Defective rear window or damage from tint installation ?

[Softrockrenegade]

So I just got my car tinted at a very reputable shop which I've used in the past and overall the job came out great bit I noticed somthing strange in the rear window with a section of defroster lines . Seems there is one section that is a darker color than the rest and I'm just seeking opinions on what may have caused this(damage by tint shop) or if its a defect from the factory. It may have been there from new but I never noticed untill the tint was on.

 

[LokiWolf]

That is where there was extra solution and extra pressure applied, and the tint actually sealed against the defrost contact lines. The others that look normal, actually have air gap lines on either side of the defrost lines. Nothing is wrong, other than it looks bad...mine has the air gap lines everywhere.


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[Softrockrenegade]

I really don't think that's the case here. The lines should be orange regardless of air gaps .

 

[LokiWolf]

I used to do tint for a living. Based on what I see in your pics that is my opinion.

You can test and see if it is working. Turn on the rear defrost, and use a wet paper towel to wipe some fine water droplets across the area, and see how it reacts. For me, every morning I have a fogged rear window, so I would test it then. If it doesn't work like it is supposed to you can go back to the tint shop.


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[Softrockrenegade]

I think the tinter accidentally scraped off the lines with a razor .....I can feel all the raised lines with my finger except where the color is missing.... This sucks.... Now I have to try and get the tint shop to replace my window...... Defroster doesn't work in those lines either

 

[IRISHpride]

turn on your rear defrost for a little while and that extra should evaporate had help seal it. if not, go back to the tint shop.

 

[Softrockrenegade]

They don't work in those lines anymore because they were scraped off

 

[TypeRod]

Why would they scrape the back window? Were they removing old tint? If its fresh glass, they should not have scraped it at all with a razor, if anything cleaned it with a squeegee. If there was old tint to take off, they shouldn't be using a razor to scrape off anything, being its the rear defrosted window. I could see if they had a piece of tint that didn't come off completely, they could pick away at a corner of it with a razor to finally remove the old tint, but then should use like a non-metallic brillo pad/scotch pad to get off any adhesive. But then again I don't tint windows, but have had all of my vehicles tinted and retinted. I would take it back, good luck, hopefully they'll cop to their mistake.

 

[Softrockrenegade]

Brand new car I bought new. Only 2 months old. Never had tint before.

 

[MyAvocation]

Doesn't look missing to me. Maybe what you feel is missing adhesive from the factory. If you are certain defrost worked before tinting, then take it back to the shop. Unless the tint can be removed without stripping off the metal oxide, don't expect any love from the dealer -- defect or not.

 

[Softrockrenegade]

Defrost def doesn't work in that area . Tested earlier. I'm almost positive it came this way when I got it now as I remember seeing an area before I got tinted that wasn't defrosting right. I sort of wrote it off as I'd rather live with it than have vw pull my window but now that its tinted and looks like crap(couldn't see damage before tint) I want it replaced but I know they will fight me tooth and nail saying the tinter caused the damage. I'm pretty much screwed either way .

 

[tdiatlast]

If your tint shop is indeed reputable, they should be able to properly defend their installation.
Your dealer should be able to see the area that's defective, and should also understand that no tint shop could have possibly created such an abnormally shaped area with a razor blade...and that no tint shop would have needed to use a razor blade with a 2-month old car.
The question remains, what caused the defect?

LokiWolf: Why in the world do you have condensation every morning inside your car? Do you have 5 heavy breathing humans jumping into a cold car every morning? Do you keep the recycling on all the time? I've used the rear window defroster maybe 5 times since I've owned the car...13 months...

 

[Papachristou]

why would the tint shop use a razor to install new tint? tint is precut by a CAD machine now then installed with a plastic squeege. I dont see how the tint shop could have caused that damage.

 

[TomB]

VW definitely will not warranty this with the tinting application. You should have had it replaced BEFORE the tinting.

The tinter will claim it was bad to begin with, so you are hosed either way.

 

[Papachristou]

He could remove the rear tint and say that the shop noticed it when they went to tint it so they didnt finish the job.

 

[Lightflyer1]

Removing it will possibly damage it as well. If there is any hint at tinting I would imagine they (VW) won't cover it.

 

[Softrockrenegade]

I didn't notice any physical defect before the tint was installed. I knew that section wasn't working properly but was going to bring it up at the 10k service. I figured it was a loose connection or somthing. I feel vw will fight me in this and i will most likely end up leaving it . Only way ill have the window pulled is if VW agrees to replace it and re-tint it. Otherwise it's just not worth the time, money and hassle to me. It's only really noticeable up real close.

 

[roostre]

Unfortunately it's is probably going to continue to bother you; as I know it would bother me.

I'm still hopeful VW will come through, especially if other rear windows have had similar issues without the tint.

I would not expect VW to agree to pay for the re-tint though.

 

[tdiatlast]

Softie: Don't be a softy! ASK your dealer. I think your request is perfectly reasonable, tint or no tint. They might surprise you with their answer.
Good luck.

 

[VernK]

I would expect that VW would warranty the glass even with the tint on. Of course they wouldn't pay for new tint, and it's likely they would want to pin it on the tint shop if they can.

Yours
Vern

 

[Lightflyer1]

X2, I would still approach the dealer and try. All they can say is no.

 

[Softrockrenegade]

Thanks guys ! I'm gonna bring it up at the 10k ... Think they can screw up anything with replacing a window ?

 

[tdiatlast]

Why not do it NOW, since the tint shop and you discovered the problem? I wouldn't wait another day...

 

[LokiWolf]

LokiWolf: Why in the world do you have condensation every morning inside your car? Do you have 5 heavy breathing humans jumping into a cold car every morning? Do you keep the recycling on all the time? I've used the rear window defroster maybe 5 times since I've owned the car...13 months...

It has to do with the time I leave for work. I leave at that time when there is dew/frost on the outside of the glass depending on the season. Therefore it gets used regularly.


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[LokiWolf]

Why not do it NOW, since the tint shop and you discovered the problem? I wouldn't wait another day...

I wholeheartedly agree. Also, if the glass installer is any good at what he does, he should be able to do a factory looking replacement. In most cases it is better than faculty.

It has been about 10 years since I did my last glass installation, but I used to do Jeep Cherokee windshields all the time, because the glass company I worked for had the local Jeep dealership as a customer. The Jeeps NEVER had a full bead of Urethane on them from the faculty, my boss sweared on hot day if you stopped quickly they would pop out. I know he wasn't serious, but if you saw the lack of urethane, and crappy gasket, you would know it wasn't a stretch. Also it caused them to leak when the gasket got old or dry rotted.

Bottom line, sometimes aftermarket is better!

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[tdiatlast]

It has to do with the time I leave for work. I leave at that time when there is dew/frost on the outside of the glass depending on the season. Therefore it gets used regularly.


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In your OP about this, you said a "fogged window", which I thought meant on the inside...my mistake...

 

[LokiWolf]

In your OP about this, you said a "fogged window", which I thought meant on the inside...my mistake...

You are correct, that was definitely the wrong term to use. Frosted/wet would have been better, but I was lazy!


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[carlrx7]

I just watched a couple videos on youtube on how to remove the rear window tint in one piece, requires the vehicle to get really hot.

 

[LokiWolf]

I just watched a couple videos on youtube on how to remove the rear window tint in one piece, requires the vehicle to get really hot.

It can be done with a heat gun and some patience, but if the glass is going to be replaced, why remove it? Any respectable service writer should know that a scraper isn't needed to put rear tint on and there is no way the tint shop did the damage.


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[Softrockrenegade]

I stopped by the dealer today and was told that I need to come back when the service manager is there . They said if its defective VW will replace the window regardless of the tint but wasn't sure if they would pay for the tint to be reinstalled. I also talked to the tinter who did my car and he said to make arrangements with the dealer so If and when they replace it he can come to the dealership and tint the glass before the window is installed . He also said he would defend his work if the dealer gives me a hard time.