Does anyone else experience that the car's drivetrain "tunnel" (center console) gives off alot of heat? I've noticed that items placed in the storge bin and trunk are warm to the touch after being in there. Is this just because there is minimal insulation around the drivetrain, to save weight and space? From what I read, my understanding is that the tunnel is an integral part of the frame, and the overall rigidness of the car.

Thoughts?

 

this has been discussed plenty of times. there seems to be alot of heat that comes through into the cupholders through the tranny b/c of a lack of insulation, just like you said.

 

Ok - as long as my new 8 isn't gonna burn up!

My apologies for not finding the earlier threads. I'll search more next time before asking.

 

Maybe they should market them as "Cup Warmers" instead of "Cup Holders". Hehe

 

lol, i dont think that would be a selling point of the car. oh well, it would be better than the "we gaurentee burnt coils with your zoom zoom" campaign.

 

ya its normal

 

Oh yea FYI: If your engine fan turns on after you turn your car off its norm too .

 

I put my ipod, between my seat and the center console, not realizing how hot it got in there, the thing got toasted, had to send it back to Apple for repair.

 

 

Great, we're escalating from "cup warmer" to "IPod Toaster" :D Next thing you know we'll have a center console cooking thread for the long-haul commuters who drive home during dinner time. And Mazda was the one that with the intro of the Miata erased the notion that sports cars have to be quirky, hmmm

Oh well, I love my 8, quirks, character, toasty center console and all

 

the miata isnt quirky? it seems prettty quirked to me. its got a niche target group, and to me that in itself makes it quirky

 

That’s true. I was thinking more along the lines of compared to what preceded it like the British sport cars. The MGs and Triumphs with possessed electrical systems, tops that leaked, sheet metal that you could hear rusting at night, carburetors that required strange rituals to get synced, and climate control that included feeling water spraying in your face while driving on a rainy day with the top up :D

 

Yeah, note to self, don't put chocolate in the center console. My wife had a whole bag of those poppable things in there. What a mess. On the positive side, since owning the 8, I've never had cold coffee.

Don't talk about Triumphs with me..., I will forever love and lothe the TR-7.

 

ewwww - what a mess that must have been!

 

Sadly, the installation of the heat shield does not help very much. I had it installed two months ago and there is no noticeable improvement.

 

I'm glad you said that, because I was wondering if it did. I was almost ready to get it, now I'm not if it does not help much.

 

uhh... what heat shield?

 

This is not a recall notice but an advisory bulletin issued by Mazda for owners who complain about excessive heat in the cupholder area. The dealer will install a heat shield for you at no charge.

I do not recommend it since first it does not work well secondly, they will most likely not put back all the parts the right away and you end of with ratlles.

 

Hmmm... my car was manufacturered in the end of April... I wonder if might already have it?

But I agree with you... if it's ain't broken, we don't want them pulling apart half the car!

 

I believe all new 8s have it already and the bulleting was intended for early car such as mine(12 months old now).

 

If that's the case, then you are right - it doesn't help much!

 

I just went to the dealer for my 10K oil change and had them order "the shield". After reading some comments, I too worry that it won't work well, and it seems labor intensive..Those rattles could follow. I also ordered the A/C part for the cold/warm/cold problem.. Had the M flash done... Almost one year old.. Hard to believe.. Gunther mazda in Ft. lauderdale have been great.

 

Check out stage 4 http://www.dynamat.com/auto_floor.htm

Maybe a DIA of this stuff or something like it would work. Yeah, it would involve pulling the seats and carpet... BTW: Just did that with my truck--> 20 oz of Starbucks coffee and milk on the floor The only way to clean it up was to pull out the carpet and hose it down...

Anyway that got me thinking about the Dynamat as it is an old an noisy truck. Don't know how well the stuff works, I think they have a good rep, but I can't say why I think this Maybe they just have really good subliminal advertising :D

Anyone ever play around with Dynamat for heat or noise?

 

the thing keeps food warm like a charm... different strokes

 

I dont know what that part is called where you open the door and it says RX-8, but on the Viper it gets so hot you can cook a egg!!!. Now dont you feel like you have a REAL sports car.