Sweltering in the Driving Compartment. SOLVED

[Nitrate]

I got a lot of feedback on this problem thru the forum. Thank you. I did two things that made a big difference. I think I confused the problem by analyzing it when it was 90 degrees for a good 5 days in a row. Most all older cars are going to get hotter in the driving compartment under those condition. It's cooled off since then and I'll have to see if my improvements hold up during a hot spell. The PO installed a Magnaflow catalytic converter and had the heat shield facing the ground. I got a tech rep from Magnaflow who could not tell me definitively which way to orient the heat shield so I can see how the PO could be confused. I decided to reinstall it with the shield facing the floorboard. That made a very noticeable difference, and yes the original shield,mounted to the car, was fully in place so go figure. The next maybe just my imagination but I think I notice a difference. The car timing was retarded 5 or 6 degrees. I reset it to 10 degrees BTDC. and not only did it make the car more responsive and peppy I think it made the driving compartment a bit cooler. I had a 124 20 years ago and I knew it never got uncomfortably hot like that. So condition solved, thanks to all that responded. RB

[DieselSpider]

I got a lot of feedback on this problem thru the forum. Thank you. I did two things that made a big difference. I think I confused the problem by analyzing it when it was 90 degrees for a good 5 days in a row. Most all older cars are going to get hotter in the driving compartment under those condition. It's cooled off since then and I'll have to see if my improvements hold up during a hot spell. The PO installed a Magnaflow catalytic converter and had the heat shield facing the ground. I got a tech rep from Magnaflow who could not tell me definitively which way to orient the heat shield so I can see how the PO could be confused. I decided to reinstall it with the shield facing the floorboard. That made a very noticeable difference, and yes the original shield,mounted to the car, was fully in place so go figure. The next maybe just my imagination but I think I notice a difference. The car timing was retarded 5 or 6 degrees. I reset it to 10 degrees BTDC. and not only did it make the car more responsive and peppy I think it made the driving compartment a bit cooler. I had a 124 20 years ago and I knew it never got uncomfortably hot like that. So condition solved, thanks to all that responded. RB

With the timing retarded that much one would expect the cat to be doing more work since more unburnt fuel charge was being pumped through it. Heat shield mounted on the cat itself facing down is usually to protect from grass fires when the car is parked in an unpaved area/field. One can be unpleasantly surprised how quickly a hot cat can ignite moderately dry grass. I pulled over on the grass one hot summer day with my old van to check GPS and in moments could smell something burning and when I pulled forward you could see the outline of the primary and secondary cat burned into the grass even though it was trimmed and not close to touching. With a low car and no heat shield to prevent grass fires be careful about where you park especially if you leave the motor running.

Good job! You may have just saved your cat from an early demise.

[vandor]

A lof of heat can come through the shifter opening if the boot is torn or not fitting properly.
Also check for any holes in the firewall. Have someone shine a droplight on the firewall while you look from the passenger compartment.

[spider2081]

A lof of heat can come through the shifter opening if the boot is torn or not fitting properly.
Also check for any holes in the firewall. Have someone shine a droplight on the firewall while you look from the passenger compartment.

I am amazed how much heat comes through the tiny openings of the firewall and the heater control/emergency brake area when the cooling fan comes on sitting in traffic on a hot day. Its on my winter list to do something about it.

[tima01864]

This answers my question Thanks. Makes sense.