Fix a Bad Window Tinting Job on Your Car
Window tinting is a colored film that is applied to automobile windows in order to deflect or soften sunlight as it enters the car. Window tint shades can vary from a nearly undetectable pale blue to a nearly opaque black-out, and may be solid or graduated from top to bottom. Additionally, window tints can be applied by professionals in a shop or by you, the car owner, using a store-bought window tinting kit. On occasion, a window tint job may start peeling and/or bubbling, prompting a need for you to fix tinted windows. If that applies to you, follow these directions for how to fix a bad window-tinting job on your car.
Steps
- Seek the help of a professional. This is the ideal route to take if you paid a professional to apply window tinting and the tint job is still under warranty.
- Press out the bubbles.
- Heat the bubbled area with a hair dryer to soften the film adhesive.
- Use a credit card or small squeegee to press out the bubbles.
- Re-adhere peeling parts.
- Make a solution out of dish soap and water.
- Wash the back of the peeling film with the soap and water solution.
- Use a squeegee to smooth the film back over the window.
- Allow the film to dry thoroughly.
- Remove the tinting job.
- Cut heavy black garbage bag to the size of your window. If 1 bag is not large enough to cover your window, you may use more than 1 bag.
- Wet the outside of the window you are fixing and place the black bag against the window. The bag should cover the entire window and the water should keep it in place.
- Cover the entire back seat and the inside, under-window deck with a tarp.
- Spray the entirety of the inside window surface (the tinted side) liberally with ammonia.
- Park the car in the sun, allowing for the window to heat up under the black garbage back, and leave it sitting for about an hour.
- Starting in a corner without a defroster line, use a razor blade to peel back the film. Spray ammonia to the film as needed to keep it damp and to keep the film's adhesive from drying again. The entire film should come off in 1 piece.
- If you have a steamer, you may skip the ammonia-soaking process and use the steamer to heat the tinted window and remove the film in the same way.
Tips
- Follow the tinted window instructions for after care. 1 common cause of peeling edges is rolling down the window too soon after your tint job is complete.
Warnings
- If you are opting to fix tinted windows by removing the tinting completely, be careful not to cut the defroster lines.
- Never use a harsh chemical cleanser on your windows. This could contribute to fading and peeling of your window tinting.
- If you are attempting to press out window tinting bubbles yourself, be careful not to create creases. Once film sticks to itself, it is impossible to get it unstuck.
