When getting my back window tinted I specifically asked for it to be done in 1 piece yet the shop tinted it in 2 pieces with the seam along the defrost line. Upon inspection it appeared a section of the defrost line had been cut and was missing, the owner stated it wasn't it was just where there was no tint on the seam. He re-tinted in one piece and now its clear the section is missing in addition to a couple other places. Does anyone know if the defrost line can be reapplied or if a new window would have to be installed. I would not want to replace the window if that's the case. Thanks for any insight.
-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Rear Defrost Line Damaged
- Thread starter spyderdawg
- Start date
There are repair kits out there that can reestablish electrical continuity for damaged grids, but the are not the same as the factory job. I would not want a new car to have an obviously damaged grid visible every time I look in the rear view mirror.
The shop already did you wrong by not using the one-piece film as ordered. I would let them pay to have Tesla (not them!!) replace the rear glass ($$$$) and then have some place else do the tint.
And I would let everyone in the area know about the problems you had.
Make sure you're looking at the actual defroster lines and not the radio antennas. The rear windshield contains both and the antennas do not connect from side to side.
Well they also scratched the outside chrome trim and that is on order. Once I receive the chrome which Tesla will install I will bring up the defrost line again and go from there... I have already spoken with my CC company about disputing the charge and plan to file a case with the Better Business Bureau if needed as well write reviews on Yelp and FB. He had my car a total of 4 days for the tint job, its been a nightmare to say the least and the real kicker is not once has the owner apologized for any of this.
How can you tell which is the defrost vs antennae? The main damage is along the very top line where the seam was running horizontal and is not visible from outside, there is an original gap in the middle of the glass where the line doesn't connect. The other section missing is about an inch and is toward the right lower section running vertical.
I really hate to go this route, esp considering I have the cool orangish red glass that is apparently no longer manufactured.
You can see the lines look brownish where they have been cut from the inside view.
Attachments
The wife has the Model 3 out at the moment, so I can't go look at it, but I believe the topmost lines are antenna and not part of the defroster.
It's probably worth going to the service center and asking if they can determine if anything is damaged. I know there are intentional gaps in some of the conductive material.
ryanakata
Member
My tint installed told me he could do it in one piece as well but when I arrived he did it in two but knocked the rear defroster connection off. I posted a thread about it since I'm unsure of any damage possibly caused.
Another member @Vines had the same damage as you after window tint. Here is the thread a few days ago:
Had back window tinted, now defroster damage
Might be defected rear glass as one window tint vendor posted seeing similar issue.
Had back window tinted, now defroster damage
Might be defected rear glass as one window tint vendor posted seeing similar issue.
Still haven't resolved the issue. There are a few repairs to patch the defrost line with permatex being one I know of. Plan as of now is to have the tint removed, hopefully no more damage in the process, apply the permatex and retint. I will update this thread once complete... fingers crossed
Similar threads
