturers or outlets selling products like the LDWS100 better explained in promotional materials what was involved in their installation before a purchase is made. What I will fault Advent for is the lack of a customer service phone number or installation help line included either in the instruction manual or with the product packaging. A visit to their website did produce a contact form, but no phone number. We filled it out, and then received and missed a return call the following day. That didn’t help matters much.

We’ll be packing up the Advent and sending it back. The lesson remains one that we’ve learned before, both on car related projects and others around the home: Understand what you’re buying before making a purchase, and know your own limits.

#AdventLDWS100 #Aftermarket #ForwardCollisionAlert #Lane-departureWarning #The18-year-oldAutoUpgrade

Jim Travers

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Whitworth on May 05, 2017

I hate doing work like this where you're tapping into factory harnesses. And many of the people that work in that field are hacks you don't want working on this.

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Lorenzo on May 06, 2017

Thank heavens an LS engine swap is much easier, and doesn't have to deal with all that flowing electrons business. It's ironic that just when the mechanical bits have become more durable than ever, the complexity and expense of upgrading and repairing the electronics will cause cars to be junked with more usable miles left on them than ever.

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