Hey guys,
Hoping to get some help on here, with removing the tints from my 1993 DA Integra. Just to note, I've taken tints off before very successfully on my Subaru, but these ones are very old, very faded and brittle tints, which are now transparent and purple due to the sun baking them. I need to get them off to pass a roadworthy inspection (I'm in Australia), and it will fail on the rear one as it's all bubbled and you can't see out of the window properly.
I've managed to get half of it off, in tiny bits using a eucalyptus multi-purpose cleaner which gets under the cracks and bits that have lifted, and then scrapping where it's bubbled to break the bubble and it chips off, but it's taken me all day. There's no way it will peel off. I can probably get the rest off carrying on this way, but the side ones need to come off too, and there's no places to start. I've tried using heat, which did nothing.
I've researched a lot online, but most people don't seem to have as bad a tints as mine. The black bag and ammonia method I've not tried yet, but I can't see it working.

Has anyone ever had to go through this painful ordeal before, and have any tips? I'm on a tight budget getting the car on the road, so I don't want to pay someone to do it, as I also live on a remote area, and my nearest tint specialist is over an hour away.

My last resort is to pay to get new tints and get them to take the old ones off, but it's an expense I don't really want to pay for, as I'm putting my spare money getting it road worthy.

I did read about someone getting a cheap tinting film, and tinting over, then removing that way, as the new tint apparently bonds to the old one, but I can only imagine it will still be a pain in the ***.

There is a video on YouTube of someone using Rustoleum aircraft paint stripper, but I can't seem to get that in Australia, and would it not damage the rear demister?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

 

All you need is one of those handheld steamers you can find at most big box stores. Walmart for example. Once you go over the window, just use a flat blade razor and peel. That eliminates the “cracking” when trying to remove dry tint.

 

Just removed the rear hatch window tint on my '01 GSR. What a PITA. The suggestion on using a hand steamer is spot on. If yours is all flaky, it is going to require a lot of razor blade work as you have already seen. But the steam will really loosen things up so your razor blade works more efficiently. You may end up damaging your defroster lines in the process, so be careful. Another option is to have the rear glass replaced altogether, but I dont think that is something you are currently considering.