The following write up serves as a guide on how to remove VHT Niteshades and clear coat from your taillights, should you ever get a ticket for tinted taillights and want to avoid purchasing new lights. Perform this DIY with the taillights REMOVED from your vehicle.

I take no responsibility whatsoever in the event that you damage your taillights. Keep in mind that you are performing this at your own risk, while this write up simply serves as a guide on how to remove the painted surface and clear coat from tinted tails.

You will need the following tools:

Dual action polisher or a buffer, 4 microfiber towels (these will get really messed up), 1 can of lacquer thinner, 3M Rubbing Compound, Meguiar’s Plast-X and your choice of wax.
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2541


What the taillights looked like before:
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2538
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2536


Removing the tint and clear coat

Step 1: After you have removed the tail lights from your vehicle (see this thread: http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=193907&highlight= ) use one of the microfiber towels to wipe down any dust, dirt or water spots on your tails before applying lacquer thinner.
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2537

Step 2: Take a clean microfiber towel and wrap it around your index and middle finger like such.
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2542

Step 3: Apply a small amount of the lacquer thinner onto the microfiber towel and working it into a circular motion on the tail light. When you start to feel resistance between the towel and the tail light, apply more thinner until you have completed the entire tail light.
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2543

Step 4: After you have completed removing the tinted surface from the taillights take your polisher/buffer and apply a small amount of 3M Rubbing Compound to the surface of your taillights. Turn on the machine and slowly work it into the lights. Allow time to dry (5 minutes) and remove with a clean microfiber towel. Complete this step at least three more times, for a total of 4 coats.
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2544
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2545

Step 5: Take your polisher/buffer and apply a small amount of Meguiar’s Plast-X to the surface of your taillights. Turn on the machine and slowly work it into the lights. Allow time to dry (5 minutes) and remove with a clean microfiber towel. Complete this step at least three more times, for a total of 4 coats.
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2546

Step 6: Take your polisher/buffer and apply a small amount of wax to the surface of your taillights. Turn on the machine and slowly work it into the lights. Allow time to dry (5 minutes) and remove with a clean microfiber towel. Complete this step at least three more times, for a total of 4 coats.
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2547

Step 7: Wipe down your taillights really well using a clean microfiber towel and reinstall them back onto your vehicle using the same thread posted above in “Step 1”.


Important information:

- If you have quite a few cuts on your hands or fingers from everyday activities like me, you may want to wear plastic gloves or surgical gloves. When the thinner gets in your cuts, it burns.

- It is VERY important that when applying the thinner not to get any of it on the plastic mounting tabs of the tail light. If this does occur, you may notice some discoloration (not a big deal) but if you get the thinner and plastic in contact numerous times….it could begin, cracking apart or even break altogether.

- Give yourself a break every once in awhile when performing this task. The smell of the fumes could get to you and cause you to get dizzy or become lightheaded.

This is the end result:
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2539
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2540
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2548
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=767&pictureid=2549

nice DIY

did u recently get a ticket?

great info!

nice DIY

did u recently get a ticket?

No, I didn't. A SL member on here recently asked me to tint his tails and about 2-3 weeks later he got busted. His lights and turn signals were completely visible; probably a cop that was bored. Everything is illegal out here in California. I've had tons of cops driving behind me and haven't gotten busted for my TYC's and mine are really dark (hopefully it stays that way).

Nicely done! :clap:

^Thank you!

its like removin nail polish :silly:


hehe nice diy :clap:

Hey do you do professional tint? If so i'm interested cuz I want to tint my anzo tail light...how much would you charge?

oops never mind...I didnt see the lower portion of your sig...

nice! approximately how long does it take for one light?

^Thank you!

nice! approximately how long does it take for one light?

Could take longer for some people, but to answer your question each taillight took me about 30 minutes each, plus 10-15 minutes to buff it out and try to remove as many scratches and swirl marks as I could. 1.5 hours, I'm fortunate to have a TV in my garage, so I just popped in a DVD and got to work.

ah I see, He could of sold the tinted tail and rebuy OEM stock tails and still would of had some money left over.

^True, but I think the original owner just didn't want anymore attention drawn to his car. He probably just wanted to get the ticket fixed and be on his way. Plus, just because you get a ticket the first time, there's no guarantee that another cop won't write you up again or hassle you.

Wow this is great info... now I know when I tint my LED tails I can remove it if it gets too dark.

Does this technique work with the other VHT tint spray- SP-171 Window Tint? I want to use that as it supposedly dries more even and not as dark as NiteShades.

http://www.cacustomcoatings.com/vhtwindowtint.html

very nice DIY

very cool, i think this is why alot of people use films becasue you can peel them off. We just recentley became a Lamin-x dealer and now we can produce tinted tails that look as good as your painted ones with out the removal hassle! very good write up thank you for taking the time

That's awesome!

Flea, do you still do tint tails if I ship my lights to you, I gave u a pm but still no answer, thanks

^Pm'd

FLEA, read ur pM's

Just did...read yours bud.

How long would it take to do it? And for the wax, what's a brand i should get?

How long would it take to do it? And for the wax, what's a brand i should get?

Could take longer for some people, but to answer your question each taillight took me about 30 minutes each, plus 10-15 minutes to buff it out and try to remove as many scratches and swirl marks as I could. 1.5 hours, I'm fortunate to have a TV in my garage, so I just popped in a DVD and got to work.

3M Rubbing Compound and a wax of your choice. Use a lacquer thinner that is safe on plastics.

could i do this by hand without a buffer

could i do this by hand without a buffer

Yes! It is possible. But by hand is going to take a little while longer, whereas a machine is doing the work at a constant speed.

wow i finally did it... i need a push from some cops lol!

Did the DIY help?

big time thanks a lot

WAIt holy shiit, that seems hella easy. So its basically laquer thinner that removes paint? yeah i wanna start over, because i used some ____ty clear coat to coat mine and it gave it white spots.... and this laquer thinner basically removes any type of paint/coating right?

WAIt holy shiit, that seems hella easy. So its basically laquer thinner that removes paint? yeah i wanna start over, because i used some ____ty clear coat to coat mine and it gave it white spots.... and this laquer thinner basically removes any type of paint/coating right?

Correct. I just got home from class (Automotive Repair and Refinishing/Automotive Painting) where I untinted 3 sets of tail lights in 45 minutes.

iight coo i just bought lacquer thinner from walmart- does it matter which one? Mine says medium drying lol. And i thought these were for cleaning brushes?

Use a lacquer thinner that is safe on plastics.

wow very nice thanks for the share

im having issues removing the tint, i have worked on one taillight for at least an hour and do not seem to be making any progress, and i have almost gone through an entire can of thinner

Hope this DIY helps.

I am done with these forums.

Any questions, email me at kennon7mills@gmail.com

Later!

Thanks for your contribution to the site. (: Your DIY's are very helpful.

Yeah, I'm done. Just too much negativity on this site over the last few months. It's nothing at all like it was when I first signed up. People cannot ask a question without getting ragged on.

hear yah on that one. o.O;;

nice job..tagged for reference

Updated first page, later!

Updated first page.

Tomas