Drive tunnel get very hot

[oyster]

And I mean really hot after about 15-20 mins of driving.
The carpet is very warm and the base of the gear lever is almost too hot to touch.

Anything in the ashtray gets heated. And in the winter I barely need the heater on inside the car.

Have I got a major problem?

[Oldandslow]

If you do then so do I. It does get warmed up by the gearbox and the exhaust runs through it too. If you're really worried a change of gearbox oil would at least settle whether the gearbox is properly lubricated but I doubt there is a problem.

[Risotto]

See the 'common faults' wiki - they do get warm but new shift boots can help. Cheap enough and easy to fit:

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

Edited by Risotto on Monday 8th March 16:54

[MonkeyBusiness]

Risotto said:

See the 'common faults' wiki - they do get warm but new shift boots can help. Cheap enough and easy to fit:

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

100% it will be this ^^^
Easy DIY job.

[LS2 V8 Miata]

I have a 438 HP V8 with Dual 2-1/2 exhaust running through my Miata's drive-shaft tunnel, and it's cool as a cucumber inside the car even in Arizona Summer. The reason, as I campaigned my car on roadracing courses (Track Days) back in it's Stock 4 cylinder days, the heat was miserable from the floor (gas pedal foot and tunnel) I found a Company in Florida called Hy-Tech Paints that sells elastomeric paint with ceramic particles in it for Heat Insulation purposes. A little research and I found this is the same ceramic material used in the Space Shuttle's Tiles.

It Works Great and is only $36.00 US a Gallon. Great Heat problem solver. NOTE I did spend more than that replacing Boots, Gaskets, seals and under carpet insulation, the paint solved it, even with my big V8 NOW!

[snotrag]

Your catalytic converter is less than 6 inches from your left knee, it's gonna get warm. If you feel yours is getting particularly hot then you may have a section of heatshield missing.

[oyster]

snotrag said:

Your catalytic converter is less than 6 inches from your left knee, it's gonna get warm. If you feel yours is getting particularly hot then you may have a section of heatshield missing.

As a Miata that'll be my right knee!

Thanks for the tip.

[dylan0451]

when i bought mine the main gear lever to body boot was split, and as i have a round metal knob (ohh err) it got almost unbareable to touch, even the leather/vinyl lever boot cracked and split from the heat!