Tips from Used Car Advisor

Car Advisor Tamotsu Todoroki

Hi, this is Tamotsu Todoroki. I am a car advisor of PicknBuy24.com.
I write an online column every week to take care of your vehicle. My column is all about something useful and practical for your vehicle. Please have a look once to keep your car in good condition.

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Tint Your Car Windows - Vol.321

There are many reasons to tint your car's windows. Along with raising your vehicle's resale value, window tinting also helps keep the car cool, and it provides protection to the interior. Professional window tinting can be very pricey, but you can do it yourself at home to reduce the cost.

Materials required
Window tinting kits can be purchased at many auto parts stores. The process of putting on the tint film is similar to putting a screen protector on your phone. You will need an application solution, a cloth to remove the lint on the window, a razor blade, some sort of scraper such as an ice scraper, a squeegee, and a heat gun. It is best to tint your windows on a day that is not overly hot, cold, or humid. You should also have an understanding of your local laws on how dark your window tint can be.

Cleaning Your Windows
The first step is to put the application solution on the inner part of your window. You should be careful to not spray outside of the window surface and onto the door trims.

Next, take your scraper and, beginning at the top, scrape horizontally across the window and slowly work down to clear the window of dust and grime. Be certain not to rush this process and accidentally scratch the glass. After you finish this, do the same with the squeegee.

Applying the Tint
To apply your tint, begin by putting the application solution on the outer part of the window and then rolling the tint film on. The solution is designed to keep the film from moving as you trim it to fit the window. Use the squeegee to ensure the tint is in place.

You should now roll your window down enough to be able to cut the film to fit the window's top and sides. Now, use the window gasket as a template to cut along the bottom of the tint. If the window you are tinting does not roll down, you can use the window gaskets on each side to properly shape the film. Spray more of the application solution onto the inner part of your window.

Now you are ready to remove the protective liner from the film. As you are peeling the layer, lightly spray the application solution onto the adhesive surface of the film. The protective layer can be thrown away. Peel the tint film from the outside of the window and put it on the inside. Slightly roll down each window so you are able to get the film all the way to the top.

Once your tint film is properly placed on the inside of the window, use the squeegee to push out any air pockets around the top of the top of the film. If the window rolls up and down, roll the window all the way up and slide the film into place at the bottom. Use the squeegee around the bottom and sides of the window to remove any more air that may be trapped underneath.

Finally, use your cloth to clean the surface of the whole window. The cloth is good for cleaning up any of the solution that may be left. When you have everything wiped down, double check the film for any bubbles underneath. If there are any present, use your heat gun to heat up the area and then use the squeegee to force the bubbles to the edge.

Some auto-body shops charge prices up as high as $500 to tint windows! For a much cheaper price, you now have quality window tints!