Has anybody experienced the center console area and cup holder area getting really hot?
I took my eight for service for that and the technician said it's normal for regular driving. But the silver trim attached to the side of the console gets so hot on passenger side that I can't even touch it.
Just wondering if this is common for everyone driving their eights.

 

Have you tried searching the forums?
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Toyota sv-3 history

 

Search for insulator pad. I had this problem too. I had it fixed last week. Print out the post with the part numbers and such. The dealer will have to order the part. They tried to tell me it was normal , too. Then, I showed them the post with the part numbers.

 

Mine seems to be ok until I park/stop the car, then it gets hot. I have a relatively new car, so i think I probably have the insulator pad. Anyone know if theres anything I can do ? Its a minor annoyance, but it would be nice for drinks sitting in the cupholders not to get warm when I run into a store for a few minutes.

 

I used the post by markpmm which is a MRI - Mazda Repair Information. I printed it out and gave it to the dealer. They put in the insulator pad today. I can't tell yet whether it will completely fix the problem but I'm sure it will improve the situation.

For me, the cup holders get hot after I drive on the highway and come to a stop. The catalytic convertor probably heats up the cup holders. Hopefully the insulation will keep things cool. I'm also thinking the excessively rich fuel mixture is causing the catalytic convertor to work overtime. The latest PCM flash may also reduce the amount of heat.

Don't listen to the dealer when they say it's normal in these situations. They also told me the oil light coming on and hard starts were normal but now there are TSBs on these subjects.

 

Most dealers will need to search for the MRI to find it

This issue was addresses many months ago.

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 onsole. (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 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

 

Great info, Snap-on! I've had this issue and the Texas heat doesn't help.

 

I never noticed this problem until this weekend when I took the car for its first long highway run. I could not believe how hot the interior of the console got. I had read about the issue but figured I didn't have the problem. I was wrong. It is one of three issue I now have to talk to my dealer about.

 

rotary = heat

start drinking coffee all the time or buy a 'cooler' car

 

Thanks epitrochoid but I owned an Rx7 (which had a rotary engine I think) for 15 years prior to buying the 8 and never had a similar problem. So your simplistic reasoning does not seem to apply. Of course, the 8 may be "hotter" than my 7 but that is not as simple as "rotary = heat" . . . maybe your input could be more helpful or less condesending or a simple "no comment".

 

Here I thought I had the only cloth seat warmers around! I do alot of highway driving and have only noticed it a few times. I usually just keep the lid open and it helps. To me its not worth the dealer disassembling my console and hoping they dont damage anything else (heard to many horror stories around here!). Ill wait till my lid button breaks completly off and the AC controls come off in my hand.

P.S. Great info Snap On! Thanks!

 

I've tried to tell everyone, it's a coffee holder, it's supposed to be hot.

 

well simplistically put..the rx8 is not an rx7

 

will this procedure fix the heat coming from the console by my right foot (as opposed to just the cup holder area)? sometimes, it gets damn hot down there where i have to turn on the a/c just to cool my feet down.

 

No..the insulator is only about 12 inches in diameter and sticks to the bottom off the actual cup holder.

I know of at least one person that had it installed..I'm still waiting for him to post some feedback..

 

I guess you should follow epitrochoid's advice and buy another car cause "rotary = heat" and you should know better. He also knows that an Rx8 is not an Rx7 . . . . though why that is relevant since "rotary = heat" and both are rotaries isn't quite clear. I guess logic and clarity of thought is not emphasized at the home of the Knights.

On a more serious note, there are other threads where this issue is discussed and several people who have had the "fix" done have indicated that there doesn't seem to be much improvement. They seem to agree with picosRx8 that it may not be worth the "risk" in having the dealer take the console apart. Has anyone come up with a self help fix using a better insulation material? and what would it be? Comments or suggestions from anyone who hasn't decided to live with the problem because "rotary = heat" are welcome.

 

I have a bit of heat but find the cupholders in that location are not really usefull for drinks if you shift. So I just store small things in that location. I use the cupholders in the back.

 

Flatso is correct. I stoped using it as a cupholder also because the drinks got in the way of shifting. I install a "beverage containment system" to hold a drink. I didn't find using the rear holders convenient. I use the front cupholder for housing my MP3 player and other stuff and it was when picked it up after my trip and it was too hot to hold that I became concerned.