Guide on how to solve common problems with solar film on your car

Here we describe the most common problems that can arise when you have installed non-stick solar film on your car and the easiest way to solve them. 

• Edge release - when the solar film releases at the edges
• Dots - when white dots are visible in the solar film
• Bubbles - when bubbles appear in the solar film
• Detach - when parts or all of the solar film comes off

If you have installed traditional adhesive film on your car, you need to remove it first before you can install new solar film. Read our guide on the easiest way to remove glued solar film on your car

Edge release - The film has come loose at the edges

When the solar film loosens at the edges, a wave pattern similar to shark teeth often occurs. This is one of the most common problems that can arise when you have installed non-stick solar film on your car.

Possible causes:

• Deficiencies in cleaning . The glass must be completely clean before installing any kind of solar film, especially the edges so that the film can adhere properly during drying. Oil, grease, dirt on the edge means that the solar film cannot adhere properly to the glass and there are "shark teeth" on the solar film.
• Flaws in scraping . The absolute most common cause of edge slippage. When you scrape a solar film, all the liquid is pushed out towards the edges of the solar film. Therefore, it is especially important to be really careful when scraping the edges of the solar film and not only to scrape the edge, but also to dry it. Wipe off any excess liquid that is pushed out along the edge of the solar film that might otherwise run, be drawn back under the edge of the solar film again and then the film will release as the liquid dries out and the solar film will have 'shark teeth'.

If the solar film is still soft and malleable, it is often possible to reassemble it. If the solar film has been exposed to strong heat and has contracted, become wavy, it is unfortunately destroyed and cannot be reassembled.

Solutions:

1. Peel off the edge of the solar film a couple of centimeters
2. Clean the edge of the solar film and the glass thoroughly 
3. Apply a layer of EVOGEL to the glass
4. Spray the solar film and glass with mounting fluid
5. Replace the solar film and carefully scrape out all mounting fluid
6. Let dry. The drying time is normally 3-5 days in summer time, depending on the weather and wind. In colder seasons, the drying time can be significantly longer.

Dots - White dots are visible on the film

White dots that appear on the solar film after a while can be so-called steam dots, frost dots, lime dots or dust dots or the like.

Possible causes:

• Steam dots . If you have installed solar film on your car during the summer when it is hot outside, vapor dots may appear when small accumulations of mounting fluid evaporate in the heat. The steam then shows small white dots.
• Frost spots . If you have installed solar film on your car during the winter when it is cold outside, frost spots may occur when small accumulations of mounting fluid freeze to ice in the cold. Small white dots are then visible.
• Dust dots . If you installed the solar film outdoors, small dust particles may have flown in and settled on the solar film or on the glass. These particles are often so small that they are not visible to the eye and thus they are not visible during assembly. When the assembly liquid has dried, there will be small white dots where the particles sit. 
  
• Lime dots . If you use water from an area that has a high lime content in the tap water to mix assembly fluid, limescale spots may appear when it dries.

Solution

• Steam dots . Wait a few days first. Sometimes the vapor dots disappear by themselves when it dries. If not, remove the solar film and redo the installation. Let the car dry cool or in the shade.
• Frost spots . Take the car into a warm garage. Let the car stand in heat or rinse the window with warm water until the glass is at room temperature. Remove the sun film and redo the assembly and leave the car warm until it has dried completely.
• Dust dots. Remove the solar film and redo the assembly. Be sure to clean the window and rinse the film in lukewarm water so that it is completely clean before installation
• Lime dots . Remove the solar film and redo the assembly with distilled water instead.

Bubbles - The film has got bubbles

Bubbles in the solar film may appear a couple of days after installation if you were perhaps in a bit of a hurry during the preparatory work or during installation. Most of the time these are easy to fix.

Possible causes:

• Flaws in the scraping , i.e. that mounting fluid has been found between the glass and solar film. When the liquid is vaporized by heat, it expands and pushes the solar film out of the glass and bubbles form.
• Defects in the cleaning, i.e. the film has not been able to stick to the glass due to dirt, grease, oil, etc. When the solar film is exposed to heat and is not stuck to the glass, it will move and bubbles will appear.

Solution:

• Try to squeeze out the bubble . If the bubble is close to the edge, you can try to squeeze it out. Mix 0.5 liters of lukewarm water and a teaspoon of washing-up liquid in the spray bottle and the scraper will slide better. Spray the solar film properly and press the bubble towards the edge so that it disappears. Be sure to scrape off any liquid on the edge of the film that may have been trapped when you squeezed the bubble.
• Loosen part of the solar film . If the bubble is somewhere between the edge of the window and the middle of the window, you can try to loosen part of the solar film up to the bubble to remove it and then reassemble the solar film.

If there are many bubbles in different places on the solar film, you need to redo the assembly of the entire solar film.

• Remove the solar film. Loosen the solar film in one corner and slowly pull down towards the opposite corner and the solar film will come off.
• Clean the glass thoroughly. Tip is to clean the car window on the outside first, so it will be easier to see where the dirt is on the inside
• Refit the solar film. Be extra careful this time when scraping the solar film. All liquid between solar film and glass must be removed.
• Let dry. Feel free to park in a garage or in the shade until it has completely dried, normally 3-5 days in summer time depending on the weather and wind. In colder seasons, the drying time can be significantly longer.

The solar film has come off the window

Correctly mounted, the solar film is glued on even though it is non-adhesive. If the entire solar film has come off, you probably failed to follow the installation instructions or underestimated the need for scraping. 

Possible causes:

• Did not follow the assembly instructions fully. Installing adhesive-free solar film is something completely different from installing traditional adhesive film, so even if you are an experienced installer, you must read and follow the instructions, otherwise you will have problems with the end result.
• Used assembly fluid other than the one included in the delivery. Soap and water can work but is not optimal if not mixed properly. Too much soap in the liquid means that the solar film cannot stick to the glass.
• Not scraped out the liquid properly . The mounting fluid is only used to be able to fit the solar film onto the window. When the solar film is in place, all the liquid between the window and the film must be scraped off. At least 3-5 scrapings are required to remove all the liquid. No or bad scraping means that the solar film does not come close to the glass and then the film will eventually come off.
• Parked in the sun immediately after assembly before it has had time to dry properly. If the car is exposed to high heat immediately after assembly, the mounting fluid that always remains between the window and the solar film, regardless of how well you have scraped it, evaporates and then releases the solar film. Keep in mind that it takes 3-5 days before it dries completely and until then make sure to park in a garage or in the shade if it's hot outside until it has dried completely. 

Solution:

• Read the assembly instructions carefully and also watch the instruction videos.
• Remove the films and redo the assembly with careful scraping and drying.
• Allow to dry thoroughly . Do not expose the car to high heat in the following days after installation. The drying time is between 3-5 days during summer time. In colder seasons, the drying time can be significantly longer.