not to drag this up again, but since my center console gets bit warm, I wanted to see what the deal with this was, i remember reading a thread about it, but i did a couple of searches and could find the thread. Can't they install a heat shield or something? Thanks,

Alan

there is a tsb for it, but it doesnt do much. with 2000deg egt's it's to be expected somewhat.

The heat is coming from the exhaust, which rises and collects in the deep tunnel for the trans and driveshaft. There is a heat shield that can be installed under the console, but I hear it doesn't help much.

Anyone have the TSB on this issue? I'm bringing my 8 in on Monday for the A/C fix and would like to add this to the list. :confused:

just curious, would a highflow Cat help this at all?

there was a thread about this a few weeks ago..search for "rotary = heat" in the post bodies..lol it was my smartass reply to the same question

Looking for this?

FRONT CUP HOLDER / CENTER CONSOLE BECOMES HOT
Applicable Models
Model Starting S/N Ending S/N
2004 RX8 00000000 40113124

Some customers may complain of the front cupholder area of the center console becoming hot after extended driving, causing cold drinks to warm. Due to the heat from the exhaust system (catalyst), the center console (cup holder area) becomes hot. This is due to insufficient insulation between the floor panel N cup holder. A insulation pad is available to reduce the heat transfer to the center console. 1. Remove the upper panel, hole cover (cigar lighter) and storage box from the vehicle. (See WSM 9-17-8) 2. Remove the six screws from the upper panel and remove the rear console. (See WSM 9-17-8,9) 3. Attach the heat insulater pad to the bottom of the front cup holder in the rear console removed at the above step #2. NOTE: Be sure to attach the heat insulator pad so that the bottom of the cup holder is wrapped. 4. Re-install the parts reverse order of removal. Parts information: F151-55-161 Heat insulator pad

Boozehound,

Where did you find the TSB? I thought I remembered seeing it but it is not on Rosenthal Mazda's TSB page http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/index.html .

It's not a TSB, it's a "M-Tip" which is (the way I understand it at least) how Mazda lets dealers know that there's a possible issue, but it lets them do it without all the publicity of a TSB. If it were a TSB, they'd have a torrent of owners coming in with the problem, real or imagined - this way, it's all on the DL. My dealership had no idea that this solution existed until I brought a print out of what I posted in, and the way I understand it, only the service manager has access to the database of "tips."

I like to think of it as "plausible ignorance."

I had the console blanket installed. It really didn't help much at all. It will be cooler for a while, but if you drive long enough, it is just as hot as it was before the blanket was installed. It's just part of the flavor of owning a high performance vehicle.