[LoopyLady_1]

OK, so I went to pick up my tinted car today and I have a few questions:

1) The tinter told me it would be best if I leave my windows up until Monday...and that there will still be some water that needs to dry out a bit. I don't mind doing it but I was just wondering...is that something normal?

(Oh yeah, and right after I left his lot I went to Wendy's for a salad and just about hopped into the drive-thru.....DOH!)


2) There are some VERY small bubbles in just a few places on the windows and I'm not sure if that's something to be expected, that will fix itself when it fully dries or whatever, or if it's something I'll have to take back for a fix. Many people referred me to this guy, so I'm assuming it's normal and not just questionable workmanship....but thought I may as well ask those who've been there/done that.

(Even if it is something that will need to be fixed, the guy gave me a receipt and told me to come back if I had any problems at all....this same guy replaced my boyfriends 35% with 50% after he got so many tickets...and he even did it free-of-charge.)


3) Is there anything special I have to do for maintenance of the tint? Any requirements for what I can and can't clean the inside of my windows with? I didn't think to ask the guy and he didn't mention it either.


4) How hard is it to remove the tint if I decide I don't want it (ie: on my back hatch if nightime parking starts to bother me)? Is it something I could do myself or would I need to have it done by a pro?


I think that's about it for now...but might think of some more later. Hehe.

 

[basilisk4]

Wish I could offer some constructive advice, but the only thing I have any firsthand knowledge about is the thing about not putting your windows down for some amount of time...I've never heard three days, but everyone I've known who has gotten tint on their windows has been told to leave them up for a day or two. With mine, I wasn't told to do that, but they kept the car overnight, ostensibly to let the tint dry and adhere properly...

What I really want to know is what the heck is the point of 50% tint, and why would you get pulled over for 35%? I know that some states have different requirements than others (in GA, 15% is legal), but 35% looks about like how the tC comes from the factory...

I got mine done at 20% all around (except the windshield, of course), and it looks sweet. Anything below that is too dark for my taste, and sometimes hurts my eyes at night (trying to see through the window).

 

[LoopyLady_1]

It's illegal to put anything on your windshield in VA, and 35% is illegal on the front windows....that's why my boyfriend had to take his back and get it changed to 50%. The guy even told me that if I lived in the city and not the county, he'd suggest I go ahead with the 35% all around...but with where I live the cops are seriously strict and the 35% probably wouldn't fly.

The 50% isn't a HUGE change, but I wanted to darken it up, but not so much that'll I'll be getting pulled over all the time for it. And, on top of whatever factory color there seems to be in the windows already...it's not too bad I guess. Well, at least it works for me.

I'll post pics of mine once I can get some. The weather is pretty bad here now with the residual hurricane-rains passing through now and then.

 

[imasaf]

Originally posted by LoopyLady_1@Aug 13 2004, 11:39 AM
OK, so I went to pick up my tinted car today and I have a few questions:

1) The tinter told me it would be best if I leave my windows up until Monday...and that there will still be some water that needs to dry out a bit. I don't mind doing it but I was just wondering...is that something normal?

(Oh yeah, and right after I left his lot I went to Wendy's for a salad and just about hopped into the drive-thru.....DOH!)


2) There are some VERY small bubbles in just a few places on the windows and I'm not sure if that's something to be expected, that will fix itself when it fully dries or whatever, or if it's something I'll have to take back for a fix. Many people referred me to this guy, so I'm assuming it's normal and not just questionable workmanship....but thought I may as well ask those who've been there/done that.

(Even if it is something that will need to be fixed, the guy gave me a receipt and told me to come back if I had any problems at all....this same guy replaced my boyfriends 35% with 50% after he got so many tickets...and he even did it free-of-charge.)


3) Is there anything special I have to do for maintenance of the tint? Any requirements for what I can and can't clean the inside of my windows with? I didn't think to ask the guy and he didn't mention it either.


4) How hard is it to remove the tint if I decide I don't want it (ie: on my back hatch if nightime parking starts to bother me)? Is it something I could do myself or would I need to have it done by a pro?


I think that's about it for now...but might think of some more later. Hehe.

1.) Yes... its normal to have to wait a few days before you can roll down the windows...

2.) Yes... its normal to have a few bubbles... as long as they are just water bubbles... if you see any lint bubbles... you will probably have to get it redone cause that means lint got inbetween the tint and the windows. The water bubbles should go away in about a week or so.

3.) Make sure you buy glass cleaner that is tint safe... it will say on the bottle.

4.) About removing the tint, I would get the prof. to do it. You can end up scratching your windows if you are not careful.

Lastly... as an advice for everyone getting their windows tinted... (believe me... I and my fiance learned this the hard way)....

Most tinters don't realize that there are 2 TWO sets of rubbers. Most cars only have 1 ONE set of rubber per window. Make sure your tinter knows that there are two sets of rubbers and that he/she pulls them both up before they leave after they've tinted your windows.

If you're not sure... when its time for you to roll down and up your windows for the first time, do it slowly and see if its scraping against your tint. If so the bottom rubber is probably not pulled up all the way. You can actually check by rolling your windows all the way down (after your tint has had enough time to dry of course) and examine the rubbers with your finger. If you part the rubbers... and look on the side where your window tint is... you should see two sets of rubbers pointed up against the window. If you only see one set pointed up (rubber up = see felt against the window) and the other set looks like its just rubber... your second set is probably not pulled up. If this is the case... roll your windows up and call your tinter and have him/her come to pull the second set up for you. If you don't it can damage the rubbers and/or scratch your tint.

 

[LoopyLady_1]

Whoops....I left a note in the car for them, asking them to please be sure to pull the rubbers up afterwards...but I didn't know about TWO sets.

I hope they caught that themselves....

*Edit: Thanks for the great advice, though!!!!

 

[imasaf]

Lol... they may not have caught it cause I specifically told my tinter that there were 2 TWO (Need I stress this more) sets of rubbers... yet he still didn't realize it. My fiance got his windows tinted first and thats how I found out. Anyways... its ok cause its an easy fix. Just becareful the first time you roll the windows up and down. If it scrapes against your tint or if it makes some sort of screeching noise ... check it out like I suggested above and call them if you see that the bottom one is pointed down.

I'm not complaining cause the 2 TWO sets of rubbers are only usually in luxury cars.

 

[LoopyLady_1]

Originally posted by imasaf@Aug 13 2004, 03:12 PM
I'm not complaining cause the 2 TWO sets of rubbers are only usually in luxury cars.

I love how you've recently begun to explain yourself at the end of your posts....

I feel the need to do that some now, too....

 

[imasaf]

Originally posted by LoopyLady_1+Aug 13 2004, 12:16 PM-->QUOTE (LoopyLady_1 @ Aug 13 2004, 12:16 PM)

<!--QuoteBegin-imasaf

@Aug 13 2004, 03:12 PM
I'm not complaining cause the 2 TWO sets of rubbers are only usually in luxury cars. 

I love how you've recently begun to explain yourself at the end of your posts....

I feel the need to do that some now, too....

[/b]

I do that to applease *cough* TCrazy *cough*.

 

[basilisk4]

Man, you two ladies really don't do any work...hehe

I don't know what business I have saying anything, though, since I don't think I've done any work today, thanks to this site..

Oh, just noticed I'm now a "Scion Guru" -- yay!

 

[LoopyLady_1]

Hey, I resemble that remark!!!!

Nah, this week has been unusually slow for us business wise....which means that as long as I'm caught up on my quotes and various paperwork, then I cant do a whole lot.

However, when the weather gets seriously hot, or during our heavy contract-scheduled months, you won't see me on here at all during the day...

 

[imasaf]

Lol... I can't concentrate cause I'm waiting to get out of work to go to happy hour... I have another 2 hours to go until that time. I am busy though... but I'm a super worker... a slave really to a big corporation so I figure that its time for me to take something back for myself...

 

[TCrazy]

Originally posted by imasaf+Aug 13 2004, 11:21 AM-->QUOTE (imasaf @ Aug 13 2004, 11:21 AM)

Originally posted by [email protected] 13 2004, 12:16 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-imasaf

@Aug 13 2004, 03:12 PM
I'm not complaining cause the 2 TWO sets of rubbers are only usually in luxury cars.  

I love how you've recently begun to explain yourself at the end of your posts....

I feel the need to do that some now, too....

I do that to applease *cough* TCrazy *cough*.

[/b]

HAHA, please ladies.....dont appease me. I respect both of you in the highest regard and enjoy each one of your posts. IMASAF thank you for the information concerning the dual-seal design of th tC, it will come in handy when its tinting time. - T

 

[TEXAS EX]

For cleaning the windows make sure that you use a window cleaner that is ammonia free. Some of the cans/bottles don't mention that it is safe for tinted windows, but if it is ammonia free you are safe. I've always been told that the "Sprayway" brand is the best (it is a white and blue can that has a maid looking lady on it). I haven't been able to find it in Kentucky since I moved here (damn state

), but Wal-Mart carries a comparative product made by "Gunk". It comes in white can with a purple top. It seems to work just as well. Hope this helps.

 

[LoopyLady_1]

Sweet..thanks much!

I haven't cleaned the inside of my windows since I got the tint done, but I'll definetely stay away from ammonia cleaners.

 

[bizzyliz]

just curious...what difference does it make with 2 rubbers than one on the windows??

liz

 

[imasaf]

Not all of the window tinters know that there is 2 rubbers in the window... when they push the rubbers down to do the tinting... they also end up pushing the bottom rubber down. Since they don't know its there, they don't bother to pull them back up when they finish tinting your car. If they don't do that and you roll down your windows and try to roll them back up... the rubber is not facing the right direction for the windows to roll back up... therefore creating extra pressure (possible scratches) on your newly tinted windows... If its really bad... it may not even come back up.

Think of it in terms of rubbing a porcupine the wrong direction... ouch... instead of your hand doing the rubbing, its the window.

 

[StC]

I was calling around my area the other day to price a tint, and came across a place that can tint in two different ways. They can either just put the tint on normaly, or for the rear window they cut it along the defrosting lines, whic is suppose to make it look nicer. The price diefference is about a hundred dollars, and I was wondering if anyone thought this was worth it because another place I called had not even heard of this method.

 

[LoopyLady_1]

I'm not sure...when I went to get my car tinted they didn't mention anything about being able to cut around the defrost lines...BUT...there is a decent-sized bubble on the hatch so I'm going to take it back to them and I'll probably ask to see if they can do it that way when they are replacing it.

In any case, the tint now just makes people's headlights have a starburst effect (if you know what I mean) that I don't remember noticing so much before I got the tint done.

I've noticed that I get a lot more glare from lights at night when people are behind me...and the places it crosses over the defrost lines are very noticable due to the way the light reflects off of the uneveness of the tint. (Just glad I have the auto-dimming mirror so it isn't REALLY bad.)

If you do call them back and/or get your tint done that way, please let me know....now I'm curious. Hehe.

 

[StC]

^^^^^"If you do call them back and/or get your tint done that way, please let me know....now I'm curious. Hehe. "


Will Do!

 

[basilisk4]

I've never heard of the way of cutting strips of tint to avoid tinting over the defroster elements...sounds like a lot of labor for nothing, to me. I got my tint done the normal way (one sheet per window) and it looks great. It seems to me that there would be a greater likelihood of the individual pieces peeling more quickly with the other way.

Loopy, I haven't had the same problem that you have with the tint on the rear window -- however, that could very well be because yours is either 35% or 50% on the back window and mine is 20%.