Safest way to remove tint from rear window?

The tint in my rear window started to bubble so I thought I'd peel it off. Parked the car in the driveway in the sun, got the window nice and hot, proceeded to pick away.

Only PARTS of the tint come off, and not in nice, neat pieces either. Little pieces! I give up.

Called an auto detailer to find out how much it would cost to remove it and was told, "I'm not touching it." I asked why and they told me they don't want to be responsible for ruining a $700 defogger window by razor blading it 'til all the tint was off.

My only other option, besides doing it myself (and that is not something I look forward to), is to try other detailers/tint shops. But I can't do that until my car is fixed.

Any easy way to take this shit off that won't ruin the window? It appears there are three layers; dark, not-so-dark but cloudy, and the sticky crap!

Please advise!!

Thanks!

Cindy '96 laser red auto GTS

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Reply to
C. Olofsson
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I never tried it, but you could go to your local home depot and buy a heat gun (about $29) and see if the heat will help by shrinking the tint and making it easier for it to peel off.

Just an idea...

Jason

Reply to
RioRedGT

Reply to
Erik D.

Do you have glass insurance........ ? Gravel trucks, right? Yeah that's it a gravel truck ;^) StuK

Reply to
Stuart&Janet

at 13 Nov 2003, C. Olofsson [ snipped-for-privacy@cox.net] wrote in news:2QTsb.771$cX1.590@fed1read02:

Is it factory tint or film? If film, here is (use at your own risk) what a local tinter once told me.

Cut open a black garbage back so it will fit the back window. Use a sponge plentyfully soaked in ammonia and apply it to the film so it is nice and wet. Then apply the garbage bag over it and tape that at the edge of the window for sealing. Now leave the car in nice full sunlight for about 30 to 45 minutes.

That should deal with 99% of the tint. Now if the defroster lines are not embedded in the window, but are on the glass, I'm not sure what the ammonia would do to them..

As I said, use at your own risk, I can only relay what I've been told...

Reply to
Paul

Well that sounds a little safer than spraying Windex on it, I guess.

Thanks.

Reply to
C. Olofsson

I'm guessing it's aftermarket as pieces came off like a plastic type film. What does factory tint look like? Can you remove it the same as other tint?

Nor am I. LOL! Maybe I shouldn't try, 'cause the lines seem to be ON the glass.

Sounds like a great idea, but I think I better let a professional deal with it. :-)

Thanks anyway, Paul.

Cindy '96 laser red auto GTS

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Reply to
C. Olofsson

How I WISH I had glass insurance. I'm considering lowering my deductible since stuff keeps happening to my baby.

it a gravel truck

Reply to
C. Olofsson

Go to Home Depot (or whatever) and get some Goof-Off (acetone should also work). Get a bunch of razor blades, a couple rolls of paper towels, and get ready to spend the day scraping and scrubbing.

It took me an entire weekend to remove 2-year old tint on the LX that was bubbling. I'll never tint again.

Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

"C. Olofsson" wrote in news:2QTsb.771$cX1.590@fed1read02:

Reply to
Joe

We did this to my brothers trans am. it doesnt take it off but really softens it up then you can peel it and end up getting large pieces. it took a few atempts at getting it all off. it took off all the film but the glue stayed. so we just rubbed it down with gasoline and that worked flawlessly.

Reply to
John Wiebalk

NO!!!! DO NOT SCRAPE WITH A RAZOR BLADE!!!!!

You will scrape the lines off of the defroster and render it worthless.

If you have some residual goo after you soak it off, you can use paint THINNER or lighter fluid and a terry cloth towel to remove the goo. Both of course are flammable, but both will cut the goo.

Gawd Cindy, be careful...

Kate

| > Only PARTS of the tint come off, and not in nice, neat pieces | > either. Little pieces! I give up. | >

| > Called an auto detailer to find out how much it would cost to remove | > it and was told, "I'm not touching it." I asked why and they told me | > they don't want to be responsible for ruining a $700 defogger window | > by razor blading it 'til all the tint was off. | >

| > My only other option, besides doing it myself (and that is not | > something I look forward to), is to try other detailers/tint shops. | > But I can't do that until my car is fixed. | >

| > Any easy way to take this shit off that won't ruin the window? It | > appears there are three layers; dark, not-so-dark but cloudy, and | > the sticky crap! | >

| > Please advise!! | >

| > Thanks! | >

| > Cindy | > '96 laser red auto GTS | >

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| >

| >

| >

| >

| >

|
Reply to
SVTKate

I had the rear window re-tinted by a pro. The guy had a spray bottle of stuff he said was just for removing tint. It took him about 10 minutes to clean the rear hatch back glass. He gave me the name of the stuff but I can't remember the name any longer (done 2 years ago). I would call a couple of window tinting outfits and see what they use before I tried any other methods.

Reply to
Joe Cilinceon

at 13 Nov 2003, C. Olofsson [ snipped-for-privacy@cox.net] wrote in news:piXsb.808$cX1.282@fed1read02:

factory tint, like on my wife's truck, seems to be embedded in the glass rather than as a film on it. Like the 'glare' strip on top of our windshields...

Reply to
Paul

I hadn't planned to after the detailer said he wouldn't touch it. LOL!

I will, don't worry. If I could get my hands on the moron who had the windows tinted, I'd strangle him!

Thanks, Kate.

Cindy '96 laser red auto GTS

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Reply to
C. Olofsson

I removed the rear tint (and all other windows) using a couple bottles of stuff I bought at wal-mart called "Tint Off".. it's in the same aisle where automotive cleaning supplies (car wash concentrate, wax, chrome polish, carpet cleaners, etc) are usually. I've had nothing but good luck with it. Surprised nobody else here mentioned it. It made taking off the tint EASY. It's only like $3 per bottle... if it doesn't work for you, it's not like you're losing a crapload. I'd give it a shot =). Good luck, Cindy.

-Mike

Reply to
<memset

I believe this is what I used to remove the tint when it started to get bubbly. An old credit card works good as a "scraper".

If,by chance,you do scrape off a piece of the rear defroster lines their is a kit which you can buy at the local auto parts store to repair the broken line. The kit includes a small brish, template and a bottle of "line paint". I wish you much patience!

Reply to
Sustang

Hehe.. I used a library card ;D

Reply to
<memset

Yep that is the stuff the guy used on mine rear window.

Reply to
Joe Cilinceon

I got the tint off my windows pretty easily with some basic supplies.

A squirt bottle with water and a bit of amonia Trash bags Razor Blade Terrycloth Towel A sunny day Some tape

With my car parked in the driveway on a nice warm day I started by cutting a black trash bag apart so i have 2 rectangles. The take one of the rectangles an tape it to the top of the window. Spray the water/ ammonia on the window tint and press the bag against it. It should stick. Do the same to the outside of the window. Use the razor to trim the bags so the fit. The I let it sit, with the doors orpen to keep the smeel from getting too bad, for an hour or so. Next remove the bags from the windows and use the razor to get just enough tint up to grab. Then pull it off gently and if you're lucky it will come off in one sheet. If not it may take a couple tries. The use the towel to wipe off any adhesive that remains.

Took me the better part of a day to do but wasnt all the hard.

----- Original Message ----- From: "SVTKate" Newsgroups: rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 1:30 AM Subject: Re: Safest way to remove tint from rear window?

Reply to
Jon Eyman

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