Lincoln vs Cadillac Forums

(This is the forums archive - If you want to get back to the main site simply click the banner above and you will be taken to our homepage.)

Lincoln vs Cadillac Forums is the Ultimate Online Resource for Owners and Enthusiasts of American Luxury Cars. Feel free to browse through our archive - but make sure you make it back to our main site - Lincoln vs Cadillac Forums

Cadillac XLR : Cadillac CTS : Cadillac : 2005 Cadillac STS : Cadillac Forums : 2000 Lincoln LS : Lincoln Mark VIII : Lincoln Mark VII : Car Wax
Lincoln Town Car : Lincoln Air Suspension : Lincoln Continental : Lemon Law : Do It Yourself Car Repair : Lincoln vs Cadillac Forums : Mesothelioma

Back to the Archive Main Page

Pages: 1

Tint and radio reception

(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: NateRW21

You guys that have tint... did it affect your radio reception at all? Just looking for a heads up before I get my tint.

Posted by: nickandersonLS01

I assume you are talking about window tints. If my assumption is correct, WTF?

Posted by: fuzzyb

I haven't had this car all that long but I did not notice any difference when I got my 20% installed.

I saw on the news that only special tint blocks UV rays from the sun. Because of this you can get a burn / skin cancer easier on your left side from the window. If that is true then the tint would not block electromagnetic radiation (radio waves) either. My cell phone still works in side my car.

Posted by: NateRW21

I've just heard of some people having messed up radio reception from tint (as our antenna is in the rear window). Maybe it's just with metallic tint...

Posted by: NYC LS8

Had mine done about a month or so ago, no issues with the radio.

Posted by: owlman

I have not noticed any change, and I got metallized tint, not the cheapo dyed tint or the expensive "safe-for-electronics" ceramic tint.

Posted by: Osaín

I have had no issues. I think it's only on certain types of tint and only if you listen to AM radio...which in my opinon is pretty useless.

Posted by: NateRW21

Thanks guys!!! That makes me a lot more comfortable!

Posted by: LEOV5

Just my 2 cents worth. I did notice alittle loss of reception on the radio. For both AM and FM, but mostly AM. I have a 15% rear doors and rear window tint. It is not enough to bother me except when i in certain areas, like under bridges or overpasses and in parking structures. Before the tint i had better recetion in these areas.

Posted by: jmz2k5

15% tint and no loss of reception.

Posted by: SoonerLS

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzyb

I saw on the news that only special tint blocks UV rays from the sun. Because of this you can get a burn / skin cancer easier on your left side from the window. If that is true then the tint would not block electromagnetic radiation (radio waves) either. My cell phone still works in side my car.

Hate to burst your bubble, but if it's blocking UV, it's blocking electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet is a set of EM wavelengths). Whether it blocks the RF bands of the spectrum is key.

Metallic tints can, theoretically, affect radio reception (particularly AM) because the LS's antenna is in the backlight of the car (it's the set of traces above the rear defroster traces). There is a TSB about poor AM reception in the LS, but it specifically says not to follow the procedures in the TSB if the car has aftermarket tint on the backlight because of this potential interference.

Posted by: LS4me

I put 3M metallic tint on the backlight (% doesn't matter) and lost over 50% of my AM reception.

Posted by: eastcoastLS

i have 5% 3M tint all the way around. too bad a rarely listen to the radio. but when i do it seems i don't get many stations maybe like one or two. because my dad or i usually tune through everyone. i dont know about before i got the tint so maybe the reception just sucked to begin with.

Posted by: Bdirt

You will lose a little in the fm and a lot in the am with a metal film just just find a shop that has lumar tint and ask them if they have a dyed film most shops that carry lumar should have it. Window tint is what i do for a living and I can answer any ones ?'s about it just let me know.
Just make sure you use lumar most of the other companys films tend to fade and peel quick.