Was there anything done to control the heat radiating from the cup holders? I read that there was some insulting done, but was it by Cadillac or by the car owners. Thanks G. :confused

The insulation padding would be done by the dealer under warranty. it's a fairly simple process, but it is desinged to reduce the heat coming from the sides of the console not the top of it.

The heat issue is very subjective,,, many owners never complain & others do. Somuch of it depends on how you drive the car, how you get the drive shaft spinning within the torque tube.

Im not saying there is not a heat issue, but It seems like the agressve drivers. I have clients that have never driven over 75 mph.

www.Cadillac-XLR.com (http://www.Cadillac-XLR.com)

Thanks
Allen

Allen,

In the newer cars or maybe just in the "V" did they not find a way to let more air go thur the tunnel where the drive shaft is to cool the console?

I had my console top off once but like most people know there really is NOT any room under there to add much if any insulation to help the heat.
I drive about 70-80 mph and my console gets to about 90-95 deg.

I was going to put my car on a lift and see if any mod. could be done to add more air but just have not found the time.

Some people have talked about ducting some of the AC air into the tunnel but I don't think that would help. Now if we could find a way to add the cooling cup holders like in the Chrysler van that would be neat.

So for now I just drink my drinks faster and put a small 6 pack cooler in front of my seat do hold more drinks..

Blaise

I have deadener that I have used part #25649654. I can bring some with me to BG and I can install it and you can see if it makes a difference.let me know
Bruce:D

Yes, Bruce there is a definite problem with heat. Has Cadillac used an actual heat refection type material or a sound deadening material? I feel like I'm talking directly with Cadillac. Your such an asset.

I have deadener that I have used part #25649654. I can bring some with me to BG and I can install it and you can see if it makes a difference.let me know
Bruce:D
Bruce,

Bring a truck load. I think the XLR's will be lining up for a little heat-relief..................I'm getting tired of all my stuff melting in the console.

I don't really see it as a "subjective" issue as some may call it, just one of tolerance or failure to recognized a solution. Opps, there I go with those negative vibs.............

XLR KEN

Bruce,
That would be very nice of you if you think it would work. I am all for it. :thumbs
With all the things you are doing for everyone when do you think you will have time to sleep? :sleep
I will send you my vin. this afternoon so you know what you are up against.

Thanks
Blaise

I will bring my Infrared temp gun and will take a few readings on the way up and if you can install something then I will take some readings on the way back and let you all know well it does...

Bruce your the greatest.:thumbs

Blaise

P.S. If I get a deal on the windscreen, get my console fixed, do a GM plant tour like no other, and get to meet all these people from the forum and Cadillac all in the same trip it's going make my day. :cheers
Hell it will make my year.... :party

Bruce your the greatest.:thumbs

Blaise



Blaise, I agree 100%! :iagree :thumbs :thumbs (two thumbs up)

I'm starting to think that "BRUCE" will be voted "MVP" at the BG Rendezvous...........definitely "Service after the sale".

Responsive, Knowledgeable, Accurate, and on and on............and everybody said........THANKS.

XLR KEN

DITTO!!! :iagree :yesnod

Was there anything done to control the heat radiating from the cup holders? I read that there was some insulting done, but was it by Cadillac or by the car owners. Thanks G. :confused
Just took the XLR in for some warranty to work. Brought up the issue of the hot console with the service manager and to prove the point handed him the mailbox key I keep in the console. He didn't drop it, but he wanted to.

I did some research at the Vette sites and found this website: http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/Thermal_Abs_Temp_Tests.html

I e-mailed them this question: I am having the same heat issues on my 2005 Cadillac XLR as the Corvettes. Do you have any idea if your product would also fit the XLR?

I received this reply: Thanks for your email. I'm still trying to determine if the XLR has the same tunnel area as the Corvette. If so, one of our Thermal-Abs Tunnel Plates will do a great job. In addition, you may want to look at Dynamat or Frost King Insulation.

I have tried to find out if the plates are the same, but haven't had any luck so far.

Uintah

Just took the XLR in for some warranty to work. Brought up the issue of the hot console with the service manager and to prove the point handed him the mailbox key I keep in the console. He didn't drop it, but he wanted to.

I did some research at the Vette sites and found this website: http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/Thermal_Abs_Temp_Tests.html

I e-mailed them this question: I am having the same heat issues on my 2005 Cadillac XLR as the Corvettes. Do you have any idea if your product would also fit the XLR?

I received this reply: Thanks for your email. I'm still trying to determine if the XLR has the same tunnel area as the Corvette. If so, one of our Thermal-Abs Tunnel Plates will do a great job. In addition, you may want to look at Dynamat or Frost King Insulation.

I have tried to find out if the plates are the same, but haven't had any luck so far.

Uintah



Ialso emailed them and am waiting for a reply. This looks to be a great solution if they are the same for the Corvette and XLR.

Cubby558:cool

While in BG we'll have to ask a engineer if the XLR use the same frames as a Corvette Z06. If it is and I think it is, then we can use the replacement tunnel plates. I've thought of this replacement too. I also think that we can use a Z06 Corsa exhaust on the XLR's.

I am in W. Memphis right now at the hotel. While driving up here from Texas I have taken a few temp. readings on the cup holders and console.
The temp outside was 98 on my nav display and the cup holders were 105, drivers side of console was 104. Engine temp was about 195-200.
When the outside temp. got to 108 my cup holders were 115 and the console was 109, motor temp 210-220...
I hope something will work for this.

Blaise

I am in W. Memphis right now at the hotel. While driving up here from Texas I have taken a few temp. readings on the cup holders and console.
The temp outside was 98 on my nav display and the cup holders were 105, drivers side of console was 104. Engine temp was about 195-200.
When the outside temp. got to 108 my cup holders were 115 and the console was 109, motor temp 210-220...
I hope something will work for this.

Blaise

The cup holders would work good to keep your coffee hot :glol

Sorry but I like ice tea... Maybe I need to try coffee..
Blaise

I really don't enjoy beating the drums on this problem, but in my view, this heating problem is a serious defect. Not only do the cupholders heat up whatever you put in them, and the console becomes hot to the touch, but the really annoying thing is the 'Heated Trunk Option'. I don't remember seeing this feature listed on the window sticker.

Driving back from Bowling Green this past week, I had my overnight bag in the trunk. Arriving home, it not only was very hot to the touch, my electric razor that was inside the luggage, and INSIDE a metal case, was baked! It was hot thru and thru. Also, my digital camera was near burning hot to the touch.

In an age when GM can invent and build such a remarkable machine as the XLR, (and Corvette) you would think that solving this problem would be trivial.

Hey, maybe Al Gore is right about this Global Warming! (nah, kidding)

Las Vegas Dave

This has just got to be one of the strangest, most mystifying things about XLRs. On our trip to and from Bowling Green we were contantly feeling the console, cup holders, and divider between the seats (8 hours one way on Sunday) with the temperature on the display screen at times registering 102 F. At most, we would say the cup holders felt slightly warm (Sandra's flowers rode in them the whole time in both directions and were as happy as could be). The other parts never felt even warm.

Similarly, the trunk didn't get very warm either. One of our digital cameras was back there resting directly on the trunk floor - it never got hot. The group picture from the Corvette Museum was resting directly on the center of the trunk floor and it wasn't warm and was fine when we arrived home on Sunday.

The XLR folk at Bowling Green freely acknowledged there was a problem that some owners have with the heat in those areas while extremely puzzling were cars like ours which have no problem. There was a fair amount of discussion about the situation and why certain proposed solutions would not be considered because of how they could structurally impact the "backbone" of the car. They were interested to hear of some possible solutions from the attendees and were going to research them.

At the "Park and Shine" cadillac tech (Bruce) was experimenting with installing some heat shielding on Galen's car to see if it might help. It will be interesting to hear from Galen about the results.

Best regards,
Ed and Sandra

While we were at th plant in BG, someone in the group asked if the "tunnel plate" was the same in the XLR as it was in the Vette. This would make the retrofit heat shields from Elite and Summit Racing fit our cars as well as the Vettes. Yes, the head engineer remarked he wouldn't advise changing the plate to the thicker kind, since it would affect how the car performed in a crash. But, if one were to replace it with either a plate the same thickness (Elite Eng) or simply add the heat shield (Summit). there should be no issues with the crashworthness of the car.

I have heat issues in my 04, and might add the shield from Summit- this one does not appear to require dropping the exhaust; the Elite Engineering requires removing the exhaust system and totally replacing the plate. It may bemy "Labor Day" project if I get off my butt and order it...

Obviously, I'll let you forummfolks know if it makes a difference after I do it.

An update on my own post:
After talking to the guys at Cadillac and hearing some of the ideas at the plant we tried one of them on the way home.
I have always just set the air cond. to 69 deg. , recirt, fan to 2or3 and had it set to blow out the upper vents.
They said to try the Bi-Level mode to send some of the air down to the console.

Well we set every thing the same but had it blow both down and up...
It cooled it down a lot. Still will get my coke warm but takes a lot longer.

Outside temp was 104, cup holders were 89 and the console was down to about 85..
Big change don't you think?

Blaise

Blaise,

You may really be on to something there!!! That's exactly how we operate ours except with the A/C temp set at 71 F.

Do people get this console / trunk heat problem when the outside temperature is cold?

Best regards,
Ed and Sandra

I, having been the first one to get a buy back because of this console heat in my 04, found this out by accident one day when my daughter didn't like the air blowing in her face and set the two ducts in the center straight down and if I had done this before I bought the 06-V, I believe it would have helped significantly.
I still believe that my V has more air because of both grills now are free to blow more air under the car and clear that heat out.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
BobAn update on my own post:
After talking to the guys at Cadillac and hearing some of the ideas at the plant we tried one of them on the way home.
I have always just set the air cond. to 69 deg. , recirt, fan to 2or3 and had it set to blow out the upper vents.
They said to try the Bi-Level mode to send some of the air down to the console.

Well we set every thing the same but had it blow both down and up...
It cooled it down a lot. Still will get my coke warm but takes a lot longer.

Outside temp was 104, cup holders were 89 and the console was down to about 85..
Big change don't you think?

Blaise

While we were at th plant in BG, someone in the group asked if the "tunnel plate" was the same in the XLR as it was in the Vette. This would make the retrofit heat shields from Elite and Summit Racing fit our cars as well as the Vettes. Yes, the head engineer remarked he wouldn't advise changing the plate to the thicker kind, since it would affect how the car performed in a crash. But, if one were to replace it with either a plate the same thickness (Elite Eng) or simply add the heat shield (Summit). there should be no issues with the crashworthness of the car.

I have heat issues in my 04, and might add the shield from Summit- this one does not appear to require dropping the exhaust; the Elite Engineering requires removing the exhaust system and totally replacing the plate. It may bemy "Labor Day" project if I get off my butt and order it...

Obviously, I'll let you forummfolks know if it makes a difference after I do it.
You may have saw this already, but it contains some good questions and answers. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1475321

Uintah

I think Galen posted this before and I believe that it was he that ask Cadillac about this.
He or someone in the room gave Cadillac the web address to take a look at it.
This was were they said that it could possibly affect how the car bends if you wreck it if you added the plate.

This looks good but my question would be HOW can this lower the temp inside the car that much if it only goes on the flat plat that covers the bottom of the tunnel? If heat goes UP and we are getting heat in the cup holders and the sides of the console would you NOT want to put some kind of material up and over the tunnel?

Bruce was going to add some kind of material to my console while we were in BG but I think he ran out of time. I read he did do it to some other cars so may be we will get some feed back from those people..
Next time Bruce...Me first.....LOL

Blaise

I'm no engineer, but I think it works by reflecting the heat away from the tunnel; there's also a bit of insulation to insure the heat stays out.

When one is at highway speeds, I would guess much of the convected heat is a non-issue; however, the radiant heat will always remain unless you can reflect it away.

I'm personally still debating the Elite Engineering solution. I don't think the (easier to install Thermo-Tec) blanket that fits the C5 will fit our C6-style XLRs. But Elite Engineering sells inexpensive adhesive-backed thermal barriers- I may try it under the trunk also while I have the exhaust system out!

I don't believe I posted this before, but there is a company that makes a heat barrier for inside the C6. I installed a similar product from Eckler Corvette in my C3 and it made a big difference. It is a lot of work to pull the interior apart and I hesitate to do that with the XLR.

Here is the link for anyone who is interested along with an e-mail I received from them: http://www.exoticvette.com/insulation%20c6.htm

I am having the same issues the Vettes seem to have, hot center console
and cabin. What do you thing the chances are the C6 Coupe Kit Front Half
would fit with some minor modification?

Hmmmm.
No idea actually! Where are you located? I was actually test driving an
XLR-V a few months ago at a golf tournament where Caddi had cars out
there for people to check out and drive. I really like the car,
considering getting one. If I did, there would definately be a kit for it
then. Surprising the car isn't more insulated for heat being a Caddi!
I'll have to take a look online and see what the interior looks like
(don't remember exactly). I am sure you could modify it, probably add a
little extra material here and there to the pieces, and make it work.

Dan

Looks like they added insulation every where but under the center of the console.

Also with the way the carpet fits to the sides of the console and has to be tucked under the top part of the console there may not be enough room for it without it sticking out.

motorboat

where was Bruce putting the insulation? On the bottom tunnel plate? Im thinking of trying that tunnel plate insulation like the vettes. jim

Bruce did mine on Sat. morning. He cut and placed them inside the console. It looks similar to what they used to wrap the brake lines with. The change in temperature was minimal. It did help but its still too hot for my liking. You know looking at all the investigating of this, its not a new problem. Over on the vette boards, this is old news. Several companies have address it. I really don't know why GM or Cadillac for that matter turn their heads on this. :yawn The C6 is a little better than the C5 on radiate cabin heat but the XLR is an oven. They stood up there in front of us and wanted to hear feed back from us. All I heard on this subject was double talk. I'm not stupid, GM and/or Cadillac is not concerned about this at all. But we do have a fix for a 80K car. Kind of embarrassing if you ask me.

Galen, I think the way to address this problem is to 1st find out where exactly the heat is coming from. Is it the cats? the exhaust manifolds? the engine? Or all 3 I know in my 1976 Rolls Shadow thats 30 yrs old! The cat is so hot Rolls put 1/4" asbestos sandwiched between 2 layers of stainless with spacers for air all around and it still melts the carpet pads! So you see this heat problem goes way back. Thats why i think it may be the cats! I need to put it back on my lift and do some heat studies as to where most of it is generated. I believe the answer for GM is some type of asbestos but are not allowed to use it! We can. My old racing buddies use asbestos tape on the down pipes right off the manifolds to lower temp. that might me an answer! Jim

There were heat studies on the aftermarket web sites that pretty much shows where the heat is coming from. Jim, check those sites out first and you will save yourself some time. I think that its mostly timing for me. Its a new car for me and I bought it during a major heat wave in the US. Which magnified the problem. I'll wait till winter and see if the console is still too hot. I can remember back many years ago, in the 60's, I had a few muscle cars. There was not much in those cars but engine and metal. I remember the inside of my camaro being very hot. Those engines generated a lot of heat. We didn't have cat's back then. My point that I'm trying to make is, Cadillac address hot seats and you would have to admit, they (Cadillac) took a lot of time and effort to accommodate our a$$es. Right? Now I can go all day without turning on the seats. But when I put ice tea in an undersized cup holder, witch means you have very little ice in a small cup. The 120 degree cup holders make weak coffee out of it. If I were a betting man, I would put money on Cadillac relocating and enlarging the cup holders. If they do anything. I may wait till 2009 to buy again to see if they do some major changes.

Galen I joined the c-6 corvette site today and found an item called "Heatmaster" Its a space age blanket of metal, silcone and STUFF? will tolerate over 2000 degrees. suppose to do the job but its $419 bucks! From a company called L&G they build corvette race items! Apperently this product is what NASCAR uses to reduce heat. jim

Just took the XLR in for some warranty to work. Brought up the issue of the hot console with the service manager and to prove the point handed him the mailbox key I keep in the console. He didn't drop it, but he wanted to.

I did some research at the Vette sites and found this website: http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/Thermal_Abs_Temp_Tests.html

I e-mailed them this question: I am having the same heat issues on my 2005 Cadillac XLR as the Corvettes. Do you have any idea if your product would also fit the XLR?

I received this reply: Thanks for your email. I'm still trying to determine if the XLR has the same tunnel area as the Corvette. If so, one of our Thermal-Abs Tunnel Plates will do a great job. In addition, you may want to look at Dynamat or Frost King Insulation.

I have tried to find out if the plates are the same, but haven't had any luck so far.

Uintah


As a follow up to this thread I recently received this reply from Elite Engineering:


We finally had a few minutes to put a XLR on the hoist and try the insulation. The plate on the XLR is exactly the same as the Corvette and the material fit perfectly. With that in mind you would be safe to order the Tunnel Plate and/or the insulation for the Cadillac.

Jeff
Elite Engineering, LLC

My XLR will be going into winter storage end of this month, so I won't be able to try this until spring. Best of luck to anyone else that would like to try it or one of the others out there.

Galen, as some of my threads or post have said in the past, my 04 shot in the cup holder with a heat gun registered 147 degree on a 86 degree day.
How did I fix it?
Simple, I lemoned it and they threw in extra bucks for the inconvenience which gave me enough for my 06-V. Now with the new open grill in the V I have no such problem because the grill is forcing air under the car and blowing out the hot air that gets trapped....................God only know how air gets trapped under my car with the way I drive.:glol :glol :glol :glol :glol :glol :glol
Bob:cheers There were heat studies on the aftermarket web sites that pretty much shows where the heat is coming from. Jim, check those sites out first and you will save yourself some time. I think that its mostly timing for me. Its a new car for me and I bought it during a major heat wave in the US. Which magnified the problem. I'll wait till winter and see if the console is still too hot. I can remember back many years ago, in the 60's, I had a few muscle cars. There was not much in those cars but engine and metal. I remember the inside of my camaro being very hot. Those engines generated a lot of heat. We didn't have cat's back then. My point that I'm trying to make is, Cadillac address hot seats and you would have to admit, they (Cadillac) took a lot of time and effort to accommodate our a$$es. Right? Now I can go all day without turning on the seats. But when I put ice tea in an undersized cup holder, witch means you have very little ice in a small cup. The 120 degree cup holders make weak coffee out of it. If I were a betting man, I would put money on Cadillac relocating and enlarging the cup holders. If they do anything. I may wait till 2009 to buy again to see if they do some major changes.

Stanby, if one were to replace the grill in the standard XLR with the V grill wouldn't that interfere with the Adaptive Cruise Control?

Uintah

No problem with the ACC if you replace the upper grille. If you replace the lower grille, the ACC will not operate.

SilverX

Stanby, if one were to replace the grill in the standard XLR with the V grill wouldn't that interfere with the Adaptive Cruise Control?

Uintah

The upper grill will NOT fit.
They made the V grill just a little bit different top and bottom and they will not fit the stander XLR. You have to get one like Hans as on his car.

motorboat

The after market grill that looks like the V fits the XLR but as mentioned, if you put the bottom grill in, the ACC will not work because the radar bounces off the metal.
This is why we didn't get the ACC in the V series, which displeased a lot of V buyers.
BobStanby, if one were to replace the grill in the standard XLR with the V grill wouldn't that interfere with the Adaptive Cruise Control?

Uintah

Hey guys - if there is too much heat in the ****pit, just turn your seat to "HI COOL" - that should take care of it because the cool seats work so well. lolol

Rick,
The cool air coming out of the seat would never give enough cool air to compensate for 147 degrees in the cup holder. I have found that the best course of action, short of lemoning, is to turn the two vents over the center console straight down. This will help a great deal.
BobHey guys - if there is too much heat in the ****pit, just turn your seat to "HI COOL" - that should take care of it because the cool seats work so well. lolol

Ditto on that bob! The other way is buy one of those insulator blankets they make for the Corvette. Pay appox. 450 bucks, remove your exhaust system and tunnel cover plate install special radient insulation, tunnel plate and exhaust and that is suppose to reduce the heat! I choose the free route and turned the vents! Jim

Hey guys - if there is too much heat in the ****pit, just turn your seat to "HI COOL" - that should take care of it because the cool seats work so well. lololsometimes the wit is wasted....:crazy

I just revisited this topic.

Has anyone had any issues with their consoles or cup holders getting warm with the cooler weather?

Mine does get warm in the summer, but feels like it's the same temperature as the cabin in the winter. Needless to say, I'm not sure if I'm interested in purchasing and installing one of the insulated tunnel plates any more.....

Remember- I'm in northern Ohio, so it does get pretty cold outside.....

O GOD, please don't revisit this hot console again. My cup holder was 147 degrees on a 87 temperature day outside the car. Why do you think I lemoned it?
BoboI just revisited this topic.

Has anyone had any issues with their consoles or cup holders getting warm with the cooler weather?

Mine does get warm in the summer, but feels like it's the same temperature as the cabin in the winter. Needless to say, I'm not sure if I'm interested in purchasing and installing one of the insulated tunnel plates any more.....

Remember- I'm in northern Ohio, so it does get pretty cold outside.....

Has anyone had any issues with their consoles or cup holders getting warm with the cooler weather?

I went driving around today in the X, for several hours, here in the Heartland. It was about 40 degrees out most of the day, sunny, and most of our snow has melted. I checked to see if my console was any warmer in this cooler weather. It's hard to tell if its warmer in cooler weather!! I did put on the Elite insulated tunnel plate on my car, but that was later in the Fall. Maybe this Summer when it hotter I may tell the difference. One thing I have noticed since I put that plate on is that the car seems stiffer and more rigid on the roads. I do know that there's insulation in the tunnel, I saw that when I changed the plate.