So when I had the last factory CD player in my GTA I noticed the radio would get freakin ***** hot! I could pop the radio pod plate off and feel an insane amount of heat inside the radio pod.

It seems to me most of the heat is coming from inside the center console and up thru the front and into the radio pod.

I'm going to be pulling my radio pod and center console next week when I replace my carpet. What have you guys been doing to mitigate this heat issue? I'm sure I can't be the only one? Are you putting like dynomat all around the tranny tunnel where it's cut for the shifter? I'm guessing that's the true root cause? Maybe I should even put some dynomat under the car in the tranny tunnel too?

I just had another factory CD player re-manufactured which is hella expensive so I don't want this one to die from excessive heat!

Thanks!

 

The heat is probably coming from the two footwell vents. The foam that is supposed to seal the vents is probably long disintegrated. You could buy new foam to seal it. But in reality, those plastic vents are horrible at insulation. So you could probably take them off and wrap them in thin header-wrap, or something like that.

 

Actually my foam is perfect but nothing really fits 100%. I could wrap the vent ducts in gold foil and use another type of foam to seal it better I guess. But it got this hot even with the A/C on without the heater

 

trans/engine is right there, plastic is thin, radio produces its own heat. Much you can do to ventilate that area unless you want to use a small 12v dc fan to either push or pull air from that area.

 

Hmmm, then I'll put dynomat on the firewall behind the radio pod too lol.

Yeah I don't wanna go as far as fans and stuff, but I might after doing everything else.

 

Does your car have an air dam installed?
When mine didn't, and I also had the tunnel dynomated, it got hot... After I put the air dam back in, much cooler & comfortable...

 

Yes, all 4 pieces.

 

Do you have the heater core diverter valve?

 

Yeah, stock, never removed it, and it seems to work.

I'm guessing this isn't a common problem then?

 

92GTA, I have an idea. Take the radio out and "bench run it."

Also, you living in Bakersfield and myself having lived in Cal City KNOW that the desert gets really hot in the summertime. I was amazed that my car just didn't melt away from the heat. EVERYTHING in the inside got so freak'n hot in the summer!

But seriously, try the bench test. The radio/CD may be on its last disc's!

 

The re-man factory CD player did it and so does my aftermarket 1.5DIN Pioneer.

I'll take a real good look at everything when it apart for me to do the carpet and see what there is to see.

 

So I ended up buying Dynaliner specifically:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371018952737

The "Dynaliner" product is specific for blocking heat as opposed the other several products they make along with Dynamat. I only went with the 1/8" because I did not want a noticeable bulge under the carpet.

I won't have everything back together for a test drive for some time but once I do, I'll report back. If I end up putting something under the car in the top of the tranny tunnel, it won't be until next spring or possibly later when I have my engine out for rebuilt who knows when.