I read about this method to remove old tint:

The method is to cut plastic sheets that will be totally cover the inside widows, as air tight as possible with tape. Then spray generous amounts of water all over the old tint. Seal up the plastic tarps with tape and then have the car sit in the sun to steam up the old tint, wetting up the adhesive. This allows you to slowly pull off the old tint like it was wet when you first put it on.

I was wondering if anyone has tried it, and if so, would it help to score the old tint with a razor blade to allow more seams for humidity to moistened the old adhesive?

 

That sounds like it would work. What might also work is to rent a wallpaper steamer from a home improvement store. I am not sure though, since I have never had to deal with tint before.

 

in theory it would work, try it...

 

or you could just scrape it off with a razorblade and then use rubbing alcohol to et off the adhesive. that what i did with mine

 

I'm worried about the defroster lines. Razors kill them.

 

on the back window you could get some tint glue remover, and rub it off with a towel. repeat the spay/wipes until its all gone, and if you want use the razor between the lines on the glass, just be careful.

 

this is a good how to for removing tint http://www.tintdude.com/remove.html

 

To me I rather pay the $50-$100 bucks to get that ish down professionally.. this way if they're responsible if the defogger lines get mesed up.. they estimate 1-2 hours but I have easily picture it taking more than that.. especially since most of us would be doing it for the first time.. I usually take the front 2 off every 2 yrs for inspection and that takes me anywhere from 1-2 hours.. scrapping the adhensive clear is a muthaf*KKa.. Remember this without having to be careful for the defogger lines...

This is just me tho...

 

Any professional tint recommendations in the San Jose, CA area?

 

Ok, I just removed my tint and I got a nice clean removal. I don't think I damaged my defroster lines, but I haven't had the opportunity to use them yet. This is what I did. I started with the side windows because they are WAY easier. I used a razor to cut the tint (this is the roll tint from Kragen you peel the clear plastic off and use a water/soap mixture to adhere) into 6" wide vertical strips, so I could remove the strips one at a time. Then on each strip, I scored the tint with more vertical lines spaced about 1 cm apart, making sure NOT to cut all the way to the edge of the window. This was so when I sprayed on Windex window cleaner (which has ammonia which eats up the tint adhesive) the scoring allowed the Windex to seep through the tint.

I bought a little Black&Decker Gizmo garmet steamer (any clothes iron that has vertical steam shot capability will work; note: steam shot is NOT the same as steaming or water spray. Basically, if your iron says it can "steam out wrinkles from hanging clothes" then that'll work.) I then steamed up the 6" strip I was going to work on until the tint got hot to touch (not burning). I took a razor to start up the edge, then by hand, I SLOWLY peeled back the tint while I continued to steam the exposing edge. I made sure to only put pulling pressure and let the tint peel its self off at its own rate. This is a slow process.

This way, the tint came off without any problem or residue.

It wasn't until I got lazy with the rear glass and didn't steam enough that some residue was left. But the residue was easy cleaned off with more Windex and just a paper towel!! Nothing harshly abrasive!

No more faded purple 8 year old Kragen tint. So now... I'm going to replace the tint with some new higher quality tint. I'm thinking of Llumar... is this a good brand? Any other recommendations?

Thinking about this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT