window tint removal
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Tonganoxie KS
Pay to have a professional shop do it! Not even the pros can guarantee that all the defroster lines will work after removal but their chance of success is way better. If you have a few hours, a tolerant back, and access to a serious steamer, you can probably get the job done without much trouble. Or, you can use undiluted ammonia, (applied to the tint, covered with a black trash bag, and baked in the summer sun for an hour) to soften the tint so it can then be scraped fairly easily...a nasty process also. I've tinted every car I've ever owned, hatchbacks and coupes, and tint removal by a pro will be some of the best money you've ever spent!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,272
Likes: 54
From: W. Jefferson OH
I always removed mine myself, I use a heat gun on the OUTSIDE of the glass(pull VERY slowly) and if it was professionally installed it will pull off easy and take most of the glue with it, do not use the heat gun on the inside. If you have any residue left on the window use a fine grade steel wool(no razor blades) and window cleaner to take it off. If they used autozone tint it will be very difficult to take it off with out alot of glue left. If you do not feel comfortable trying this I would definetly pay someone, it is really not that hard.
Last edited by fasthwks; Feb 12, 2006 at 04:53 PM. Reason: forgot something
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls
Local Acura dealership has tint removed by spraying window with distilled water then covering it with black garbadge bags and letting it sit in the sun(if you can find any) for about an hour. Window film peels right off with no problems. Don't know what kind of tint product they use. Was very easy.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,766
Likes: 5
From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
Your in Cali. Nice easy no problems with defroster line damage. Spray window with water, put a BLACK plastic bag over the wet window, leave car in sun for a couple hours, peel the film right off. Nice easy, safe, inexpensive method that works. As long as the sun is out. 
8th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
the trash bag method works the best as long as the tint dont have a bunch of dime size bubbles in it, nothing will work at that point that will save your defroster, spray pure amunoia on the glass and cover it with a black trash bag, the odor is terrible so hold your breath, let sit in the sun for 20 to 30 min and it will peel right off, if any glue is left, goto a bodyshop supply store and buy a can of "beta clean" it is the best window cleaner on the market by far. it is made by Dow and is in a black can, spray window with that, let sit for 2-5 min and go after it with ultra fine or fine steel wool, DO NOT use plastic scrubbers or anything other then the soap free steel wool, i have owned a tint shop for 18 years and this is how i do it everyday but the key is the dime size bubbles all in the tint. if it has those DO NOT attempt to remove the tint, a shop will charge you $50 and up to get it off at that point! it will be well worth the money spent!
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