Window Tint Removal

[mercman]

My car has window tint on the rear window from the P.O. Wondering if anyone has any tips on the best way to remove it? There is a defroster grid on the rear window, any precautions?

Thanks,

[TerryH]

Thought I had read that wet newspapers stuck to the window in direct sunlight should do it.

I will defer to an expert opinion.

[Zeke]

Lots of info on the Net. Some here too. Search?

[GeorgeM]

I had my VW Corrado re-tinted last year. The old stuff was 12 years old.

It's a delicate job with the defroster grid. Recommend calling a tint shop and see what they'll charge you. Mine was less than $100 extra to remove the old stuff from the 3 back windows. Worth every penny and they did a great job.

[rnln]

not sure how sticky is yours. I had cars which had tint removed several times. Put the car under the shade for a while untill it cool down, used soap water or windex to spray on the corner first and pill it off slowly while keep spraying. Shops did the same.

[mtnfir]

A shop quoted me about 120 to remove just the rear window of my 87 targa. I did it for about 4 dollars. Get a black plastic garbage bag and tape it around the exterior of the window. Next you will need a razor to cut out the section of garbage bag that covers the glass. You want as exact of a duplication of the existing tint with the garbage bag. Next the stinky part. You will need to get a spray bottle and fill it with ammonia and soak the interior of the window. NOW just get the garbage bag cut out and stick it to the window. This can be a bit tricky and helps if you start from the top and work down. An extra set of hands helps too. Be sure it is well ventilated cuz it stinks. Now just park the car in the hot sun and crack open a cold one. After about an hour or so, the glue should be moist enough that you can just scrape off a corner or so and peel the whole thing off in one or two sections.
Hope this helps

[DonMo]

The ammonia and heat is the secret. Carl has the recipe.

[vash]

i did my side windows. i used a diluted ammonia mix. full strength cant be good for the leather parts. i talked to my tint dude. he quoted me $100 for the rear glass. he said he uses ammonia and a steam gun.

[PRE-H20]

hey there! i hope someone is still around on this thread!

are you fellas sure about tis process?..... i got the garbage bag, pure amonia, sunlight, let it sit for an hour... and NUTTIN!... the amonia just dried and the tint didnt even budge....... not a bit.

am i missing something?.....

as i re-read in thinking the garbage bag is the the culprit...... i taped the garbage bag to the outside as instructed,.... IS THIS JUST SO THE AMONIA DOESNT DRY?.... am i supposed to put the garbage bag cut out ON THE INSIDE over the amonia and tint?.....

i know this is a bonehead question but i need a lil direction/understanding of the process....... thanks guys....... sorry for the stupid post.....

[ossiblue]

My interpretation of the original thread was to affix the garbage bag to the inside where it will adhere because of the moisture of the ammonia and prevent evaporation and allow the penetration of the film. This idea follows along the instructions of the tint I have in my home where the installer made clear not to use any ammonia based cleaner on the film.

[PRE-H20]

aaahhhhh ok ok maybe THAT is where i got jacked up....... ok ok well i will give it a whirl and see if using that process works...... seems as though the amonia or any other liquid would just dry up like it did yesterday..... who knows... we'll certainly see......

can anyone else echo what ossiblue mentioned?

[mkossler]

The idea is to create a template of the window's inside surface with the garbage bag material. Once you have sprayed (having the remainder of the bag around the window when you spray prevents harmful overspray onto sensitive interior surfaces), placing the bag over the window and making sure it is in good contact across the entire inside surface will prevent evaporation and give the heat & ammonia time to do its job on the adhesive. As Carl said, in good sun about an hour will do the trick. You'll be able to tell right away when you try to remove the film. More spray as you remove doesn't hurt, in my experience.

Good luck -

[bluesky]

the original poster mentioned putting the bag on the outside of the glass in order to cut the bag to the proper shape......this makes a template....then the bag-template is taped to the inside of the glass to do just as mkossler said

[PRE-H20]

well there you have it!..... hehe im feeling like an idiota!.... i taped the bag to the outside of the window and left it there thinking the dark color of the bag was supposed to keep the amonia from drying..... wow im feeling stupid!.....

i guess 4 years of school should have been 5-6 instead... would have giving me a chance to freaking READ more and build up those comprehension muscles!.....

thanks fellas.. i will try my newly gained enlightened process!.......

[bluesky]

let us know how it turns out......

[mkossler]

Hey, no worries! Someone had to explain it to me too, once upon a time. You'll be feeling pretty good about it shortly, when you see your newly clear and de-obfuscated (side and) rear view!

Cheers,

[PRE-H20]

ok,... so i am 30 minutes into waiting the hour ish but it doesnt look very promising.....

here are a couple of pictures...... i hope this is what it is supposed to look like.......

by the way,... this is NOT for my 911.....

it is for my explorer.....


this is on the INSIDE.... black plastic bag... after application of pure amonia



this is what it looks like from the outside


this shot is the inside corner.... (i know its not perfect but its close enough to see of the whole thing is gonna work)

[ninesixfour]

If you've ever had a car tinted they tell you not to clean the windows with ammonia-based glass cleaner. So you don't even need pure ammonia just use Windex or any other glass cleaner that has ammonia in it. You also don't have to be that picky with the garbage bag. Just spray the Windex on, put a garbage bag on that's roughly the size of the window, press it flat, heat it up, and it will peel right off. My entire back window came off in one piece as did each side window. You might need a razor blade in the corner to get started but after that it should peel right off.

[PRE-H20]

wow..... ok it worked and i was amazed..... took all of about 2 minutes and the darn thing came off in one piece.... now i have my template!

the glue cleaned off pretty easy with windex......

im pretty shocked at how easy it was..... you guys are freaking cool!...... thanks!

here is a shot of the removal!

[Pete000]

I used the plastic bag technique and did it in the boiling hot sun. I soaked the tint with Simple green and it just came off easily. The Simple Green also cleaned off all the sticky glue. Not fun and you will loose a few pounds sweating.