Removing Window Tint

[rcecale]

WOW! If I had known it was so easy, I would have done it a while ago!

The tinting on my windows had seen better days. It was so bad I could barely see out the rear hatch, even in broad daylight. Bubbles so bad it seemed I was driving underwater. Time for the tinting to come off!

Here's how I did it:

Items used:
black (dark) trash bags (30 gal. size)
spray bottle of water
spray bottle of ammonia
utility razor blades

Procedure: Do the following in the heat of the sun. The sun is your friend here.
1.) Fold the rear seat flat and lay a tarp or blanket down over the entire rear area.
2.) Cut 4 trash bags so that they lay out flat.
3.) Spray water over outside of the hatch, you want a good coating.
4.) Using the water to hold them in place, lay 2 trash bags over the hatch, you want a good adhesion here, the water will hold them in place. Trim the excess away so any wind doesn't pull the bags away from the window.
5.) With the hatch open, spray the inside of the hatch with a good coating of ammonia.
6.) Using the ammonia to hold them in place, press the 2 remaining trash bags against the inside of the hatch glass.
7.) Leaving the car in the heat of the sun, close the doors and the hatch and allow the car to sit for about an hour to let the ammonia soak into the tint adhesive.
8.) Return to the car an hour or so later and slowly pull the trash bags away (leave the outer trash bags in place so they keep a little heat on the glass), a little at a time. If you sprayed enough ammonia, the tinting should come away from the window pretty easily.

Use a razor-blade to lift the edges up and pull the tinting away. The tinting is actually 2 layers of plastic. You want both the outer and the actual tinted layer to come off together. If they aren't, and the tint is staying on the window, simply apply more ammonia and come back 30 minutes or so later.

Ammonia is your friend here. If the inside of the window becomes dry, simply spray more ammonia on it. Working with your thumbnail, you should be able to remove most, if not all, of the tinting. Any really stubborn pieces can be scraped with a razor-blade, but be careful not to damage the lines for the defroster.

Not counting the hour or so I waited to let the ammonia work, it took right at about an hour to get all the tinting removed. Once it was gone, I washed the glass several times to ensure I removed all the bits and remaining adhesive.

It's great to be able to see behind me now!

Randy

[white944cup]

Randy: Great writeup......I'm glad someone found an easy way to remove old window tint. Removing that crap was always on my list of things that needed to be done to finish out the car, but I never had the courage to try it. I was afraid it would be FUBAR, and end up looking worse than it already did. Those big bubbles kind of grew on me after a while.....Are you going to get some new tint applied, or leave it like it is? That rear hatch is like a big magnifying glass in the sun.......Terry

[rcecale]

Hey, Terry!

Yeah, I have to admit, the tint came off so much easier than I expected. I actually figured it would be a job that took up the entire weekend. I was more than pleasantly surprised at how quick and painless it ended up coming off. I wish I would have tried it this way when I scraped the tint off my 911!

As far as having it re-tinted, you're right. That window does draw quite a bit of heat. Fortunately, I think I'll probably have it re-tinted at some point, but for now, I think I'll be okay. Fortunately, I keep it garaged when it's parked at home, and at work, I park in a parking garage, so for now, there is really no rush. I'll probably have it tinted next spring.

Randy

[2Tight]

Originally Posted by rcecale

Hey, Terry!

Yeah, I have to admit, the tint came off so much easier than I expected. I actually figured it would be a job that took up the entire weekend. I was more than pleasantly surprised at how quick and painless it ended up coming off. I wish I would have tried it this way when I scraped the tint off my 911!

As far as having it re-tinted, you're right. That window does draw quite a bit of heat. Fortunately, I think I'll probably have it re-tinted at some point, but for now, I think I'll be okay. Fortunately, I keep it garaged when it's parked at home, and at work, I park in a parking garage, so for now, there is really no rush. I'll probably have it tinted next spring.

Randy

I have to try that. My black car has limo tint and I hate it. I was always worried about damaging the defroster lines and this would solve that issue. If my defroster lines come off with the tint I'm coming after you with a gun though. JK

[rcecale]

Use straight ammonia. You can pick up a bottle for a little more than a dollar. Don't be afraid that you're using too much. The ammonia cuts right through the adhesive. I was literally pulling off large pieces...as thought they were falling off.

Remember, if you're leaving the tint layer on while the clear is coming off, soak it down again.

Use your thumbnail to work any stubborn places off, saving the razorblade for any extremely resistant pieces. You can have it gone in an afternoon.

Randy