hot trans tunnel and shifter lever

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:03 pm

Gear shift rubbers below the leather gear boot are likely worn out and no longer trap heat. You need to take the centre console and gear lever out to inspect. Very common issue and heaps of replacement instructions on the web.
If theyre fine and transmission is extremely hot, makes you wonder the state of the oil in the gearbox.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:09 pm

The transmission tunnel generally does get rather hot, the exhaust runs along it (passenger side will be hotter)

The gearstick as said by Marty is often a sign that one fo the rubber boots underneath has split and it letting heat in.

redna6 II · Postby **redna6 II** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:18 pm

I had the same thing with my recently purchased NA. Shift boots were totally perished letting a lot of heat through.

I replaced the shift boots and the tunnel stays nice and cool now. You can order the boots from Mazda, the part numbers are:

Upper shift boot: NA0164481B
Lower shift boot: M51417480A

Cost about $90 for the pair.