Removing Window Tint

Skip · 07-31-2001, 10:53 PM

I want to remove the tint from the windows in my '98 RS. Any suggestions? I have never taken tint off before and i want to know if there is an easy way.

Thanks,

Skip Williams

tsfxRS · 08-01-2001, 02:26 AM

HAH I had to do that with my thunderbird. it was 5% tint all around and the cops didnt like it. ended up with a 500$ ticket one night that convinced me to cut it out.

Literally you need to just peel up a corner of the tint and just pull it right off the window. If you do it slowly it should come off in one or two pieces. This works well on most of the windows. The rear one depending on if it was done in one piece and if you have rear defrosters might be a bear to do. Once all the physical tint is removed, you need to attack the glue. just a note I took teh tint out of my thunderbird 6 months ago and I still havent gotten all the glue out.

Take a razor blade to the side windows to get the glue off. The rear window with the defroster lines will never work again if you do this to that window. You cut sooo many lines. I think something like GOO GONE will take the glue out of the back window. its a citrus cleaner you can get at any local cvs or store like that. Works well I used it to take the glue off after debadging the other day actually. Also used it to remove black silicone from my little toe today. (glued my self to my sandal

)

Good luck with the tint.

EnterTheDragon · 08-01-2001, 02:43 AM

rubbing alcohol works well for getting the glue off

Mumbles · 08-01-2001, 03:08 AM

try and rip as much tint off as possible. Then with the glue use, nail polish remover. Works like a charm...

-Brendan

NateDogg · 08-01-2001, 04:26 AM

go to a tint place and theyll take it off for cheap and you dont have to put up with the hassle

wrxwannabe · 08-01-2001, 04:43 PM

Wow,
SO Many tint posts, so little time.

Just so you don't think I'm full of @#$% I was in the tinting business 12 years and owned my own business. I also trained the National Trainer for LLumar films how to do One Piece Saturn Rear Windows for the SEMA show.

First of carefull if you use nail polish remover, it will destroy your interior if you get it on anything.

I'm guessing the because the car is a 98 that the film is still in pretty good shape.

First: pull the car outside on a hot day and let it get good and hot. This will soften both the film and the glue. As film gets old it crystalizes and becomes brittle. This will help out immensly.

Note: As mentioned by someone else a single edge razor blade will be of imense help. Keep in mind razor blades dull very easily so you will likely need quite a few. If you go off the edge of the glass or run the razor blade into something it will nick the blade and a nicked blade could scratch the glass.

Second: Starting on the doors. Open the door and make sure the window is up all the way. Using the Razor blade start at the outside upper corner and begin to peal the film back. As soon as you have enough film that you can grasp it and pull quit using the razor blade. Now if you have another person that can help you here is the time to use them. Because the Subaru window is free standing (it has no frame) when you start pulling on the film you could mess up the windows alignment of even break the glass. Have them stand outside the car and hold the top of the glass in place as you pull the film down and towards the front of the car. If you take you time and pull slowly and with constant pressure, you should be able to get the entire sheet of film off in one piece and take most of the glue with it. If you pull fast the film will come off but most likely leave all the glue on the window. Either way not a problem.

Third: Now that the film is off there will most likely be glue left on the window. As I mentioned you can damage the interior with chemicals so I recomend using a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in a quart spray bottle with water to get the glue off the doors and side windows. Spray the window thuroghly with the soap and water. Then using a brand new razor blade you can scrap the glue off. The soap and water will work as a lubricant to help the blade along and the glue you can collect with a paper towel. If the glue falls on something pick it up because as soon as the soap and water dries the glue will stick to what ever it is on. I usuall do the middle of the window first avoiding the edge which will dull the razor blade leaving about a half inch around the edge. Then I get the edge last so if I do scratch the glass it is only near the edge and not right in the middle.

Fourth: The weather stripping at the bottom will be difficult to get the glue off the glass and then get it out of the weather stripping. If you keep it good and wet, you and fold a paper towel over a credit card or Bondo Sqweegee and get the glue out with it.

The side rear windows will be very similar to the doors. Just be careful with the black edge, although it is very derable a damaged razor blade could scratch it. And just as before, do the middle first and then the edge.

Now for the back window: Here you will need something to help disolve the glue. I used a 50/50 mixture of Rubbing Alcohol and Amonia. This will stint but works and it won't tear your interior up as quick as Nail Polish Remover. Put it in a spray bottle like the soap and water. Also you will need a PLASTIC pot scrubber. Do not use steel wool unless you are sure it is the double 00 fine as you can scratch the glass with it. I suggest you lay some beach towels over your rear seat and back deck.

Oh, Just as a side note, even in the best cases you may still destroy your defroster, but I have been able to take film off back windows and 99 out of 100 times the defroster is fine afterwards.

First: You are going to want to try and peal the film off slow enough that the glue stays on the film. I'm sure that while you were doing the side windows you say how different pulling styles on the film would either leave the glue on the window or it would stay on the film. Depending on the film though nothing you do may prevent all the glue from staying on the glass. Start at the top corner and start pealing, you may need the razor to get started, just make sure the razor stays far away from you defroster. Again the hotter the film is the easier it will peal off.

In cases with the film being extremely crystalized from age peeling it off just won't work and you may have to use a razor. If that is the case use alot of Soap and water and fresh razor blades.

Once the film is off you will use the Amonia/Alcohol solution to soften the glue. Spray the window thuroughly and and use the pot scrubber to get the glue off. Now be careful cause just as before if the glue falls on something pick it up ASAP because as soon as the Alcohol and Amonia dries the glue will stick to what ever it is touching. You should be able to get all the glue off this way with out having to use the razorblade. You can also use this on the side windows if you are worried about using the razor blade on the glass. Though the Blade is quicker.

I hope this Helps

Later

Eric

HoratioCaine · 08-01-2001, 05:00 PM

Have your buddy (holding the window to keep it from getting screwed up) heat the outside of the window with a hair dryer as you are pulling the tint.

Go slow and it should peel off pretty easily. Hot glue doesn't stick as well.

tsfxRS · 08-01-2001, 05:16 PM

There is an easier way but you must first make sure you have glass coverage on your policy

Goodluck and great advice wrxwannabe

Skip · 08-02-2001, 09:24 AM

Great advice everyone!!!

It sure sounds like a pain in the ass just to avoid tickets with the cops!!! All I am trying to do is make my car look less conspicuous! I guess i shoud have bought a Civic or something!

I will try taking the tint off this weekend and I will write back if i need help. Wish me luck!

07-31-2001, 10:53 PM	#1
Skip Scooby Newbie Member#: 428 Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Ottawa,Ontario,Canada Vehicle: 1998 Impreza RS Black	Removing Window Tint I want to remove the tint from the windows in my '98 RS. Any suggestions? I have never taken tint off before and i want to know if there is an easy way. Thanks, Skip Williams

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08-01-2001, 02:26 AM	#2
tsfxRS Scooby Specialist Member#: 8442 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: back in eastern mass Vehicle: 98 2.5 RS blur of red	HAH I had to do that with my thunderbird. it was 5% tint all around and the cops didnt like it. ended up with a 500$ ticket one night that convinced me to cut it out. Literally you need to just peel up a corner of the tint and just pull it right off the window. If you do it slowly it should come off in one or two pieces. This works well on most of the windows. The rear one depending on if it was done in one piece and if you have rear defrosters might be a bear to do. Once all the physical tint is removed, you need to attack the glue. just a note I took teh tint out of my thunderbird 6 months ago and I still havent gotten all the glue out. Take a razor blade to the side windows to get the glue off. The rear window with the defroster lines will never work again if you do this to that window. You cut sooo many lines. I think something like GOO GONE will take the glue out of the back window. its a citrus cleaner you can get at any local cvs or store like that. Works well I used it to take the glue off after debadging the other day actually. Also used it to remove black silicone from my little toe today. (glued my self to my sandal ) Good luck with the tint.

08-01-2001, 02:43 AM	#3
EnterTheDragon Scooby Guru Member#: 6511 Join Date: May 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: 360	rubbing alcohol works well for getting the glue off

08-01-2001, 03:08 AM	#4
Mumbles Scooby Guru Member#: 248 Join Date: Sep 1999 Chapter/Region: NESIC	try and rip as much tint off as possible. Then with the glue use, nail polish remover. Works like a charm... -Brendan

08-01-2001, 04:26 AM	#5
NateDogg Scooby Specialist Member#: 6467 Join Date: May 2001 Location: philadelphia, pa, usa Vehicle: 1999 Impreza 2.5 RS silver	go to a tint place and theyll take it off for cheap and you dont have to put up with the hassle

08-01-2001, 04:43 PM	#6
wrxwannabe Scooby Specialist Member#: 1178 Join Date: Mar 2000 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Charlotte, NC Vehicle: 2004 WRX STI 02 Legacy GT Wagon	Wow, SO Many tint posts, so little time. Just so you don't think I'm full of @#$% I was in the tinting business 12 years and owned my own business. I also trained the National Trainer for LLumar films how to do One Piece Saturn Rear Windows for the SEMA show. First of carefull if you use nail polish remover, it will destroy your interior if you get it on anything. I'm guessing the because the car is a 98 that the film is still in pretty good shape. First: pull the car outside on a hot day and let it get good and hot. This will soften both the film and the glue. As film gets old it crystalizes and becomes brittle. This will help out immensly. Note: As mentioned by someone else a single edge razor blade will be of imense help. Keep in mind razor blades dull very easily so you will likely need quite a few. If you go off the edge of the glass or run the razor blade into something it will nick the blade and a nicked blade could scratch the glass. Second: Starting on the doors. Open the door and make sure the window is up all the way. Using the Razor blade start at the outside upper corner and begin to peal the film back. As soon as you have enough film that you can grasp it and pull quit using the razor blade. Now if you have another person that can help you here is the time to use them. Because the Subaru window is free standing (it has no frame) when you start pulling on the film you could mess up the windows alignment of even break the glass. Have them stand outside the car and hold the top of the glass in place as you pull the film down and towards the front of the car. If you take you time and pull slowly and with constant pressure, you should be able to get the entire sheet of film off in one piece and take most of the glue with it. If you pull fast the film will come off but most likely leave all the glue on the window. Either way not a problem. Third: Now that the film is off there will most likely be glue left on the window. As I mentioned you can damage the interior with chemicals so I recomend using a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in a quart spray bottle with water to get the glue off the doors and side windows. Spray the window thuroghly with the soap and water. Then using a brand new razor blade you can scrap the glue off. The soap and water will work as a lubricant to help the blade along and the glue you can collect with a paper towel. If the glue falls on something pick it up because as soon as the soap and water dries the glue will stick to what ever it is on. I usuall do the middle of the window first avoiding the edge which will dull the razor blade leaving about a half inch around the edge. Then I get the edge last so if I do scratch the glass it is only near the edge and not right in the middle. Fourth: The weather stripping at the bottom will be difficult to get the glue off the glass and then get it out of the weather stripping. If you keep it good and wet, you and fold a paper towel over a credit card or Bondo Sqweegee and get the glue out with it. The side rear windows will be very similar to the doors. Just be careful with the black edge, although it is very derable a damaged razor blade could scratch it. And just as before, do the middle first and then the edge. Now for the back window: Here you will need something to help disolve the glue. I used a 50/50 mixture of Rubbing Alcohol and Amonia. This will stint but works and it won't tear your interior up as quick as Nail Polish Remover. Put it in a spray bottle like the soap and water. Also you will need a PLASTIC pot scrubber. Do not use steel wool unless you are sure it is the double 00 fine as you can scratch the glass with it. I suggest you lay some beach towels over your rear seat and back deck. Oh, Just as a side note, even in the best cases you may still destroy your defroster, but I have been able to take film off back windows and 99 out of 100 times the defroster is fine afterwards. First: You are going to want to try and peal the film off slow enough that the glue stays on the film. I'm sure that while you were doing the side windows you say how different pulling styles on the film would either leave the glue on the window or it would stay on the film. Depending on the film though nothing you do may prevent all the glue from staying on the glass. Start at the top corner and start pealing, you may need the razor to get started, just make sure the razor stays far away from you defroster. Again the hotter the film is the easier it will peal off. In cases with the film being extremely crystalized from age peeling it off just won't work and you may have to use a razor. If that is the case use alot of Soap and water and fresh razor blades. Once the film is off you will use the Amonia/Alcohol solution to soften the glue. Spray the window thuroughly and and use the pot scrubber to get the glue off. Now be careful cause just as before if the glue falls on something pick it up ASAP because as soon as the Alcohol and Amonia dries the glue will stick to what ever it is touching. You should be able to get all the glue off this way with out having to use the razorblade. You can also use this on the side windows if you are worried about using the razor blade on the glass. Though the Blade is quicker. I hope this Helps Later Eric

08-01-2001, 05:00 PM	#7
HoratioCaine Booty Connoisseur Moderator Member#: 3409 Join Date: Jan 2001	Have your buddy (holding the window to keep it from getting screwed up) heat the outside of the window with a hair dryer as you are pulling the tint. Go slow and it should peel off pretty easily. Hot glue doesn't stick as well.

08-01-2001, 05:16 PM	#8
tsfxRS Scooby Specialist Member#: 8442 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: back in eastern mass Vehicle: 98 2.5 RS blur of red	There is an easier way but you must first make sure you have glass coverage on your policy Goodluck and great advice wrxwannabe

08-02-2001, 09:24 AM	#9
Skip Scooby Newbie Member#: 428 Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Ottawa,Ontario,Canada Vehicle: 1998 Impreza RS Black	Great advice everyone!!! It sure sounds like a pain in the ass just to avoid tickets with the cops!!! All I am trying to do is make my car look less conspicuous! I guess i shoud have bought a Civic or something! I will try taking the tint off this weekend and I will write back if i need help. Wish me luck!