How to Reset Car Touch Screen
Cars of today have high technology features and touch screens are typical and provide comfort and usability. However, like any other electrical gadgets, car touch screens have their problems which may include for instance, freezing or nonresponding. Under such circumstances, it is useful to understand how to reset the car’s touch screen so that you do not end up scratching your head or paying hefty amounts for getting it fixed. This article will guide you through the process of How to Reset a Car Touch Screen, this will depend on the extent of the problem.
Understanding Your Car Touch Screen
The touch screen in your car is a luxury feature that is added to the car to impress buyers. It is the central hub for all the car’s entertainment and information systems that enable the driver to control aspects like music, navigation, and climate. When this part is not working well, you can say that the entire experience of driving could be affected.
Common Issues with Car Touch Screens
Common problems include:
- Unresponsive touch inputs
- Frozen screens
- Slow performance
- Inaccurate touch responses
Knowing the type of issue you’re dealing with is the first step in determining the best way to fix it.
Why Reset Your Car Touch Screen?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s briefly discuss why you might need to reset your car touch screen:
- Minor Glitches: As with any piece of technology that uses a software, car touch screens may from time to time develop issues.
- Freezing Issues: There are times when the screen will not be able to respond as expected or may even freeze.
- Miscalibration: The touch screen may not be able to interpret the touch that you make on it properly.
- System Updates: After a system update, a reset would be necessary to complete the changes that were made in the system.
Understanding the cause of the issue can help you decide which reset method to use.
Soft Reboot
What is a Soft Reboot?
A soft reboot is the simplest form of reset, similar to restarting your Car . It’s effective for minor glitches and can often resolve issues without erasing any data.
Steps to Perform a Soft Reboot
Consult Your Car Manual
Each car model is unique in terms of design and performance. First of all you have to go through the car manual. The manual will be detailed on how to operate and control your car’s touch screen and dashboard.
Locate the Power Button
Touch screen controls can be found in many cars and most of them incorporate a power button on the face of the screen. Please find this button before going any further.
Long Press the Power Button
In some cases, the power button is used to perform a reboot, simply press and hold this button for about 10-15 seconds. This action will stop all operations and lead to the complete shutdown of the system.
Wait and Restart
If the power light on your system is blinking amber when the power switch is set to off, wait a few seconds for the system to power cycle completely. After that, press the power button again in order to restart the operation of the touch screen.
Hard Reset (Factory Reset)
What is a Hard Reset?
A hard reset or factory reset returns the touch screen to its factory default settings. This will delete all your settings, information that you previously saved, and devices that were connected previously, essentially giving you a clean slate.
When to Use a Hard Reset
Use a hard reset if:
- A soft reboot does not change the problem.
- You’re experiencing severe or persistent problems
- You’re preparing to sell your car and want to erase personal data
Steps to Perform a Hard Reset
- Turn off your car and remove the key from the ignition.
- Disconnect the car battery by removing the negative terminal.
- Power down the system and wait for at least 15 minutes more so as to allow any existing power to discharge from the circuit.
- Connect it again and switch on the vehicle.
- Follow any on-screen prompts to reconfigure your touch screen.
Alternative Method: Hidden Reset Button
However, if your touch screen is unresponsive, there are some automobiles that have a hidden reset button. This button is usually located and is easily activated using a small object such as a pen. To reset this button you need to check your manual where the location on the remote and how to reset it is described.
Calibration (Touch Screen Calibration)
If your touch screen is miscalibrated, it may not respond accurately to your touches. Calibration can help fix this issue.
Availability of Calibration
Moreover, not all car models have touch screen calibration as an option. Read the owner’s manual of your car to determine if calibration is possible with a particular model.
Calibration Method
The calibration process can vary. It sometimes includes specific sequence of touches within a certain screen and possibly while the system is in a diagnostic mode. Please refer to your manuals for specific details that you should follow when completing this process.
Resetting Different Brands of Car Touch Screens
Resetting a Ford Touch Screen
Once again, there is a simple procedure that corresponds to Ford cars: power button and the seek-up button need to be pressed at the same time, with the car’s screen needing to blink.
Resetting a Toyota Touch Screen
In Toyota cars, the touch screen usually has a reset function; you have to hold the power button on the audio system for just 10 seconds.
Resetting a Honda Touch Screen
Reset each of the touch screens in Honda: In this case, you should press the volume knob for around 10 seconds and the touch screen will restart.
Resetting a BMW Touch Screen
BMW touch screens are normally reset by holding the volume control knob until the screen is blank and then restarts.
Troubleshooting Post-Reset Issues
What to Do if the Reset Doesn’t Work
If the reset doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to consult your car’s manual or contact customer support for further assistance. There could be a deeper software or hardware problem that needs professional attention.
Common Post-Reset Problems and Solutions
Sometimes issues that arise after reset are that some settings are lost or connectivity is disrupted. These issues can be fixed either by changing settings or reactivating Bluetooth devices.
Maintaining Your Car Touch Screen
Regular Maintenance Tips
In order to maintain the touch screen, it is recommended that you clean it with a … with a soft non-abrasive cloth. It is also important not to use bleach or any other highly reactive chemicals or rough materials that could scratch the screen.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Do not put pressure on the touch screen, especially when typing or using the stylus, be careful while doing so. They potentially harm the screen or some of the sensors that it employs.
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Conclusion
It is not difficult to reset the car touch screen when you are facing such issues. This guide describes how to do a soft reboot, how to initiate a hard reset or calibrate the touch screen if the system gets stuck. Always refer to the car’s manual for any specific guidelines on how best to handle your particular make and model of car. Updating infotainment system from time to time and also having routine reboots can be helpful for its fine working.
