Hi All, I live in an Apt. complex and was given outdoor parking only. My HL is becoming very hot during day time. I bought three big Thick white bath towels one to cover the dash and steering wheel and the remaining two for the leather seats. I feel this is not helping much. We have a toddler and does not like to sit in the car anymore....
I am planing to buy a sunshade too ASAP to protect dash.
I am not interested in car cover because I will hard time putting it as I am not that big.
I do not know how legal it is to tint the front windows and hurdles associated with tinting the front ones.
Also, I am worried about paint fading and plastic parts deteriorating.
I use a reflective sunshade for the front window, and a reflective/insulated cover for the steering wheel. These keep the dash, steering wheel and seats cooler. The air temperature inside the car still gets warm, but the A/C cools it down very quickly.
Peronnally I wouldn't use a car cover as any dust or dirt will be dragged across the paintwork when the cover is put on or removed, leading to scratches and swirls.
For exterior paint use a good car wax. For interior plastic there are many products available which can provide protection. Have a browse and post questions in the Detailing & Car Care section of the forum.
I can't comment on the legalities of tinting as I'm in Australia.
I wouldn't use a car cover as any dust or dirt will be dragged across the paintwork when the cover is put on or removed, leading to scratches and swirls.
Those are the tint laws specific for ME. Go by those, make sure you one with good heat rejection and you should be fine.
Great advice!
If you go the interior sunshade route they're not all made the same. Some are pretty thin and if you hold them up to the sun a lot of light leaks through. Go for the thick ones (sorry, I forget the manufacturer's name for the one I bought at Pep Boys that works wonderfully), even if you have to return a sunshade and swap it out for a different one. I can vouch for using the sunshade/dash towel as pictured in reply #15 of this thread, plus the tinting that came with my HL, keeps it well protected in up to 125 degrees. Even at those temperatures, 3 minutes with the A/C on full and an arctic chill sets in very quickly.
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2008 Highlander Base 4WD
2002 Avalon XL
1987 Suzuki Samurai 4X4 - Treading where no Jeep can follow....
What color is your HL? I leave mine parked in a parking lot all day.. I might invest in a sunshade this summer
__________________ 2008 Highlander Sport V6 AWD, classic silver, black leather, Canadian version, 90 000 KM. 2009 Tacoma AC V6 4X4, SR5 w/ power package, timberland mica, beige cloth, 48 000 KM.
2002 Highlander Limited V6 4WD, black, tan leather, 134 000 KM (SOLD)
If you are asking about Window Visors, then No. I do not like look but for functionality, I might have to go with them now.....
If you are talking about window visors, do you have the weathertech ones insalled? Any Pics on HL?
I do have the Weathertech visors but I removed them because the HL is spending most of its time in the garage now. Don't worry about the look, they're WT, of course they will look nice...
After reading a lot on the web. I have decided to the following:
1. Installing Huper Optik ceramic film on the entire car even on the tinted windows except the front windshield,
2. On the windshield, I will buy a sunshade as some of you suggested.
Price of Huper Optik installation: They wanted $400/- for installation. I do not know whether it is worth it or not but heard a lot that it will keep away 75% of heat.
BTW: Also, I heard that cops catch people who tint their windows and we get pulled over in MA. I read a lot on the web people getting pulled over even though they installed 35% VLT, legal limit . This is worrying me about being pulled.
After reading a lot on the web. I have decided to the following:
1. Installing Huper Optik ceramic film on the entire car even on the tinted windows except the front windshield,
2. On the windshield, I will buy a sunshade as some of you suggested.
Price of Huper Optik installation: They wanted $400/- for installation. I do not know whether it is worth it or not but heard a lot that it will keep away 75% of heat.
BTW: Also, I heard that cops catch people who tint their windows and we get pulled over in MA. I read a lot on the web people getting pulled over even though they installed 35% VLT, legal limit . This is worrying me about being pulled.
Please send your comments.
1) What's the stock tint on your HL?
2) What will be the percentage of the future tint? People get pulled over if the tint appears to be too dark, if it looks similiar to a limo tint, you will prob get pulled by a cop who cares too much.
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I always say, the way a man treats his car is how he treats himself.
You take care of the car and the car will take care of you.
1) What's the stock tint on your HL?
2) What will be the percentage of the future tint? People get pulled over if the tint appears to be too dark, if it looks similiar to a limo tint, you will prob get pulled by a cop who cares too much.
I am planning to go with 35-40% total. In MA, 35% is legal limit. The reason I will may go with 40% is because the meter has +/- 3%. Hence, if I have 35% then it may show up as 32% on the lower side and may get fined...
I am really not into the looks of tinting but mainly for getting temp's down inside the car. Even if the film is crystal clear and transparent, I have no problems as long as it is does job of keeping the HL cool inside.
I do not know the percentage of HL's factory tint on the rear doors and back rear windshield.
I also read here that some people got their HL's tinted with ceramic, I would really appreciate if somebody can post their pics along with the VLT percentage.
Here's another option. There's a few sites which sell the metallic sunshades for ALL the windows of the HL. They're an exact fit for each window, and the side windows/rear are held on by suction cups. They block out 100% of all incoming light. They're sold on a site called JuicedHybrids.com. I have them, and they work really well, but you just have to figure out how to store all of them. P.S. I am not, in any way, affiliated with the forementioned website or the manufacturer of the sunshades. I am just a happy HL driver.
The Following User Says Thank You to to_fire For This Useful Post:
Here's another option. There's a few sites which sell the metallic sunshades for ALL the windows of the HL. They're an exact fit for each window, and the side windows/rear are held on by suction cups. They block out 100% of all incoming light. They're sold on a site called JuicedHybrids.com. I have them, and they work really well, but you just have to figure out how to store all of them. P.S. I am not, in any way, affiliated with the forementioned website or the manufacturer of the sunshades. I am just a happy HL driver.
This is a brilliant idea. I want to see few pics of yours. Would you kindly post them for me?. As I mentioned earlier, I park outside and I do not drive mine much at all. As long as I can block all the heat + sunlight, I will be very happy. I want to keep inside cool.
I tried opening their site but do not how to find the product...
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2008 Toyota Kluger KX-S
to the dark side 
. I want to see few pics of yours. Would you kindly post them for me?. As I mentioned earlier, I park outside and I do not drive mine much at all. As long as I can block all the heat + sunlight, I will be very happy. I want to keep inside cool.
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