Is it possible to remove ancient window tint without ruining the rear defroster?

I need to have my rear sides redone but I don't see a problem with that. I just don't want the shop to render my defroster useless. I know they use water when they apply it, can they grab an edge and use a water spitzer to loosen the film as they peel it off. Or, is heat an option?

I'm tired of looking through tint installed before '92 when I got the car.

I appreciate any answers.

 

It is possible, definitely a labor of love though. Take the hatch off and turn it upside own so that you can actually work on it. Starting around the edge try a rag and *hot* soapy water, if you can get an edge to lift then continue slowly across the glass. Products like goo-gone can be used to mop up the rest of the adhesive, but do not scrub on the defroster lines.

Good luck, I have done it once, and will never do it again...

Isaac

 

I used a clothing steamer to remove my decade-old window film prior to retinting. No issues; my defroster still works dandy. Took maybe a half-hour, 45 minutes to get it all off, some of which time was spent refilling the steamer several times.

Absolutely much easier to do if you remove the hatch and place it on a padded table upside down.

 

Acetone removes the old glue easily. Just use some care around the defroster "wires".

 

No practical experience here, but I wonder if the warnings from the tinting people not to use ammonia based cleaners, like windex, might be a hint? Perhaps DD's steamer loaded with windex?

 

I think that might violate the Geneva accords, Ray.

 

"tint off" Is made to break down the tint glue. Works like a charm and won't damage your defroster. Just peel back a corner and spray.

Wal-mart used to sell the stuff in the tint isle, but last time I checked the tint isles in wal-marts were a little thinned out. Like the tint your car craze ended.

If all else fails I'd use lighter fluid. That would probalby break the glue down as it breaks down most glues.

 

+1

Have used a steamer several times through the years to remove tint safely without ruining defroster. Even on 10 years old tint.

It may take longer given the age of the tint but the moisture will build between the tint and glass making it much easier to begin to peel off. Easier and faster than using a razor.

Definitely remove the hatch and watch for steam burns. You may have some glue residue after removal which you can deal with removers.

Good luck

 

I just went and bought one of these from Harbor Freight for $9.99 with a coupon:



and I was prompted to buy this after watching a video from some guys who I get a huge kick out of:


which I'll be trying here in a week or two. I need to remove the tint I did myself on my door windows in order for them to get redone professionally next Saturday.

Good luck!

 

All of these are great ideas but I've got a steamer, going to give that a try. I hate to remove the rear window, it's heavy and I'm uncoordinated and I can see it shatter in a million pieces.

 

They're pretty rugged, so long as you don't actually drop them.
The trick to getting them off safely & easily is to open the hatch, and take off the lift struts while supporting the hatch safely in the fully-open position, then carefully close it without latching it, and undo the hinge screws and retaining plates from inside the car. Don't take the hinges off the body!

Then you just raise the hinges up and tape them out of the way with painters tape, and you can lift the hatch straight up off the seal. Easy-enough one-person lift, better with two.

 

I've removed them before, I bought an RX-7 that had the rear window shattered so I had to remove one from a salvage yard and put it on my car but I did have two people.

 

Another vote for the steamer. Before I knew you could do this, I took my old Prelude to a pro tinter to have the tint removed from it. It peeled off like nothing with a good steamer. Then a little spray of something (can't remember what, exactly) and the windows were clean.

fm

 

A spray bottle filled with water/dish-soap solution works great. If all else fails I have a rear hatch glass available for sale.

Be real careful mixing heat and water or a spray of any kind. Thermal shock will shatter glass.

 

I agree I installed car audio years ago and the bay over did tint. Let me say that person was talented. The mix was a spray bottle a couple of drops of soap and glide the razor back and forth. On defrost he would take ammonia in a different spray bottle, cut the tint and use the plastic that you throw away as a layer to soak in between then a small plastic smooth press and he let it dry some.. Then he would get the soap water and start peeling it back slowly and a napkin to clean what little glue that was left.

 

I did this for a living so with that being said I have done a ton.
We used ammonia, spray the **** out of the glass with ammonia place a black trash bag over the the glass park the car in the sun. Wait a bit and begin to peel. Do not use a razor blade as you can accidentally cut the rear defrost. If you have any residual glue use a 0000 steel wool and ammonia the get whats left behind.
Hope that helps... oooh obviously this is all done from the inside of the car..

 

One word - steam

 

Be careful exposing the glass to extreme temperature changes. Whatever you decide to do, I have a rear hatch glass in perfect condition available.

 

The Ultimate Solution for tint peeling:

DD's steamer loaded with ammonia.

Take it from the Marlborough Man (I used to live in next door Northborough, graduated from Algonquin HS)

Against the Geneva Conventions, but it works.