1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Window Tint Problem/Window Problem

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by yibo829, Feb 21, 2013.

  1. yibo829

    yibo829 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2012
    84
    5
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    I got this tint September of last year and the passenger side front and rear windows do not have tint completely covering the window. When it was tinted at first, before the window was rolled down it looked fine, but after rolling down the window after 3 days the sliver came out. And it appears that the window slides. Meaning like if I roll the window down about a little over an inch and press hands on each sides of the window and push forward a little or pull back a little, the window will slide back and forth. But the driver's side front and rear window also slide but the tint is fine. I took it back to the tint shop and they redid it. But the problem still persists.
    The reason why I am asking for help is because the tint shop is no longer in business. They shut down a few weeks after I got the tint, what a coincidence. So that means I'm kind of out of luck and no tint shop will help me unless I agree to pay for tint removal and retint fee.
    So I'm wondering if this is the window's problem or is it a bad tint job?
    If this is the window's problem, where can I go to fix it? Some power window shop? Dealership? What might be the cost?

    Thanks so much for your help.
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 yibo829, Feb 21, 2013
  2. bobodaclown

    bobodaclown Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2012
    214
    71
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Looks like a bad tint job (that's why their out of business). Normally they have to leave some off the top, so it doesn't snag and peel. I've not seen the gap on the sides that large, looks like they tried to go cheap and not use a whole piece.
    Looks like a trip to a tint shop will be due (yeap, will be expensive to strip and reapply.) You might be able to strip it yourself. It's time consuming, but may be worth your time. I think the going rate in Florida is about $150 to get the tint done. Might be the same to strip it.
     
    #2 bobodaclown, Feb 21, 2013
  3. yibo829

    yibo829 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2012
    84
    5
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Thanks for your helpful reply. :)
     
    #3 yibo829, Feb 21, 2013
  4. PriusNP

    PriusNP Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2013
    85
    17
    0
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    How To Remove Window Tint

    I have removed tint myself with no experience and had great success following the above link instructions.

    It went easy and tint just peeled off no blade required. You can get it off yourself trust me
     
    #4 PriusNP, Feb 21, 2013
  5. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Your post is confusing. Are you saying that the empty space we see had a filler strip there? Thats a really crappy job there.

    And the core issue is the window apparently is loose in the track and can slide back and forth. No matter who tints it that's not going to be right. I have no experience inside the door pertaining to the window track. But I can tell you
    my 2007 windows are very tight in the track. Is this a rebuild title car? Been in a crash rebuild?

    How much did you pay for the tint?
     
    #5 edthefox5, Feb 21, 2013
  6. yibo829

    yibo829 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2012
    84
    5
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Sorry if my post seemed a little confusing. But what I was trying to explain was that when the passenger side front window is rolled down about 1.5 inches the gap will disappear. However, when the window is completely up the gap will reappear. So it appears that the window moved towards the anterior position of the car, just a little bit. Also the passenger side rear window does the same thing, just to a lesser degree. What's weird is that drivers side windows are fine. Fine meaning the tint does not show any gap but the window can still slide when I put my hands on it.
    And no this car has not been in an accident since ownership. It is a 2009 and was bought used in 2010, as far as I know the dealership did not report any accidents.
    The tint job was 160 dollars.
     
    #6 yibo829, Feb 24, 2013
  7. cmw1275

    cmw1275 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2007
    13
    5
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I used these 2 videos to learn how to remove tint from the back window of my 2008 Toyota Prius in less than one hour without the need for a straight razor and without ruining the defroster lines. I was able to complete the project using items already found in my home. I know this post is to late to help the original poster but I hope it will help the next Prius owner who needs to remove tint from a car window.

    DIY Tint Removal Part I
    DIY Tint Removal Part II
     
    #7 cmw1275, Jul 6, 2014
    Daves09prius and edthefox5 like this.
  8. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thats awesome utubes. Looking at the back window on one of my cars soon too. Everything has a trick to it.
    Thanks alot!!

    You don't appear come around to much so you just got your first like!!! lol...
     
    #8 edthefox5, Jul 6, 2014
  9. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
    I agree those are awesome videos! Now cmw1275 you have two likes!

    yibo829 I have the same problem with my drivers window, the glass slides in the track. I haven't had the time to take the door apart to investigate a permanent fix. What I've done for the past 2 years, is spay some tire-shine in the crack of the window rubber molding. At least for mine the glass gets hung up on the old dry rubber molding sliding up and down, the tire-shine helps to temporally wet the rubber and allows the window to slide up and down without issue. -- I don't know how that would affect your tint though... the silicone spray may get under the edges of the tint and ruin it. You may have to go for the permanent fix and take the door apart and look at the window track.
     
    #9 Daves09prius, Jul 24, 2014
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)