How to remove cheap auto window tint? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Unright · 08-28-2004, 05:41 PM

I just bought a used 1991 Toyota Corolla for $200 (US). Works great, but the windows have a horrible blue tinting that has bubbled out so badly I really can't see out the back window.

I'm thinking I'm going to have to scrape it off with a thin razor, but before I do that, I was wondering if somebody knows a quick and easy way to remove it.

Ashton · 08-28-2004, 06:37 PM

Take a 1 1/2 razorblade paint scraper and peel the edge of the film back, once you get enough peeled back to get a grip on slowly pull the film off the window, if you're lucky it will come off in one peice but since its old it probally will tear and come off in strips....... either way you are going to need a spray bottle filled with water and a squirt of dishwashing soap,

The window will be covered with adhesive from the film, lay some towls down across the back deck and spray the window with soapy water, put a new blade into the scraper and simply scrape the adhesive off making sure to keep the window wet or you will scratch the glass.

If the window has defroster lines you cannot scrape with a razor, instead take a scotchbrite pad and scrub the adhesive off, add some more soap to the water mix and keep the window good and wet.

fhqwhgads · 08-29-2004, 02:03 PM

I've always had luck taking off stickers with a heat gun. I'm not sure if it would work in this application, but it worked real well when I took the stupid "TRD" sticker off the side of my Toyota. I'd suggest starting with a hair dryer, and soften up the adhesive. Once you get the tint off, rubbing alcohol or "Goof Off" works real well on any residual adhesive.

illudo · 09-05-2004, 11:12 AM

best way is to heat the window a bit with a hair dryer, and then scrape it with a *plastic* scraper. you can find these in any food store, the employees use them to scrape the price stickers off things and they just leave them up on the fluro lights that run along the shelves.

dont use a razor, you can scratch the glass.

zandor45w · 09-10-2004, 08:21 AM

I used warm soapy water and then a plasic scraper to pull of some old tint, good luck.

Tdoggg · 09-10-2004, 03:35 PM

Yep warm water and a thin blade worked for me......

soccerchamp76 · 09-11-2004, 11:53 PM

Ammonia
If you see any window cleaner, some will say "Safe for tinted windows" because they are ammonia free.
So, grab yourself some ammonia-window cleaner and wash them and then use the scrap method.

Big Cholla · 09-15-2004, 09:13 PM

soccerchamp beat me to it. Ammonia is the solution. Go to an industrial cleaning supply outlet and buy the strongest ammonia they will sell. Get a couple of cheap plastic highwall trays. Place about 1/4 inch of ammonia in each one. Place one in the front seat and one in the back seat. Put your car in the sunshine with the windshield facing the most sun possible. Seal up the car totally. In about 2 to 4 hours later, come back, open up the car, get rid of the ammonia and literally just pull off the plastic film with your fingers. You will have to clean the glass with a good window cleaner. Heating the inside of the car up with the car heater does not help. The ammonia must sublimate from liquid to gas vapor and not be blown around by a heater fan. The ammonia vapor needs to just hang there and not move around very much.

An aside: If you spend big bucks having your windows tinted, never let carwash people use their cleaning rags inside on your windows. The carwashes seem to like ammonia based chemicals for several different cleaning jobs and their rags are usually contaminated. That is where those little bubbles in the tinting came from.

HeLLVieW96 · 10-10-2004, 08:17 PM

i didnt read through the other posts/answers, but i do this kind of stuff sometimes at work ( i do auto detailing at the huge ford dealer in town) and i also stripped my own car. i assume if youre removing the tint, its old. you can take a razor blade scraper tool, dont use just the blade, its too small and youll probably cut yourself. and use water/window cleaner in a spray bottle, and keep the window fairly wet, and scrap the tint off. it comes off better wet. just be careful about slipping and cutting into other parts of the door panels n stuff.

08-28-2004, 05:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Unright Crazy Location: Florida	How to remove cheap auto window tint? I just bought a used 1991 Toyota Corolla for $200 (US). Works great, but the windows have a horrible blue tinting that has bubbled out so badly I really can't see out the back window. I'm thinking I'm going to have to scrape it off with a thin razor, but before I do that, I was wondering if somebody knows a quick and easy way to remove it.

09-05-2004, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
illudo Upright	best way is to heat the window a bit with a hair dryer, and then scrape it with a plastic scraper. you can find these in any food store, the employees use them to scrape the price stickers off things and they just leave them up on the fluro lights that run along the shelves. dont use a razor, you can scratch the glass. __________________ Got a funny story, convo, or image? Please submit it Or view the others.

09-10-2004, 08:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
zandor45w Upright	I used warm soapy water and then a plasic scraper to pull of some old tint, good luck. __________________ You're so cute, you thought your opinion mattered

09-11-2004, 11:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Ammonia If you see any window cleaner, some will say "Safe for tinted windows" because they are ammonia free. So, grab yourself some ammonia-window cleaner and wash them and then use the scrap method. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

08-28-2004, 06:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ashton PORNHOUND Location: California	Take a 1 1/2 razorblade paint scraper and peel the edge of the film back, once you get enough peeled back to get a grip on slowly pull the film off the window, if you're lucky it will come off in one peice but since its old it probally will tear and come off in strips....... either way you are going to need a spray bottle filled with water and a squirt of dishwashing soap, The window will be covered with adhesive from the film, lay some towls down across the back deck and spray the window with soapy water, put a new blade into the scraper and simply scrape the adhesive off making sure to keep the window wet or you will scratch the glass. If the window has defroster lines you cannot scrape with a razor, instead take a scotchbrite pad and scrub the adhesive off, add some more soap to the water mix and keep the window good and wet.

08-29-2004, 02:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
fhqwhgads Junkie	I've always had luck taking off stickers with a heat gun. I'm not sure if it would work in this application, but it worked real well when I took the stupid "TRD" sticker off the side of my Toyota. I'd suggest starting with a hair dryer, and soften up the adhesive. Once you get the tint off, rubbing alcohol or "Goof Off" works real well on any residual adhesive.

09-10-2004, 03:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tdoggg Upright	Yep warm water and a thin blade worked for me......

09-15-2004, 09:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
Big Cholla Upright Location: Las Vegas, Nevada	soccerchamp beat me to it. Ammonia is the solution. Go to an industrial cleaning supply outlet and buy the strongest ammonia they will sell. Get a couple of cheap plastic highwall trays. Place about 1/4 inch of ammonia in each one. Place one in the front seat and one in the back seat. Put your car in the sunshine with the windshield facing the most sun possible. Seal up the car totally. In about 2 to 4 hours later, come back, open up the car, get rid of the ammonia and literally just pull off the plastic film with your fingers. You will have to clean the glass with a good window cleaner. Heating the inside of the car up with the car heater does not help. The ammonia must sublimate from liquid to gas vapor and not be blown around by a heater fan. The ammonia vapor needs to just hang there and not move around very much. An aside: If you spend big bucks having your windows tinted, never let carwash people use their cleaning rags inside on your windows. The carwashes seem to like ammonia based chemicals for several different cleaning jobs and their rags are usually contaminated. That is where those little bubbles in the tinting came from.

10-10-2004, 08:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
HeLLVieW96 Tilted Location: TucsoN , ARizonA	i didnt read through the other posts/answers, but i do this kind of stuff sometimes at work ( i do auto detailing at the huge ford dealer in town) and i also stripped my own car. i assume if youre removing the tint, its old. you can take a razor blade scraper tool, dont use just the blade, its too small and youll probably cut yourself. and use water/window cleaner in a spray bottle, and keep the window fairly wet, and scrap the tint off. it comes off better wet. just be careful about slipping and cutting into other parts of the door panels n stuff.