Tint job gone wrong

[AU4Runner]

Just got my 6th gen about a week ago. It's a 26 TRD ORP, love this truck so far. Finally got an appointment to get my windows tinted. Dropped it off with the guy(who I've never used) and he said it'll be a few hours. I got 55% on the front windshield and 15% on all the other windows. Well he calls me after two hours and says he's done with everything but the front windshield because of the factory installed Toyota dashcam, which I hate. Asks me do I want him to cut it out or just remove the dash cam and then tint it. I said just just remove it. Calls me back and says he can't take it out, he's gonna cut. So I pick the vehicle up, he gives me a spill about how he doesn't take cars apart and the piece above the mirror might need popped back in because he tried to remove it. Well I get home and the piece kinda falls out. I notice one tab is broke but not on the plastic piece. It's on the mount attached the windshield. I'm kinda sick at my stomach right now. I'm going to call the dealership and let them look at it because I have a passenger side door rattle that needs to checked as well. Has anybody ran into this? Is this really going to need an entire new front windshield? Tint guy is 100% paying for this and I'm taking the appropriate avenues there as we speak. I've attached a pic.

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[Ltd.Herit.'26]

That sucks. There’s a chance it’s a $50 replaceable piece, I wouldn’t assume a new windshield for some damaged plastic. Dude who did mine was kind of a dumass with dash cam as well. Seemed like he tried to just press it back on after tint and fell peeling brow and tint before I got out of the parking lot. So I got a return trip. Good luck, curious about getting rattles addressed as well.

 

[SC4Runner]

Tint on my first windshield was put between the windshield and the camera, and you couldn’t tell at all. That windshield got cracked and had to be replaced. The same installer cut around the camera with the replacement installation.

 

[rdibbxsh]

Just got my 6th gen about a week ago. It's a 26 TRD ORP, love this truck so far. Finally got an appointment to get my windows tinted. Dropped it off with the guy(who I've never used) and he said it'll be a few hours. I got 55% on the front windshield and 15% on all the other windows. Well he calls me after two hours and says he's done with everything but the front windshield because of the factory installed Toyota dashcam, which I hate. Asks me do I want him to cut it out or just remove the dash cam and then tint it. I said just just remove it. Calls me back and says he can't take it out, he's gonna cut. So I pick the vehicle up, he gives me a spill about how he doesn't take cars apart and the piece above the mirror might need popped back in because he tried to remove it. Well I get home and the piece kinda falls out. I notice one tab is broke but not on the plastic piece. It's on the mount attached the windshield. I'm kinda sick at my stomach right now. I'm going to call the dealership and let them look at it because I have a passenger side door rattle that needs to checked as well. Has anybody ran into this? Is this really going to need an entire new front windshield? Tint guy is 100% paying for this and I'm taking the appropriate avenues there as we speak. I've attached a pic.

We have ours set to be tinted a week from today, on August 3rd by the dealer. The pricing was the same or even a tad less than some quotes. I'll see how they do the front windshield upper portion and post.

 

[AU4Runner]

Update from dealership:

Part can't be replaced or fixed. I could "rig" it but there isn't a great solution due to how the tab is broke. It will require a brand new windshield. Not too happy right now but I'm gonna let the dealership replace it.

Question though, can they remove the factory Toyota dash cam or is it permanent? I'd really like it taken out.

 

[Joestac]

Ran into this, no. The shop I went to that has been in business for 40 years explicitly does not remove pieces of the vehicle for this exact reason. They just "tinted" (clear UV blocking film) around the dash cam. Not sure why'd you want to tint behind it and get a worse picture to begin with.

You can remove the dash cam though, it is just 3M stuck to the windshield. You'll have to do some clean up with a razor blade and it probably should have been done prior to tinting to minimize risk of further damage. Rubbing alcohol and or Goo Gone in small amounts will be your friend.

Edit: Update UV blocking film for clarity. Didn't do a true tint on the windshield.

 

[gvan1998]

Front windshield tint is illegal all 50 states. You took the risk placing something illegal, also a safety hazard.

 

[rdibbxsh]

Front windshield tint is illegal all 50 states. You took the risk placing something illegal, also a safety hazard.

I think they are just talking tinting of that top strip of a couple of inches. That tinting is allowed, above the driver's straight forward field of view.

 

[Joestac]

I should also clarify, I didn't "tint" my windshield. I just did the clear UV blocking film. I agree, doing full tint on your windshield is dangerous to those around you and still illegal, in most states.

Edit: Hawaii, North Dakota, and Ohio allow you to tint the front windshield as long as you allow at least 70% of light to pass through.

 

[gvan1998]

thanks for the clarification.

 

[mfoga]

Front windshield tint is illegal all 50 states. You took the risk placing something illegal, also a safety hazard.

Not true, it’s legal in a few states up to certain % and most states allows some tint in the upper part of the the windshield.

 

[gvan1998]

Not true, it’s legal in a few states up to certain % and most states allows some tint in the upper part of the the windshield.

Yes upper windshield but it is illegal to tint the whole front windshield

 

[mfoga]

Yes upper windshield but it is illegal to tint the whole front windshield

Not it's NOT. HI, OH and ND all allow tint on the windshield with no restrictions to the are as long it is less than 70%.

 

[gvan1998]

Not it's NOT. HI, OH and ND all allow tint on the windshield with no restrictions to the are as long it is less than 70%.

Not it's NOT. HI, OH and ND all allow tint on the windshield with no restrictions to the are as long it is less than 70%.

i stand corrected. Google AI said it is

 

[Joestac]

i stand corrected. Google AI said it is

Yeah. AI needing to be checked as always. The source they link even shows you can do it in those 3 states only. The rest must be above AS-1. Moot as OP is in AL, but oh well, the more you know.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/tint-laws-by-state

Also, NH, NJ, and VT, not allowing any side tint sucks.

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