Why is the area around the gear shift particularly hot?

[Adalynn]

There are many reasons for significant gear shift impact, but it often manifests in whether the engine mount is cracked or there are internal transmission issues. If the problem is obvious, you can go to a service station for inspection. There is a warm air circulation water tank in front of the gear shift mechanism, which has a heat shield, but prolonged driving may still generate some heat, which should be normal. Below are some tips for using car gears: 1. Tip one: Do not keep your hand on the gear shift lever for a long time while driving. 2. Tip two: Start the car in 1st or 2nd gear. 3. Tip three: Shift gears fully and depress the clutch all the way. 4. Tip four: If you notice the vehicle shaking slightly under high load, downshift by one or two gears. 5. Tip five: Coordinate the clutch and throttle well during gear shifts. Depress the clutch fully and immediately release the throttle pedal, then quickly shift to the appropriate gear.

[RhettLynn]

Last time I drove our old automatic car on a long trip, I noticed the gear lever was alarmingly hot. After carefully studying this issue, I found the temperature in this area is closely related to the transmission, especially in older vehicles. When an automatic transmission operates, the fluid temperature can rise above 90°C, and the heat travels upward along the shift cable. In some cars, the exhaust pipe happens to be positioned right under that part of the chassis. After prolonged driving, the heat radiating from below can become intense if the heat insulation material has deteriorated with age. By the way, with modern electronic shifters having multiple wiring, if you have phone charging cables tangled there, the combined heat from devices and mechanical components makes it even hotter. For solutions, opening windows to ventilate and dissipate heat after parking helps, but the key is to check whether the chassis heat insulation layer has come loose.

[McAnastasia]

I often encounter such cases when repairing cars. Overheating in the gear lever area is usually not an independent fault. Signals of transmission overheating are most easily reflected here, such as insufficient fluid or a clogged radiator. Don't take manual transmission cars lightly either. If you frequently drive with the clutch partially engaged, the heat from the pressure plate friction will transfer to the cabin. Recently, I repaired a car with a scorching-hot gear lever base. Upon disassembly, I found that the wiring for the aftermarket ambient lights was bundled too tightly against the metal rod, causing resistance heating combined with mechanical heat conduction. I recommend not installing electronic devices on the gear lever and regularly checking the transmission's condition. If the heat becomes unbearable, you can find specialized heat insulation pads for the center console online to alleviate some discomfort.

[DelOscar]

As someone who frequently works on construction sites, having a scorching gear shift area in my pickup is the norm. Let me tell you, focus on three key areas: First, the high ground clearance of off-road vehicles means exhaust pipe heat radiation directly hits the cabin floor. Second, when climbing slopes in low gears, the transmission bears heavy loads, and heat transfers rapidly through the metal components of the gear shift mechanism. Third, if the AC vents are blowing directly on it, heat exchange becomes even more noticeable. Last week, I found the gear shift leather cover deformed from heat—turned out the exhaust pipe heat shield had a hole. For DIY fixes, checking the integrity of the aluminum heat insulation plate under the chassis is most effective. City drivers should be extra cautious with this issue; don’t leave plastic water bottles near the gear shift at traffic lights—they’ll warp from the heat.