Extreme heat from console/tunnel?!
 

After about 10-15 minutes of driving, the entire center console from the shifter back gets EXTREMELY HOT!!! This has really sucked this summer, making my lack of AC even more unbearable :( I've added more deadening and Dynomat Xtreme to the entire tunnel (about a foot in front of the shifter down to the ebrake area, but no dice! WTF is going on???

Seems like all my problems lately are centered in this area (cheepy throwout bearing, etc) :mad: GRRR! I'm not exactly sure when it started, I began to notice it as the weather grew warmer...

Thanks for your help in advance.

How hot does your engine run now? If you keep having different problems from that one area, then I would assume they all have been associated from the excessive heat. What have you done specifically that could be making the things run hotter?

Have a crappy machine shop install my engine? :rolleyes:

She runs usually between 200-208, I mean to the obsessed stangers that run 160 stats, that may seem high, but I personally don't think its running excessively hot (I still have the stock radiator).

I don't remember what a bone stock engine temp is (195-200?) but I don't think an extra 8 F would cause the scalding heat that I feel on my legs. If I rest my leg on the console, it literally becomes unbearable within minutes :( I've barely driven her in a few weeks...

I've had the top of the center console get a little hot, but not as bad as your saying. All the heat from the motor, clutch and trans is going to congregate in that tunnel, and there's no real insulation except for air flow when your driving. Is it just as hot at night when your driving it, or is it hotter during the day?

I'd suggest going to a 180* thermostat, but I'm not sure how much that will help.

Do you have long-tube headers - if so they will add the the heat under the car.

200-208 doesn't seem all that bad. On really hot days my car runs between 200 and 215. My bet is its related to the exhaust temp.

I don't know if u still have your cats installed, but if your O2 sensor is going out, your cats will work harder, thus causing them to heat up more then normal. Or u can have an exaust leak in the area.

Your engine temps are perfect, actually. You might be running slightly lean, which will increase the temp of the exhaust manifolds/pipes. Have you checked your your fuel pressure recently?

maybee its just you:D

Ya, it's just that she left the controls on full hot.:D

Actually I thought I was running extremely rich...the car REEKS of gasoline, and I'm getting pretty poor mileage...this may in part be due to a fuel filter that hasn't been changed...EVER :rolleyes: We've been meaning to do it but haven't had the time, so I just haven't been driving her as much.