Today’s drive-thru vehicle detector systems are built to give years of reliable service. But as with any piece of equipment, they need maintenance and service from time to time to ensure they function properly. If your vehicle detector is acting up, try the following:

·         Reset or unplug the system base station. Like rebooting a PC, this can often solve the problem.

·         Examine the wiring and cables for loose connections, as these can cause erratic performance. Also check for exposed or frayed loop lead-in wires and make repairs as needed.

·         Check the drive-thru system’s magnetic field alignment. If the system isn’t detecting vehicles with a high undercarriage or is missing vehicles too close to the car in front of them, adjust the height of the field accordingly.

·         Wet-vacuum or sweep away any standing water that may have accumulated around the detector.

·         Check for cracks in the pavement near the detector loop area. If these have occurred, contact your system vendor for technical support.

With proper drive-thru maintenance, detector loops should last seven to 10 years. If you experience problems more than twice a year, your detector loop may need replacing.