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Tinting Nightmare

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Winston, Jun 13, 2007.

  1. Winston

    Winston Member

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    I stopped in at a loca shop yesterday morning to inquire about tinting. The guy showed me the various qualities of film, and of course I wanted the "lifetime" 1.5 mil thick film. Decided to do all windows at 35%. I left my car and then decided to drop by after an hour. (the shop is just a couple blocks from my work). Sure enought the guy had done half my car with the cheap film. Talked to the manager, and he tried to backpedal for a bit, but then asked me what I wanted him to do. So, I told him I wanted the right film. He said OK and began removing all of the film that they had installed. This time I waited around to ensure they removed all of the old stuff and cut the new pieces from the correct box.

    While the guy agreed to fix the problem without much hassle, I am certain that this is standard practice for many shops. There is absolutely no way to tell which film is on your car, once it is installed. However, the durability will be dramatically reduced.

    Caveat Emptor.
     
    #1 Winston, Jun 13, 2007
  2. cairo94507

    cairo94507 Active Member

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    That's a shame. If you actually share the name of the shop we can all avoid the problem. Thanks.
     
    #2 cairo94507, Jun 13, 2007
  3. priusincc

    priusincc Member

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    I recently had a tinting nightmare also. (You stole my line from another post.) The guy got the tint done OK, 13% on backs and 32% on front sides, but in the process he got carried away with his heat gun and melted the plastic on the passenger door pillar and left rear door sill. What really got me was nobody said anything when I picked up the car. He has made it good with replacement parts to $400+. Was a fast repair considering.

    Anybody considering tints jobs, should advise the shop that the plastic on door pillars seem to be overly sensitive to heat. This same thing has happened to at least one other person.
     
    #3 priusincc, Jun 13, 2007
  4. Winston

    Winston Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cairo94507 @ Jun 13 2007, 04:43 PM) [snapback]461220[/snapback]</div>
    Union Auto Tinting. I don't know if I would blackball them completely. The did fix their error without too much prodding.
     
    #4 Winston, Jun 14, 2007
  5. keithnteri

    keithnteri New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusincc @ Jun 13 2007, 06:48 PM) [snapback]461277[/snapback]</div>
    I don't know who is doing your tint with a heat gun. I have had all of my cars tinted and have NEVER had them use a heat gun on them.

    If the tint is done correctly the only heat necessary is leaving the car out in the sun for 2 or 3 days with the windows up to cure and dry any moisture used to place the tint.
     
    #5 keithnteri, Jun 14, 2007
  6. priusenvy

    priusenvy Senior Member

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    When I had my tint done, I was given a warranty card by the installer from the manufacturer of the film (Suntek IIRC). I'm going to guess your installer doesn't hand those out, as it would be very risky to hand out warranty cards for a product that wasn't installed in your car, but try to pass it off as though it were.
     
    #6 priusenvy, Jun 14, 2007
  7. priusincc

    priusincc Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Keithnteri @ Jun 14 2007, 10:56 AM) [snapback]461737[/snapback]</div>
    Apparently that's the process they use, maybe for bond of tint film to window? Heat must be used at other shops, because people have posted remarks about heat damage. In addition, it does take a few days for a complete cure.
     
    #7 priusincc, Jun 15, 2007
  8. Winston

    Winston Member

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    The heat is used to shrink the film on some of the curved sections of glass. Due to the shape of the curves you end up with wrinkles. The heat gun shrinks the film and eliminates the wrinkles. I saw the guy use the heat gun on my car, but it was only very briefly on a few sections.

    Prius windows are pretty flat, so there is not much nead for a heat gun. Also, the heat should be applied directly to the film, not on the glass side. I dont understand how they warped the platic on the outside of your car.
     
    #8 Winston, Jun 15, 2007
  9. NuShrike

    NuShrike Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusincc @ Jun 13 2007, 05:48 PM) [snapback]461277[/snapback]</div>
    I had a really good guy tint mine from Costa Mesa put on my Hüper Optik.

    I was there 100% through the process and he explained everything to me. The Prius, and Toyotas in general, have flat windows and are easy to tint (compared to Mercedes and BMWs with much more curved windows). The ONLY place that a heat gun is even suggested is on the rear window's top section's curve. Even then, it's a quick heat to the film, apply it, and then quick sweep with hair-dryer heat on it once on. THAT'S IT.

    Anything else, and your d00d is neither good nor experienced.
     
    #9 NuShrike, Jun 15, 2007
  10. priusincc

    priusincc Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Winston @ Jun 15 2007, 12:46 PM) [snapback]462502[/snapback]</div>
    I don't understand it either, the owner said something about his installer taking shortcuts. Anyway he made it good and quickly replaced the melted parts. Good as new now.
     
    #10 priusincc, Jun 16, 2007
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