I got way too light window tint all around, but am wondering if anyone has experience with ripping just the door tint off.

I've heard doing the backlight is basically impossible because of the defroster wires, so I'm willing to live with that, but the front windows just aren't dark enough.

 

you can take it off, the glue will be left behind. Rubbing alcohol should take the glue off.

 

paint thinner works well - just be careful not to drip any. Put it on a rag and just wipe.

 

Patience and a lot of scraping w/ a razor blade... and maybe some goo-gone... Leaving it in the hot sun for a while helps.

Take a single-edge razor blade and start at the corner, then peel off as much as u can, then scrape off the adhesive. Put goo-gone on a rag, and wipe it on the window and/or let it sit. Then windex the hell out of the window.

 

So you're saying it's unlikely to come off in one sheet, then...

Might be easier to remove the window entirely, then, remove the old stuff and take it in for darker tint.

 

it may come off in one sheet if you go slow. Its really not that bad I wouldn't remove the window.

 

I removed some once and it was a PITA! Granted, it had been on the car several years, so yours might come off a bit easier. It broke into smaller pieces and required lots of scraping along with using quite a bit of Goo-Gone to remove all the remaining adhesive.

 

For the standard window tints like we all have, is the adhesive a layer on the film itself or is it part of the liquid that's used to put it on the window? Don't know too much about tint stuff...

 

Tint is like a thin piece of dyed plastic with glue on the other side. The glue sticks it to the window.

The liquid is soap + water to keep the tint from sticking to the window so the installer can move the tint around as needed until it squeegees out.

Depending on the quality of the tint, it should be easier to take off if it's crap. But the hotter the window is, the more likely it'll come off in one sheet... or at least a bigger piece.

 

Here's yet another method. If you have a steam cleaner to do your engine bay (like a Steam Shark), start with one window. Place a towel on the window ledge to collect any stray moisture. Hit it with the fine tip of the Steam Shark until you have a good edge to grab onto. Use the fine tip to loosen the gap between the tint sheet and the glass. Pull slowly and it should all come off in on sheet. Then use the Steam Shark to get the excess glue off the glass. Use clean white terrycloth towels to get the residue off. Works for me.

 

I peeled mine off, then fans and shop rags/thinner- good way to get a headache at a minimum, or a explosion or asphyxiation on a bad day...still got a couple smudges of residue to clear off- it is a real ***** to remove-

I'll get me a steamer, thanks for the tip. If I retint the rear, I think it will either be done by a shop, or I'll have the glass pulled, that rear window/backseat requires a contortionist to get back in there...my back hurt for a weekafter doing mine-it looked great, but I left the car outside for 2 weeks when on vacation, record high temps/sunshine, came home the entire thing had bubbles around the defroster grid lines where I hid my seams...I think if the glass was out even I could do it in one piece- although a buddy had his done- looked great/one piece, but pricey...would love to see how the pros do it- guess like everything, do it often, it gets easier. local glass guy said he could pull/reinstall for 40 bucks- guarantees no scratches or leaks...often wonder if the pros go that way, as cant imagine getting a single sheet in there heated/stretched to fit the contour...

 

If you go to a pep boys they sell a kit to remove the tint that includes the stuff to remove the glue.