Hey everyone,

I noticed the other day now that our Temps in NC have been regularly in the 70'2 and 80's that I am getting a good amount of heat leaking into the cabin area around the center console, especially around the transfer case and E-brake handles. Also if I reach down and put my hand between the center console and bottom of the dash I can feel warm air blowing in while driving. I do not remember this happening in my old 97 wrangler but I am wondering if you all have the same issue or if maybe there might be a section of the flooring missing allowing hot air from around the exhaust system or transfer case to come into the jeep. I have not had a chance to get under the jeep to look. Any thoughts?

Thanks

I have a 97 also, and don't notice any hot air coming in. I'd crawl under the jeep and check the fire wall for any body plugs missing, then check inside for any insulation/carpet pad missing

So I think I just found the issue. I crawled up under the jeep and almost immediately found the issue as well as saw that I have a few "wet" spots like around the back edge of the oil pan where its bolted. Anyway, the rubber boot that covers the shift lever (manual transmission) and goes around the hole where the lever comes through the body was shredded. Does anyone know how much of a pain that is to replace?

So i have an oil leak around the back of the pan as i stated above and then wet spots around the bottom front edge of the tranny and under the front differential.

The inner shift boot is replaced from the top, simply remove the console, it bolts to the tub floor.

Probably your friendly neighborhood mouse!!
I had this issue in my 07... just changed out the boot and saw it chewed up and a mass of empty sunflower seed shells in the console area!!

so I have been looking for a replacement including jeepsareus.com, quadratec, and ebay and could not find a match for my year. Also I have a 6-speed and everything was for AX5 and AX15 5 speed transmissions. they also all look round but from what I saw earlier, mine is a rectangular cutout but I will check more on it tomorrow when there is daylight.

So after doing some research the reason us 2005 and 2006 owners can't find a replacement inner boot for the shifting lever is because it is a completely different part. It is MOPAR part number 52059661AC and is the floor pan cover and it is all 1 assembly that part of the center console bolts to. I will be waiting for some cash flow before I purchase but I found it on several sites as follows:

MOPAR Gearshift Floor Plan Cover - 52059661AC

COVER-FLOOR PAN | Genuine Mopar | 52059661AC

COVER. Floor Pan for 2006 JEEP WRANGLER. #52059661AC

52059661AC | COVER-FLOOR PAN | Genuine Mopar OEM Parts