Window Tint Removal

[Denali_Joe]

I searched on here and couldn't find anything, so I was just posting my results. After finding numerous different ways on the internet, this is what I decided to do.

 

I have had a 08 Sierra Denali now for about a month. It was a "Georgia" truck and had a 6" tint strip on the windshield and tint on all 4 windows as well as the rear. It was way too dark for my likings, couldn't see at night, and illegal in WI. All you need is your trusty heat gun.

 

I fired up my heat gun and concentrated it on a corner. I then used my fingernail to pick at it until I got a piece big enough to start peeling. I just kept heating in front of the tint as I peeled it away. I peeled a little too fast at one point and had left a big spot of glue on the window. The tint pulled away all in one big piece, I used a pair of scissors to manage the size of it.

 

After the tint was removed I tried some Windex to remove the glue on the window. It worked, but not without some elbow grease. I went to Autozone and got some "Tint Remover" solution. Hardly worked better than the Windex, don't waste your money on it. I tried a little acetone on a rag and the glue came off almost instantly. Careful not to get any on anything else, I'm sure it would mess things up. I bet mineral spirits would work like a champ too.

 

I took an extra minute or 2 on the 3 remaining windows and had very minimal glue left on each window, like the combined area of a 50 cent piece on each window. I used the Windex on those. To make it easier to see the remaining glue, I cleaned the outside of the windows. Total time for the job was about 1.5 hrs.

 

I didn't try to remove the extra tint on the rear window, that doesn't bother me, is not illegal (as far as I know), and didn't want to mess up the rear defroster.

 

I've seen write ups that have you spray ammonia on the windows, cover it with a bag, park it in the hot sun for a couple hours, and then try to peel it away. I did this in my garage in the middle of winter (with a heater on!).

 

Sorry, no pics. Looks like a stock 08 Sierra Denali with a slightly darker rear window.

[99kon]

What i have done is just peel the tint off and then go back and spray water soap mix and use a razor blade to get the glue off. Its a little messy but it works fine.

[shrine]

heat definitely is the trick. even a putting a lighter to the window and the tint peels right off. my friend just got a ticket for window tint so i helped him peel it off.

[jro909]

the back window is illegal in wi if its too dark, i'll have to get my traffic codes to give you the details...front window is legal long as you can see out and drive fine...side windows and back windows are the two biggest issues most of the time, reason being is that it risks officer safety when approaching a vehicle with heavily tinted windows plus it hinders driver capabilitys..