Windshield tint - ECU damage risk?

[hemismith]

I was about to get clear ceramic tint on my windshield (2025 1500), and the shop said I had to sign a waiver because water could leak down in front of the dash and damage the ECU. Apparently this has happened. Has anyone heard of this?

I already had it tinted once but cracked my windshield.

 

[rzr6-4]

Where do they think the water runs off now? Down to the windshield cowl, and a coating isn't going to change that. Or are they thinking water might get inside? That would be bad seals because of a failed installation, nothing to do with the coating.

Sounds like you should find another shop.

 

[hemismith]

Where do they think the water runs off now? Down to the windshield cowl, and a coating isn't going to change that. Or are they thinking water might get inside? That would be bad seals because of a failed installation, nothing to do with the coating.

Sounds like you should find another shop.

Sorry I wasn't clear. We're talking about water on the inside of the windshield from the tint application process running down into the dash and into/onto the ECU.

 

[Rlaf75]

Where do they think the water runs off now? Down to the windshield cowl, and a coating isn't going to change that. Or are they thinking water might get inside? That would be bad seals because of a failed installation, nothing to do with the coating.

Sounds like you should find another shop.

The tint gets put on the inside of the windshield. When they spray and squeegee the water out it drains down into the dashboard on top of the electronics. A lot of people have it done but its kinda risky

 

[Boltrounder]

The tint gets put on the inside of the windshield. When they spray and squeegee the water out it drains down into the dashboard on top of the electronics. A lot of people have it done but its kinda risky

 

[Boltrounder]

Are they not able to put a waterproof barrier on your dash that prevents water getting down into the dash?! That seems kinda low-budget, yeah? How hard can that be?

 

[ibike]

I’ve heard the same story. They wanted to put a strip across the top of mine, I said no. I reasoned it could happen so why risk it?

 

[TRK_GANG74]

Had my windshield done with no issues or waivers. They put down some material to catch any water from the application process on all the glass in the truck. Easy peasy. You need a new shop with competent installers.

 

[Mlarv5]

Go to another company. I have had all my windshield ceramic tinted with in a week of buying them. The shop I use puts a large heavy beach towel on the dash, and pushes it down into the space between the dash and windshield.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

I had my new 23' get a 70% tint level XPEL ceramic 1-piece tint on the inside of the front windshield and to this day there's never been an issue with anything.

They tucked a towel at the bottom of the glass to catch any water from the install and then removed it after the job was completed.

 

[ibike]

Seems like a simple enough fix to put the towel down to catch any run off. My tint guy wasn’t aware of water being a problem so I still said nope don’t do it.

 

[hemismith]

Are they not able to put a waterproof barrier on your dash that prevents water getting down into the dash?! That seems kinda low-budget, yeah? How hard can that be?

Had my windshield done with no issues or waivers. They put down some material to catch any water from the application process on all the glass in the truck. Easy peasy. You need a new shop with competent installers.

Go to another company. I have had all my windshield ceramic tinted with in a week of buying them. The shop I use puts a large heavy beach towel on the dash, and pushes it down into the space between the dash and windshield.

I had my new 23' get a 70% tint level XPEL ceramic 1-piece tint on the inside of the front windshield and to this day there's never been an issue with anything.

They tucked a towel at the bottom of the glass to catch any water from the install and then removed it after the job was completed.

Thanks everyone. I assume they would do that but are just covering themselves. I will talk to them. As I mentioned I had it done once before at another shop with no issues but this risk may not have been known at the time. I also used 70% XPEL then but wanted to go with 80% Llumar so as not to risk a ticket; the 70% is noticeable but the 80% which I have on my other car is not.

 

[Sherman Bird]

Things have really deteriorated in our lives concerning service providers who have HUGE yellow stripes running down their backs, which is a predictor of bad character.
Anyone asking you to sign a "waiver" is screaming "Chicken$hit" or "I'm gonna screw you!".
Run, don't walk away. Find someone who isn't too lazy to do that job correctly.

I also have had the Ceramic "visor" strips put on several of my cars, and never had any issue, but, then, the shop I use never put a waiver under my nose, either.

 

[hemismith]

Things have really deteriorated in our lives concerning service providers who have HUGE yellow stripes running down their backs, which is a predictor of bad character.
Anyone asking you to sign a "waiver" is screaming "Chicken$hit" or "I'm gonna screw you!".
Run, don't walk away. Find someone who isn't too lazy to do that job correctly.

I also have had the Ceramic "visor" strips put on several of my cars, and never had any issue, but, then, the shop I use never put a waiver under my nose, either.

Thank you. I don't really want to sign a waiver so will likely either go to another shop or not do it at all.

But I have had a lot of work done by this shop and can attest that they are more reputable than the other highly rated shop I have used here, and they are not lazy. I am talking about a full windshield tint, there is much more risk with that. They did not have an issue with my other cars, this is just an issue with the Ram. I will ask them about their process though, it seems that a towel should be able to eliminate the risk and I'm sure they use one. They are probably just overly paranoid or think the risk is higher than it is, but if there is truly a risk I'd probably have someone sign a waiver too. Waivers are all over these days.

 

[Sherman Bird]

Thank you. I don't really want to sign a waiver so will likely either go to another shop or not do it at all.

But I have had a lot of work done by this shop and can attest that they are more reputable than the other highly rated shop I have used here, and they are not lazy. I am talking about a full windshield tint, there is much more risk with that. They did not have an issue with my other cars, this is just an issue with the Ram. I will ask them about their process though, it seems that a towel should be able to eliminate the risk and I'm sure they use one. They are probably just overly paranoid or think the risk is higher than it is, but if there is truly a risk I'd probably have someone sign a waiver too. Waivers are all over these days.

Or they screwed up and got sued!

 

[Ram408]

I had my windshield tinted with 70% xpel. I did a good amount of research on this before I got it done. Many shops refuse to do Ram's or make you sign a waiver. It is a common problem with our trucks due to where the water drips.... it goes down onto the BCM. Very expensive to replace. Good shops use a soak rope but unfortunately a few drips onto the BCM can cause a short. Make sure the shop is knowledgeable about this issue (sounds like your shop is). Then, take a few rags (I used a few microfiber rags), get down on your back under the dash on the driver-side. Wrap the BCM as best as you can. There was even a youtube video of a guy who shows exactly what needs to be protected. If the shop uses the soak rope, doesn't use excessive water, and you wrap the BCM, you should be fine.

 

[hemismith]

I had my windshield tinted with 70% xpel. I did a good amount of research on this before I got it done. Many shops refuse to do Ram's or make you sign a waiver. It is a common problem with our trucks due to where the water drips.... it goes down onto the BCM. Very expensive to replace. Good shops use a soak rope but unfortunately a few drips onto the BCM can cause a short. Make sure the shop is knowledgeable about this issue (sounds like your shop is). Then, take a few rags (I used a few microfiber rags), get down on your back under the dash on the driver-side. Wrap the BCM as best as you can. There was even a youtube video of a guy who shows exactly what needs to be protected. If the shop uses the soak rope, doesn't use excessive water, and you wrap the BCM, you should be fine.

Great, thanks very much for the info.

 

[N0NAMETOGIVE]

RAM 250HD, Accord, Prius etc.. I tint every windshield, No Factor.

 

[Bob Horowski]

Yep, waivers show up for a reason. Odds are that shop already had to pay for someone else's bcm and doesn't want to have to pay for another one because they are not 100% sure of their dilegence in preventing such damage.

 

[seems fishy]

Things have really deteriorated in our lives concerning service providers who have HUGE yellow stripes running down their backs, which is a predictor of bad character.
Anyone asking you to sign a "waiver" is screaming "Chicken$hit" or "I'm gonna screw you!".
Run, don't walk away. Find someone who isn't too lazy to do that job correctly.

I also have had the Ceramic "visor" strips put on several of my cars, and never had any issue, but, then, the shop I use never put a waiver under my nose, either.

In 1984,I brought my brand new black shiny Firebird to Zeibart to have the windows tinted (cost about $150 back then).They did a horrible job on the big back fastback glass and,even they admitted it.They redid it for me , so I was pretty happy.
1984 was along time ago obviously,and,I have had a few tints on heater grids removed and replaced since then ,and it is no problem...
HOWEVER,in 84,Zeibart accidently,cut several of the grid lines.I gave them a couple chances to use some metallic paint on the lines to repair their mistake.If anybody ever used it it is not really a great solution.8 lines were out of commission,so me and a lawyer had themTHEM, replace the window,and it cost then just under $2000.( back in 84,that was alot ...in todays money about $6,500.00,if you were to , calculate what that is in 2026)...They were very very unhappy.
Obviously they don't use blades to butcher like the way they did,back then, because things have progressed over the decades.

In the case of your issue,the installer knows ,either he screwed up(or someone else nearby) somewhere before,and got burned for it .I Agree,just go elsewhere to someone who has more confidence and skill,and don't sign a waiver.I never heard of that before either