How to remove aftermarket window tint?
 

Any Window Tinters in the house?

I need to replace a window in a SUV I have, and have bought used replacement glass from a junk yard.

This new window has the wet applied water based aftermarket tint film on the inside.

Any ideas / tips on how to remove the tint film?

I've soaked the new/used window glass overnight in a tub of water, and am going to go out and see how easy it may peel off?

Then out comes some acetone, then maybe a wide putty knife/razer blade.

Suggestions?

I need to get the inside cleaned up down to the bare glass to match my other windows.

thanks in advance!

I've removed tint from several cars. The easiest way I've found is to lift the edge of the film and then peel it off. This will leave the adhesive on the window, which is water soluble. From there just use water with a few drops of liquid dish detergent sprayed on, and wipe off. Rinse and repeat until adhesive is gone. It's really not too bad/big of a job.

What about it being on the back window with rear defrosters? I don't think just pulling it off would be best.

Undiluted amonia or 409 works well with water based glued on sheets...

How to Remove Window Tint - wikiHow

easiest way is to get a piece of Visqueen and cut it to the shape of the window.

Get a little spray bottle with undiluted ammonia, and spritz the inside of the window with it. put the plastic sheeting over the ammonia (to keep it from evaporating quickly).

let it sit for like 20 minutes or so.

slowly peel the edge of the tint and take it off.

The glass is off the car?

Lay it on the ground, spray it with high strength (undiluted) ammonia, put a plastic garbage bag over the top of it, heat it up with a hair drier for 5 minutes or so (out in the hot sun for 5-10 minutes works too, but probably not a lot of hot sun in most places this time of year), let it sit another 5 or 10 minutes, and it will peel right off, no residue.

There are some good threads here on removing tint. Ammonia is one way, using a steamer is another.

I found the ammonia works best. Steamer is ok, but takes a while and is hard to steam all of the window.

Don't just peel it off. You'll likely have a ton of residue behind, which is a pain to get all off.

Tint the other windows to match.

+1 for the ammonia and plastic.

Thanks All.

Actually the soaking it over night in water did the trick, and it came off in 2 large pieces. Very easy.

Some "goof off", brake cleaner, and Windex / Elbow grease cleaned up the rest of the residue adhesive.

Only 15 minutes to clean up the Honda Passport SUV new window, then another 3 hours to pull off the door panel, vacuum up 8 million little pea sized pieces of tempered broken glass from the bottom of the inner door panel with wet and dry vac hose (royal PITA), install glass, and re-assemble.

Note to self, while loading a scuba tank full of air into car while tired, do not bang tank into roll down front passenger window, glass don't like that.

I was going to suggest a baseball bat but I see you figured it out on your own.

:D