AC function question. Might be overthinking.

Dealers will use the cheapest tint, for the most part. As for the windshield, the tint that was used for mine is pretty much transparent. You can't tell just by looking at it that it was tinted. Even with it being transparent, the KIA was a lot cooler than the Challenger that didn't have it.

 

Would anyone know how the tinted windshield acts in winter when fogging over or freezing up from the inside? I'm from Canada and firm believer in the tint route as had it in my previous cars on side and back windows and the difference was quite noticeable.
Never heard of the front windshield tint hence asking how it would handle winter. Also any distortion or is it super clear.

 

Give me a few months and I'll be able to give you firsthand experience. See my car pic a few posts up. It's transparent. You can't tell the window is tinted by looking at it. From my little experience in the few cold days in Florida, I didn't notice any adverse reactions. Defogger worked normally, with no windshield issues.

 

For anyone wondering how hot the dashboard gets in summer:



Holy hell, why isn't the pic resized down? Sorry about that.

 

What's that tool called? I might pic one up and get a reading from a tinted windshield.

 

I think the heat soaked dash is a big part of the problem. Rolling down windows and releasing hot air helps but getting the dash cooled down takes time.

 

It's an infrared heat gun (or thermometer, it's called both) with a laser pointer. Usually under $50 on Amazon for a decent one. Make sure you read the reviews, because some are real junk.

Here's a link to the one I bought. I have another one that has a lot more functions, but this one works just fine.

Amazon.com: Etekcity Infrared Thermometer 774, Digital Temperature Gun for Cooking, Non Contact Electric Laser IR Temp Gauge, Home Repairs, Handmaking, Surface Measuring, -58 to 716 ℉, - 50 to 380 ℃, Yellow : Industrial & Scientific

 

There is a ton of good info in this thread. Not much to add but yes, as a south Florida resident it is hot as fuck right now, 95+ F with heat index of 114 F and although I don't usually use the air conditioning I have noticed that without the recirculate button pressed it does not cool down very well. Getting the hot air out of the car via widows seems critical and then using recirculate most of the time helps a lot.

Hot as fuck here.

 

A good 80 or 90 ceramic tint will be optically clear, but if you're a very observant person you'll notice a slight blue shift to the window. Have had 2 cars with windshield tint and no noticeable difference on fogging up. Plan on doing the 4Rs in August. Freezing up? I wouldn't have a clue.

@HotelMedicis On the Gulf Coast we're currently having a nice and balmy day. 93 and 68% humidity. Feels like springtime. Can't wait for summer temps to start!

 

LOL, yeah, I just say bring it on. Can you make it hotter? I am in Naples and it is Hot AF. I feel for those who must work outside but personally I love the heat. Last night I slept outdoors in the back of my truck and loved it.

 

Full tint done on the 4R today, including the windshield. Here's a pic of the windshield from the inside, to show you how clear it is.

 

Thank you!

 

Just picked this up. Will get some readings tomorrow, as the tinter wants the truck in the sun for the next few days.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-10-1-Digital-Non-Contact-Laser-Infrared-Thermometer/5012911909

 

Took temp readings of the glass and dash, before moving the truck outside. Will wait until this afternoon and post the results.

 

Okay. My IR gun is broken, but I used a probe thermometer into the vent (which I find is still fairly accurate) to take some temps. It was 84 degrees this morning and 75% humidity, the best temp the 4runner could pull on vent was 50 degrees and 40 degrees on recirc. I pulled these temps after a 20 minute drive. By comparison, driving my 2019 Camry (when the outside temp was slightly higher) the vent temp was 41 and the recirc temp was 36.

I don't know what the normal thresholds are, but it seems to support that the 4runner ac isn't performing as well as my other vehicles, which is why I've been noticing it, and is something i'll likely bring up with service.

 

Thanks for posting this. I will definitely keep this in mind.

 

Any way you can take a pic with the driver's door open, and kind of get 1/2 to the left of the A pillar and the other half of the windshield? Just so I can see the actual difference. Is it noticeable at night? I'm really interested in this.

 

Sure thing! Give me about 45 min, as I need to let the neighbor's dogs out for a few, then do a store run.

As for the night thing, not noticeable at all, for me. I had the tint on the windshield on my KIA for a bit over 2 years and never had an issue.

 

Here you go. After looking at it the way you wanted it, there is a slight darkness from the windshield's view.

 

Thank you! That looks great! I'm definitely doing this now. Would you mind telling me exactly the product you had installed so I can know what to ask for?

Have you had enough time to tell if it makes much impact on the interior heat?

 

Give me about another hour. Truck will have been outside since 8AM and not used since 11:45AM.

Tint used was LLumar ceramic ( top of the line product, called mythic series ) that was sold by the shop. The windshield was LLumar as well, but was called ghost series by the tint shop.

https://www.ccgtinting.com/autotinting

 

New thread started, as to not derail this one. All results posted there.

 

Oh good Lord. If I'd known you were a Dodge guy I'd have stayed out of this thread. Booooo!

(I've got a GT500 )

 

I'm a car guy. That's all.

 

At the risk of wrecking this thread even further:

 

it is also a cheap insurance against cracked dash.

It is sobering last time I saw how much the dash for a simple Corolla costs, if you can find one.

 

Would someone that has a thermometer and lives in a hotter climate be willing to take some vent (not recirculate) temps after the things have cooled down (10-15 minute drive)? I'm just interested to see if high 40s - low 50s is normal for this ac when its 85+ outside.

 

Yes, that is normal. I've done mine numerous times and you're good.

 

Thanks for the feedback.