Rear Glass Tint Removal

[fe sus]

The PO of my truck installed some tinting material on all the rear glass that's been scratched and torn up over the years. It now looks pretty bad. I've had luck removing the stuff with a razor and some Goof-off in the past but don't want to damage my rear defroster. Any suggestions on how to get this stuff off while not destroying my defroster in the process?

 

[soggy60]

Windex ( or other brand) that HAS ammonia; add a tablespoon or so of non-sudsing amoina to window cleaner, add few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent. Mix ( if ya shake, you'll get useless suds)

Perform in the shade.

Spray the border and where the tares are. if you want- add slits with razor blade,,,,careful, don't cut wires.

let it sit for few moments (longer the better, but the spray will evaporate ....)

use fingernail or plastic knife blade to tease film off glass. Once you get 'edges' lifted, spray window such that the fluid hits the seam where film meets glass.
If you're lucky, you can peel-spray-peel-spray....the whole sheet off....

The defroster ribbons, although delecate, are well glued to glass.

 

[Benji]

acetone and razor blade. be CAREFUL!

 

[calphi27]

peel as much of the tint off as you can. Then spray remaining with tint remover. Tape a black plastic bag over whole window, sealing it off. Then allow for direct sunlight to hit it for several hours. Remove bag and wipe off residue.

Works better in summer when it is hot outside.

 

[Spud]

acetone and razor blade. be CAREFUL!

Dont get acetone on plastic...It will melt it.

 

[Rig of Mortis]

Peel up a corner then shoot compressed air under and it should come off as one large piece. Follow through using Fantastik® to remove the glue, works well (balls up the glue instead of thinning and smearing it), use a rag or paper towel, a guy in the window tint industry shared that tip with me.

 

[AA996]

I used a clothes steamer to melt the glue, the film pulled off easily. If you don't want to mess with all the chemicals, this is a good option.

 

[philos1]

I just paid my local tint shop $20 to steam it off of my old Jimmy. I have tint on the 60 now though...

 

[cbmontgo]

I tried all of this when I removed my 15-year old purple tint. I tried ammonia, black plastic bags, hairdryers, witch doctors, etc. The only thing that 100% worked was acetone (nail polish remover) and a razor and LOTS of patience.

 

[Tinker]

Don't just pull it off without using something to soften the adhesive - you're liable to damage the defroster lines. Best method, CB's response not withstanding, is to spray with ammonia (protect the upholstery nearby), cover with black plastic trash bag material, & park in the sun. That'll soften up the adhesive so you can pull the film off GENTLY.

Signed, a 3M window film dealer.

 

[MrWwindow]

What he said^^^^^^
Spray the film with Amoinia and water based spray about a tablespoon of non sudsing to about a spray bottle of water . Spray the window liberally than tape a plastic bag over whole window, sealing it off. Then allow it to sit for for several hours. repeat spray to keep moist as necessary. Remove bag and peel ramaining film off ,wipe off residue with a WHITE scrubbing pad or a type that does'nt have any abrasives on the scrubber to scratch the glass or remove the defroster lines.
The adhesive should look like rubber cement when it comes off.
I don't know if acetone works or not but it would seem to be messy and smelly and you would have to worry about getting it on every thing else

This is the process we used where I worked at a tint shop back in the day.

James

 

[hudyhue]

goof be gone.... wear gloves and read directions

 

[hicruise55]

Razor blade and goof-off for the oh so fantastic purple tint. Then re-tinted, still works great!

 

[jys381]

Just use Mean-Green and some rags - it works great. I didn't believe it either until I tried it. No razor blades or scrapers are required.

 

[calphi27]

Signed, a 3M window film dealer.

Do you have a shop, or are you just a dealer. I was looking into window tinting for my saab.

 

[NALU11]

Wal Mart Sell Tint Removal Stuff...........its Comes In A Spray Bottle

 

[beaufort-fj60]

I just paid my local tint shop $20 to steam it off of my old Jimmy....

lol.. this sounds like the best option..

 

[fe sus]

I steamed off TWO layers of tint from the rear window... pretty tedious but it looks fine and the defroster works...

 

[chrs_mrnd]

I removed my purple pimp tint with a heat gun from harbor frieght. I then used brake cleaner to remove the residue.

 

[ILUVMUD]

Did mine last weekend, use GM All Purpose Adhesieve Remover, in white square quart can from NAPA.
Will not ruin your paint and plastic like brake cleaner, acetone, etc. Actually, I got the film off by peeling from edges and additional razor blade slits I made (don't razor over defogger wires) and then cleaned the glue off with the GM remover and rag.