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Prius Tint & Window Issue

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by aceyprime, Feb 28, 2013.

  1. aceyprime

    aceyprime Junior Member

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    Feb 19, 2013
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I need some advice...

    Just bought a used 2010 Prius a short while ago and had my windows tinted by the same guy who's done a few other vehicles we owned (he does a fantastic job and has been tinting for years). He completes the tint but tells me the passenger front window has too much movement and so it doesn't line up right when the window is all the way up.

    When you lower the window a couple of inches (and for the rest of the way down) the tint is perfectly aligned. When you raise it beyond a couple of inches down (and all the way up) the window shifts to the side and there's a visible gap between the tint and the edge of the window. The tint guy says that there's a problem with the window and it shouldn't move like that. Dealership says there's no problem with the window and it's designed to have some movement. Other windows have no problems.

    Thoughts? Recommendations?
     
    #1 aceyprime, Feb 28, 2013
  2. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I haven't had tint installed on a Prius but I do have a suggestion. Why not take the car to another tint shop and maybe another Toyota dealer and see if they tell you the same thing. I would think one of the two has to be wrong and if the other windows don't move that way the tint shop may be right.

    The door cards are easy to get off (check the audio forum below) you could remove it and see where the movement is coming from.
     
    #2 tumbleweed, Feb 28, 2013
  3. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    Sounds like it might have a loose guide track bolt.
     
    #3 BZzap!, Feb 28, 2013
    Blu-ray likes this.
  4. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    II
    I tinted my own no gap
     
    #4 tankyuong, Feb 28, 2013
  5. aceyprime

    aceyprime Junior Member

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    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Thanks for the suggestion - much appreciated. Where would the loose bolt be in relation to the window itself?
     
    #5 aceyprime, Feb 28, 2013
  6. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    The bolt/stud and nut is usually at the bottom of the guide track. Just about any fasteners in the window mechanism could affect the position of the window.
     
    #6 BZzap!, Feb 28, 2013
  7. molsky99

    molsky99 New Member

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    Location:
    San Diego, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Exactly the same thing happened to my driver window when I tinted it. The window shifted as you put it up creating a gap on the side. My tint guy said its quite common and other car brands have done this. He said the only fix is taking to the dealer. I'm curious what your outcome was?
     
    #7 molsky99, Apr 10, 2013
  8. Gabriel Martinez

    Gabriel Martinez Junior Member

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    Location:
    Miami, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I got mine tinted and no gap
     
    #8 Gabriel Martinez, Jul 1, 2013
  9. Henry D

    Henry D New Member

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    Model:
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    I have the same problem. Mine has a 16th of an inch off. Ive always done my windows and pride myself in getting it right. I removed the paper 3 times with the same results. Your guy is right. Its the movement in the window. Toyota is cutting to many corners in terms of quality.
     
    #9 Henry D, Jul 3, 2013
  10. ikagan

    ikagan Junior Member

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    Location:
    Aventura, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I have the same problem, Dealer said movement is normal. Will have to remove the door panel to check for myself.
     
    #10 ikagan, Jul 8, 2013
  11. RayRN87

    RayRN87 Junior Member

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    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    just got a used prius IV, tinted all the windows, the font driver side has gap in the corner and I took it back to tint shop and he blamed it on the shifting window also. i am still a bit skeptical and im curiuos what your outcome was, any feedback would be appreciated. tint has a "lifetime warranty" but he is blaming the window and not the tint on my situation . smh
     
    #11 RayRN87, Mar 27, 2014
  12. Spaz

    Spaz Junior Member

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    2011 Prius
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    Three
    I'm no tint guy but my thought is that if you guys are willing to take your door panels off and start messing with the window, why not take the glass out and see if they can tint the whole thing. Of course, this would only work if you had a second vehicle for a day or two while the tint dries/cures to the glass. I wouldn't recommend messing with a freshly tinted window that much since you risk shifting and tearing .
     
    #12 Spaz, Mar 27, 2014
  13. Hybrid Dave

    Hybrid Dave Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    My Prius had tint when I bought it and no gaps. The window doesn't move in any odd way, either. It sounds like you need to visit a different dealership and get the window adjusted.
     
    #13 Hybrid Dave, Mar 27, 2014
  14. riceroni87

    riceroni87 Senior Member

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    Location:
    Oxnard, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
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    The window moves a bit. I originally had gaps and took it back and they fixed it

    Nexus 5 ?
     
    #14 riceroni87, Apr 13, 2014
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