Stole this from LexusOwnerClub forum

"I notice when I driving about 10 minutes,
my interior shifter and arm rest area will get very warm like heater is on.
I don't know is it normal or something wrong with the transmission.
DO you guys have the same problem?"

No one was able to fix the problem yet except putting dynomat under the car driver carpet seat. Is this a common problem for you guys??

 

Its pretty normal. Just heat transfer between the trans the metal floor. Not a lot of air flows on the top part of the transmission tunnel to dissipate the heat. If it bothers you a lot you can always pull the seats console and carpet and insulate that section of the floor to help minimize the heat transfer. Also could use a synthetic trans fluid maybe allow the trans to operate a slightly lower temp but doubt it will be a noticeable amount.

 

I've got the same thing going on with my '99 SC300. I also had it with my '98 ES300. I think it's just stagnant air.

 

I get the same thing on my sc400... ive thought it was the trans getting too hot but i did a flush on it and added an larger trans cooler with a fan and still does the same thing

 

normal but still a nuisance

 

Yup, I have that on my 98, it's just the air flow, if you crack ur window open it will help. annoying specially it's summer.

 

its pretty normal..its nice on a cold night

 

same here same here, but that "minor" problem is the least of my worries with my sc

 

heck yeah. Haha I thought I was the only one feeling the extra wave of heat

 

you can disconnect the heat valve or something...there's a thread on that here. But you have to connect it back come winter.

when I put the fan on (no AC) the problem is lessened a bit

 

oo ok, so it a common issue, it sux cuz if it a hot day and open the window, the inside is even hotter cuz of that air. it must be nice to be on the passenger side cuz you don't get the heat affect.

 

to me it's so minor i didn't notice it until i let one of my frens drive my car and they started complaning. but who cares, the SC is so sexy. i pay more attention to my driving anyways.

Peace out

 

Here is the thread about disconnecting the heater valve: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-1st-gen-1992-2000/49874-heat-from-the-undervent-and-shift-area.html

Actually, I'm pretty sure opening the window is what makes it worse -- when you keep the windows/sunroof closed and just blow AC, the heat stays in the footwell. But when you crack open a window or the sunroof, the air flows up and you start feeling the heat across your body.

 

I noticed this as well when I had my W58 in the car. I thought it was the tranny getting hot, but I guess it's normal for these cars, but ever since I did the V161 swap, I don't really feel it anymore. This might be due to the dimensions of the Getrag, and how it sits in the tunnel, but it's definitely not there as much now. It's the first thing I noticed when driving my car, especially in the hot Atlanta weather.

 

I really hate this in my SC300..my AC doesnt work and it is hot out!! At least I'm not the only one, but man does mine get HOT.