Window Film

[Andy_95sl2]

I ran a search and didnt really find anything. I have tint on my front windows that i must remove to pass inspection. I went to the grocery store and got some ammonia, and i know that if you want to remove tint, you scrape it off after letting it bake in the sun for a while. In my case, i cant do that. Can i just spray the window down with ammonia and use a heat gun to release the tint? Its been on there since march 1995.

Oh yeah, i got some razor blades too.

[99_SL2]

ammonia isnt going to help until you get it started and can get it into where the window and tint are connected, the outside wont do anything but clean


heat gun is how ive gotten stupid bumper stickers off so sounds like a good start

[Andy_95sl2]

The tint has a small gap between itself and the top of the glass, so i guess for the ammonia to work, i'd have to scrape some of it off the top and it'll eventually eat between it?

[Silent Bob]

Whenever I've removed tint, I find a starting point and peel all the film off. Will probably come off in little sections. All that should be left is the glue. I take fingernail polish remover (w/ ammonia) and a rag and work a small section at a time. Saturate the part you are rubbing with and make sure you continue to change to a clean section of rag. Once a section gets gunked up it won't collect the glue as it loosens, this is why you want to make sure you are using a clean portion of the rag. There may be easier ways to do this out there, but this is how I've always done mine

[99_SL2]

yeah, same method here. think of cleaning your window, does the windex remove your tint? no.. the ammonia is used to get rid of the glue. nothing difficult about it, just time consuming, have fun

[detroitbass]

Peel tint from corner with nail, remove film. Assuming it is good film, it will leave glue (some real cheap tint doesn't leave glue). Take a stainless steel razor blade. Spray the glass with Windex, get it soaking wet. Carefully scrape the glue with the razor, soaking with Windex as needed. It will seriously take you 5-10 minutes. At my old shop, we charged $15 a window to remove. So we made $30 in about 10 minutes.

[Andy_95sl2]

The tint is some pretty good stuff. I forget what company put it on, but i have heard of it before. I'll get the card from the car tomorrow.

I read somewhere on the internet about removing the tint from the rear window by spraying the tint with ammonia and covering the inside with a black plastic garbage bag, and parking the car towards the sun to release the glue. It also said that the ammonia will eat through the tint and make it pliable so it will come off easier. I guess i'll just try and peel it off tomorrow. I'll post the results when i'm done. This is also going to be the first time i'm doing anything like this, so wish me luck!

[scottyr94]

You're doing the rear window too? Be very careful with the defroster strips if you ever want them to work again.

[Andy_95sl2]

Sorry, i'm only doing the front windows. Jersey inspection wont allow any tinting on the front windows. I tried to remove the glass to make it easier on me, but those glass nuts didnt want to budge. I tried using a pair of vice grips in the holes and around the nut itself and it wouldnt budge. I also tried soaking it in PB blaster, but to no extent will it move. I just gave up and i'm doing it while in the car.

Speaking of that tool, does anybody know what GM number it is so i can buy it for future needs?

[detroitbass]

You don't need to remove the glass, dude.

Oh, DO NOT simply just peel the rear window, it will ruin the defroster lines.

[Andy_95sl2]

Thanks for all the help guys. The tint was put on in strips in the back window, but i'm leaving it on from the doors back. In 1 1/2 hours i got the driver's door fully completed. I probably could have done it quicker if i had put the razor in a vice grip like i did later on. It was awsome seeing the ammonia EAT the glue off. Its just like having new glass! [img]{SMILIES_PATH}/biggrin.gif[/img]