Trans overheating?

[alternative]

After a few minutes of normal driving and shifting (by my standards at least, shifting around 3000rpm), the area surrounding the shifter gets increasingly hot, to the point that I can feel the heat on my leg while pressing the accelerator or brake. A couple of other forums (surrounding other cars) suggest that this might be some exhaust manifold heat making its way through the boot. Could anyone validate this claim or tell me if this means my trans is overheating?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

It's probably a combination of exhaust pipe heat and transmission heat, although it doesn't mean that your transmission is overheating. These transmissions do tend to radiate a lot of heat up the transmission tunnel and into the center console area. It's not unique to Fiats, either. Make sure you're not low on transmission oil.

Do you know that all of the parts in the shifter area are present in your car? There should be a metal oval cover plate for the opening in the transmission tunnel with insulation around its rim, then a rubber boot around the lower shifter that slips around the transmission housing extension, sometimes with foam rubber insulation, then your console cover plate that has a metal bottom and a wood top. Plus the shift boot and shifter extension and knob. If any of these are missing, heat can come up through the tunnel. All Fiat spiders tend to do this, within reason of course.

-Bryan

[alternative]

Thanks for the quick answer, although could you tell me how to check the trans oil? I haven't been able to find a way yet.

[Nut124]

To check the trans oil level, locate the fill/check plug on the right side, middle of the trans, about 2" up from the bottom cover. This is a 17mm hex nut plug.

Remove the plug and feel with you finger. Oil should be level with bottom of the plug hole, or just below it.

[TX82FIAT]

+1 on these transmission running hot. I added some insulation around the transmission and an aluminum trans oil pan with fins for added cooling. Make sure you use GL1. This is a source of debate. These cars need the thick honey GL1 trans oil.

[Nut124]

+1 on these transmission running hot. I added some insulation around the transmission and an aluminum trans oil pan with fins for added cooling. Make sure you use GL1. This is a source of debate. These cars need the thick honey GL1 trans oil.

Where did you find that finned alu oil cover?

[TX82FIAT]

A German company about 7 years ago. Just looked on the site and did not see the aluminum trans pan. www.spider-point.com.

[AS1967]

You might want to have a look what these German guys say. It sounds interesting and makes sense.

https://shop.strato.de/epages/62201507. ... 0magnSt%22

http://www.fiat124spiderservice.de/html ... wanne.html

[18Fiatsandcounting]

You might want to have a look what these German guys say. It sounds interesting and makes sense.

https://shop.strato.de/epages/62201507. ... 0magnSt%22

http://www.fiat124spiderservice.de/html ... wanne.html

That is interesting. I always thought the transmissions in all my Fiat spiders shifted a bit harder when they were really hot, but I always figured it was my imagination.

Thanks for those links. Note that the finned oil pans are not in stock, so you need to order and then wait until they do a production run.
-Bryan

[Nut124]

You might want to have a look what these German guys say. It sounds interesting and makes sense.

https://shop.strato.de/epages/62201507. ... 0magnSt%22

http://www.fiat124spiderservice.de/html ... wanne.html

Thanks for sharing!

I actually just ordered one from here:

https://shop.arnold-classic.com/en/4663 ... ider/coupe

The German one looks nicer, does it?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Now you got me wondering if it's possible to add some cooling fans around the transmission, like one or two miniature 12V computer fans. Turn them on when things heat up. Could it help? All you need to do is get air circulating around the transmission housing.

I'm sure racing folks in general (not just Fiat) have had to deal with hot transmissions.

-Bryan