I have a question about the manual shifter on an 89 GTU and what I should find under the boot? I have a problem with hot air entering the passenger compartment since I have had the car. My shifter has always had a lot of free play as well. I've finally decided to replace the shifter and disassembled everything last night to check what is there and what I'll need.

I took the shift **** off and slipped the boot and surrround over the shifter. I found a old rubber boot that had lost the majority of its center section, I could clearly see the shifter cup and I could see straight thru to the driveway around the shifter cup.

I know why so much hot air is coming into the passenger area and my question is what should be there to keep the air from entering the console and the passenger compartment?

Is the large rubber boot the only thing that will seal the area around the shifter cup?

 

I only had a large piece of rubber, kinda ribbed if you will... and it even had a few small rips/tears in it and never experienced any hot air/heat around the shifter.

 

*this applies to my s4, not sure if it's the same for s5

There are a total of 3 rubber boots that should be around the shifter. One is large and squarish, and the other 2 are round, one fits over the other, and the fit tightly to the shifter. Then there was some insulation, just some brownish foamy stuff, that went around my shifter, that's under the leather boot (the same type of insulation I've found in other parts of the car).

 

the insulation cuts down on the road noise and the heat somewhat also. but its mostly there for the sound. but you are supposed to have 3 rubber boots: one that screws down, and 2 that fit over that one and are snug on the shifter.

 

What he said. I had the same problem with mine,
You can pretty much find everything that you need here http://www.mazdatrix.com/g4.htm

 

check mazdatrix.com website, it shows pics of everything.

edit: well someone beat me to it.

 

Thanks that pretty much describes what I saw last night. I wasn't sure if there was some kind of plate under the car to divert the heat and air away from the driveshaft tunnel. I ordered just about everything I could find on the mazdatrix site for the 1989 shifter parts. I should be covered.

Again thanks for the help.