Best way to remove window tint

HPLouis

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Now that I have a mid-pipe with cats, and a new tune, I thought I was ready for NY emissions, but wait....nobody will inspect me with tinted windows. I have to remove them.

What’s the best way? I don’t want to destroy the defroster lines. I was checking out YouTube and saw some vids of people using a steamer. Does anyone have any experience with that?

Thanks,
Henry


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BlksvtCobra01

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All I know is you have to be super careful with the rear window defroster. I’ve never done it however.


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Black Gold 380R

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I had tint on my vert. It was too dark, so I removed it. I guess it wasn't on that long.

All I had to do was pull it off. Almost no glue left behind and then I cleaned the windows with windex. No problems.

I would recommend watching a few YouTube videos on removing the tint. Most just pull it off. Then they let the glue soak in windex and they use a razor to scrape the glue off.

I would be very careful using that technique on the rear defrost as mentioned. Once those strips get damaged no more rear defrost.

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01yellercobra

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A friend of mine used a technique where he sprayed an ammonia based cleaner on the window, then put a black plastic bag against it. He let it sit in the sun for a few hours then the tint pretty much fell off.
 

Goose17

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Make sure you have to do this first... some states allow darker windows behind the driver (not side or front windows).
 

mariusvt

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Ny tint for cars. Looks like you just have to remove the tint from the doors.

Tint darkness for sedans:

Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in (non-reflective tint with any darkness can be used on top 6 inches).Front Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in.Back Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in.Rear Window: Any darkness can be used if using dual exterior rear view mirrors
 

HPLouis

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Thanks guys. I used my wife’s fabric steamer and it peeled right off.

For NY I would have to take off the door tint but it would loom funny to have tinted back windows and clear front so I took it all off.


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2003SVTFreak

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Just did this to my contour which had baked on tint from 98. Windex or any glass cleaner that's ammonia based, black trashbag, heat gun, and exacto knife. Spray the window generously put trash on tint, wait ten minutes, then grab heat gun and help the heating. Then grab a corner with the exacto knife and start pulling. Took me almost a week to get it all off, a little bit each day, but I saved the defroster and the window was spotless.

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Wings65288

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I removed my rear window tint with a fabric steamer, it took less than 5 minutes..

This is exactly what I did. I took a lot more time with the rear window tho cuz the defroster lines. Definitely take your time with the rear window and do it last. You'll have a better feel for it at that point


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cj428mach

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I pulled the tint off my old SB car with a steamer, it came off really clean and neat.
 

KLLR SNK

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I didn't have a steamer so I bought a spray bottle at the dollar store. I filled the spray bottle with boiling water and saturated the tint. The tint came right off after the adhesive degraded from the heat. I always have a dry towel handy to absorb any overspray. Works pretty well for me on most things with an adhesive that I want to remove.
 

Eric Garttner

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You can have the rear windshield tinted legally because if you remove it you run the risk of damaging the defroster. NY owner here


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Goose17

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Since you guys are using heat to assist with tint removal, have you considered turning on the rear defrost to add more heat? I’m sure you’ll need more with a steamer or heat gun, but might as well get help from what’s already installed.
 

HPLouis

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Hi,
I was able to pull it off. I used a fabric steamer and I was lucky. The tint probably wasn't on that long and it peeled right off and didn't leave any residue or glue behind.
 

HPLouis

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You can have the rear windshield tinted legally because if you remove it you run the risk of damaging the defroster. NY owner here


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I saw that. I could have kept the times on the quarter panel glass and the back but I had to remove the door glass. I didn't like that so I just took it all off.
 

jdsupertinter

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I’m sorry for not posting this sooner, I’m a “professional”. LOL
Anyway, for real
First, use formula 409 to bag the rear window, trash bag works great.
Cut the trash bag sides and fold it out to make it big enough to fit over back window in one piece.
Use water to spray down back window, stick trash bag on outside, cut to fit inside.
Spray inside with Formula 409, and stick trash bag up on inside of rear window. The idea is to keep the 409 from evaporating. I lay the bag down on the rear deck before I spray, then stick it up.
Then, pull car out and face rear window into sun, hot day is always better.
Leave car running, turn heater on and rear defroster.
Let it sit for about a half an hour.
Keep an eye on it, I’ve seen cars with faulty thermostats overheat. Seriously, keep an eye on it.
Any way, it should get so hot you can’t put your hand on window.
Pick at a corner with your fingernail or a razor blade.
Try to peel it in one piece staring from one corner. Doesn’t always work, but about 75% of the time.
Now if that doesn’t work we bust out the steamer.
If that doesn’t work, scrape scrape scrape, buy the big 100 blade box of razor blades at Lowe’s. It’s gonna suck.
Also, when the car is in sun super hot , try peeling the side windows, a lot of times they will peel off glue and all. Try parking sideways putting side windows into sun, then flip it. Once again, doesn’t always works.
Typically on side windows I peel the top half down, spray with soapy water (water with a couple squirts of soap). And then scrape the glue with a fresh razor blade in rows, evenly across the window. I typically go through a blade or two per window. The glue should become gooey when the water hits it. I guess windex would work.
If it’s separating, good luck. It’s hard labor, when it’s like that, I’ll go through sometimes 10 blades per window. And my arms will be sore.
Another thing, buy a decent scraper, don’t use that little finger held device. Buy a proper scraper, makes life so much easier. The one that pops out, locks when out. Has a sliding mechanism, that’s the one we use. We blow through them, they go bad and you can get a bad one that won’t lock right.
Hope this helps.



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