I'm so glad I found this thread. I was very pissed off at my installer b/c the freaking tint is showing scratches.

What needs to be done to stop the scratching? Might as well get it done before replacing the tint....

thanks in advance,

Luis

 

What's the chances that Canadian cars have different rubber seals. Roll down your windows and stick you finger on the inside of the rubber. Mine already have a felt coating on the inside rubber piece. My windows have been tinted since November and I only have 1 scratch and that is because a piece of dirt got in there and I didn't remove it in time.

 

:ranting: A lot of you guys are getting very mad at FORD and the dealer because your tint is getting scratched. Your tint is aftermarket so why is that FORD's fault. I installed vinyl stripes on my car and have a few stone chips on the hood now. Do I go back and ask FORD to fix my stripes? Heck no because it is aftermarket and not their fault. I installed wider tires on my car and when I do a burnout I now get rubber on the paint near the back tires. Do I go back to FORD and complain that the rear bumper is not wide enough to prevent this and ask them to fix it, no, because I installed aftermarket rims and tires.

My point, you install something aftermarket you shouldn't complain to FORD even if you had them install the tint it is still aftermarket and not something the engineers should have to consider.

 

I think they had the tint installed by the dealer... That's why they're complaining.

 

I didn't have the tint installed by the dealer. Even though it is an aftermarket addition obviously Ford approved the warranty work to replace and retint the window so they accepted fault, at least for my car.

 

Who said I was complaining to FORD. The DEALER is the one bringing FORD in to look at it because obviously they think there IS a problem with the seal and are wanting FORD to cover it so they can please their customer. My scratches are heavy enough that I think it would ultimately show on UNTINTED glass so I am convinced there is a problem. I've been wrong before and may be again but its worth a shot to have some knowledgeable folks take a look at it.

 

You didnt state in your reply what the cause of your tint scratches were? If they just retinted the window for you, wont it happen again? Or did they fix something else too?

 

smerrill, I never said anyone in particular. You have to remember, tint is just a plastic film that scratches fairly easily, glass does not. I have a very deep scratch in my tint, do I think the glass would have been scratched if it was not tinted, absolutely not.

Maybe it's just me but I have scratches in my tint and don't plan on complaining to the dealer because it is not a problem with the car or the tint. Dirt gets in there and we all know, dirt scratches. If anyone is to blame it is me for not keeping the seals clean.

 

I stated in my first reply on the first page that they fixed whatever caused the problem. I didn't care what caused the problem only that it was fixed, they said something about dirt getting in the track or something.

 

Well I aint a clean freak but I find it very hard to believe that dirt has caused the problem I am experiencing. One would have to have the window down a lot to get anything abrasive on the inside seal. I very rarely have had the windows down as weather has stinked around here since I have had the car (barely a month since the scratches developed). Anyway, I hope something is determined definitively so that we all will know why its happening and can maybe prevent it in the future.

 

FORD inspected the window tint and said its currently NOT a warranty issue due to the fact they have not had many reports of this. I still dont know what caused it but the dealer replaced the tint at no charge to me. I offered to pay to replace the seals if they thought that was the problem but I was told that no other seals are available yet. He specifically told me that if they see more of this problem, FORD will issue a TSB and come up with a seal alternative. So if we dont report it, it dont get fixed. Sounds like several people in here have experienced this problem in the very same area so I am curious how this will pan out over time. Thanks for all the input here ya'll.

 

I just got back from the tint shop. I had the tech install some felt on the inside of the channel like there is on the outside. It cost me an additional $30. I used Suntek HP. The rear is 15% and the sides are 50%. Hopefully this won't attract the police. You can still see if I have a belt on or not. I'll keep you posted whether or not the felt addressed the scratching problem.

 

Hey Adrenal, I am in CA also..... was sondering if you have any pix of the 50% doors...... I am thinking of going with 50% also, but I want to see what it looks like.

 

Jordan,

Here are a couple pics of my tint job.

 

Well my buddy has done it all his life, and I had him do it. Cost me 120. It is the metallic tint, not in color , but supposedly has some metal in it to be superior to other tint. He didnt say anything about it, and its been a month and all is well, no scratches. good luck to all.

 

My drivers side window tint is starting to show some scratches also. There is something going on but, I don't know what is for sure. I've never had this happen on any vehicle before especilly after just one month. Only scratches ever put on my tint(in any vehicle)were from my seatbelt buckle. Even after driving my truck around the dusty deer lease with windows down never put enough dirt in it to scratch the tint after 4yrs.

 

Here's mine. 30% all around. Showing a nice scratch on the inside.

 

I stated in my first reply on the first page that they fixed whatever caused the problem. I didn't care what caused the problem only that it was fixed, they said something about dirt getting in the track or something.
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Can you post the repair that your dealership performed? I am getting scratches on my driver side window tinting. I have had it tinted since November. A month or so later it was scratching. Not good. It looks like crap.

 

Well it looks like the felt added to the inside channel solves the scratching probelm. I have raised and lowered the windows many times now and there are NO hint of any scratching. FWIW

 

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Hey Dave..... just noticed the user-name and the color of your car don't jell. Did you do a color change in midstream?
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No, That is my name from when i joined after buying my 03GT. I previously had a 96GT, and a 98 COBRA All three black and my buddies were like'dave--bought ==another...' you get the point. The Only reason I haven't stopped using this name is because I was the 46th member (note the member number on the left) and When I created a new name, I lost that status and i don't think i can change it so i am stuck.