Jump to content

Rear Window Distortion

Guest drv

By Guest drv
in Window Tinting - General Discussion

 Share

Recommended Posts

Guest drv

Guest drv

Posted
Posted

First, my apologies if I'm posting this in the wrong place and/or if the topic has been covered in a thread and I've simply missed it. As I'm not a tint professional, I feel a bit like an intruder here. Still, I'm hoping you folks might share your professional expertise/insight.

I have a 2003 Honda civic and had the dealer (actually an in-house subcontractor) install tint when new, but immediately had trouble with severe distortion via the back defroster lines. They tried to remedy the problem but it didn't work, and so I had them take it off until I could get back into town this summer. Now, they've tried again, but the problem persists. (I get a series (6-10?) of horizontal lines of light for each headlight-dangerously distracting when there's a number of cars behind me) Now, they're suggesting that we try "smoke" tint instead of the metallic that's on the rest of the car, as it will adhere more readily to the defroster wires. They've offered to redo the whole car or just the back window, it's up to me, and so I'm trying to figure out what I should be asking them to do. So...

1) Looking throught the posts on this site, it doesn't seem like this sort of distortion (I.e., severe) is common w/Civics. Do I perhaps have a defective back window?

2) What's the difference between the smoke film and the metallic? Is it a bad idea to have the back window in smoke while the rest is metallic?

3) What is a reasonable solution? :thumb

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Devil with bad attitude

Devil with bad attitude

Posted
Posted
(I get a series (6-10?) of horizontal lines of light for each headlight-dangerously distracting when there's a number of cars behind me)

We've covered this before.....it's not a problem associated with film quality but a problem associated within the physics of applying window film over heater demister lines.

Once any film is applied, the bump on each line of the rear bends the visible light coming through and over it.

This only occurs at night and you can't do anything about it.

You'll also find that with the sides is is not evident because the glass surface is dead smooth.

Dr. Devil and that will be $40 thank you. :thumb

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest metint

Guest metint

Posted
Posted
(I get a series (6-10?) of horizontal lines of light for each headlight-dangerously distracting when there's a number of cars behind me)

We've covered this before.....it's not a problem associated with film quality but a problem associated within the physics of applying window film over heater demister lines.

Once any film is applied, the bump on each line of the rear bends the visible light coming through and over it.

This only occurs at night and you can't do anything about it.

You'll also find that with the sides is is not evident because the glass surface is dead smooth.

Dr. Devil and that will be $40 thank you. :thumb

:thumb The higher the lines are off the glass the worse the condition Devil speaks of... also the slope of the glass plays a role in this phenomenon... can be more serious immediately after the install due to small residual amounts of moisture remaining under film that will amplify the effect.

Metallic film does show this in its best light... pardon the pun... smoke and metallic on a car together... :thumb good plan... :lol6

Out of the millions of cars tinted every year, the manu I work for receives fewer than a half dozen calls about this. Not a big problem unless eyesight remains fixated on the film's surface rather than on the world's activity behind the car.

:cooldot

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest yogi2187

Guest yogi2187

Posted
Posted

If it as bad as you say maybe the installer is not pushing out the water good enough cuz I have seen this before but never heard of it being such an obsticle to see out your window.Try taking it to a REAL tint shop see if that helps

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest Dodge Dart Rear window

Guest Dodge Dart Rear window

Posted
Posted

After driving car for around 3 years, the rear window has become distorted. I almost looks like the window collected frost and was beginning to meld.

But it doesn't I can see most of the defroster lines, but between them keeps that icy look.

Any one experience that?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
highplains

highplains

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Guest Dodge Dart Rear window said:

After driving car for around 3 years, the rear window has become distorted. I almost looks like the window collected frost and was beginning to meld.

But it doesn't I can see most of the defroster lines, but between them keeps that icy look.

Any one experience that?

Hard to say without pictures but from what you're describing it sounds like the film adhesive is failing and it's time to remove and replace the tint.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  •   Sponsored by
    auto-precut.com

    signwarehouse

    martinmetalwork.com

    tinttek

    filmvinyldesigns

    ride wrap

    Conco

    Lexen

    tintwiz

  • Activity Stream

    1. 7

      Air80 vs Stratos70 Windshield

      Since there is no limit of darkness on the top strip, I have wanted to tint it. But I would go very dark, to help with sun glare in the evening.
      mikenot in Window Tinting - General Discussion
    2. 7

      Air80 vs Stratos70 Windshield

      Yeah that’s a very fair point to a degree I’m probably overthinking it. I don’t see really significant glare reduction until you get into much darker tint. Like you I think visibility for me is more important living in the country. I’ll probably see what the specs list the differences between 70% and 80% and then double check with the tinter as to what they recommend. Likely will end up with 70% with a strip along the top. Air80 seems to be much more popular, not sure if it’s due to performance or the difference in cost being so much more for the stratos. thank you
      joshiemcduck in Window Tinting - General Discussion
    3. 0

      Process

      Hey guys - so I work for a vinyl graphics company that is adding window tinting to their repertoire and I had a question about your guys' ideal process. I have my plotter set up and my window tinting software ready to go, but I am completely ignorant about the way that tint installers prefer that things be cut. Currently, I will plot/weed the tint and cut the backing away as much as I dare before handing it over to the installer. I was thinking that the installer would prefer the tint to be cut to shape which I believe I can achieve with the perf cut on my plotter. Is that the typical process or should I not be worried so much about it being cut to exact shape?
      DonMeads in Plotters and Cutting Systems
    4. 7

      Air80 vs Stratos70 Windshield

      Im in TX, plenty of of what you mentioned. While I do sit higher in an SUV, glare reduction is not improved much at all with what I have. My 80% is almost clear, not dark at all. With all tint, it adds a bit of reflectivity from the outside, which I notice makes it slightly harder to see from the outside looking in, in the form of a glare not darkness. At the end of the day, it's not permanent, it's only money!
      mikenot in Window Tinting - General Discussion
    5. 0

      PPF installer for hire in SoCAL

      Hello. My name is Adrian i have good experience with paint protection film and i just moved to California, Irvine, i'm open to travel one hour away for the right job. You can contact me at 5717330693
      adrianpaun in Classifieds • Employment • Marketplace
    6. 11

      Boat window tinting tips

      or "bust out another thousand"
      TintDude in Window Tinting - General Discussion
    7. 11

      Boat window tinting tips

      Best tip would be, “Sorry, no boats”.
      pbalentine in Window Tinting - General Discussion
    8. 11

      Boat window tinting tips

      The answer is to not heat that area too much so that you leave some slack in the film for when you get it to the inside. Also cut your pattern a little large so that you can trim a thread off the edges after shrinking to not have a furled edge. After you do a few of those you'll figure out how much to leave/trim to not have any light gaps. Also I'll leave a hardcard wrapped in a microfiber in the bottom overnight to collect water and keep pressure on the film while it dries. Sometimes you can take the top rail off the glass if the jackwagon boat builder didn't put too much pressure on the glass package when it was installed. If you pull the rail off of a tight package it's a pita to get back on, looking like it could crack the whole time. Congrats on getting it done. I've seen plenty that couldn't, which is why I price them like I do.
      Dano in Window Tinting - General Discussion
    9. 11

      Boat window tinting tips

      Thx everyone for the tips the install went fine, however i did run into a new problem on the main curve of the glass from thr outside the tint would lay flat on the big curve but when applying it seemed like there was too much tension and it would not stay down i ended up heating it up and flattening down but some of that area got overheated and warped a little, if you know how to tackle this problem please help me thank you!
      Lauty in Window Tinting - General Discussion
    10. 6

      Removable rigid window tint sheets - WTF?

      civicrice in Window Tinting - General Discussion
×
×
  • Create New...