Shifter Inner Boot Problems

[Dougieb]

Ok, I bought a new inner boot when my wife complained that I smelled like exhaust fumes when I got home every day.
I just thought that "light headed" feeling was from driving the car. (ha ha)
But I just can not get the new inner boot to seal completely on the hump and cover.
It just does not push up against the hump all the way around to seal.
I noticed the neck of the transmission has a small groove around the top as if the boot should hold onto that. But the boot does hot have any lip around the bottom edge.

Question: Are all inner boots built the same or did I just get a poorly made one? I did not get mine from IAP or Vicks. Is the boot supposed to fit into that groove? Mine just seems to squish all the way down onto the transmission and the "foamy" ring does not push up against the hump or cover plate.

I thought about adding some foam to the bottom of the cover plate to push against the boot. Should I just do that?
Did anyone else have the same problem as me?

Thanks,
Dougieb

[azruss]

the inner boot should lock into the lip on the top of the tranny. this will seal the tranny oil smell, not exhaust. If you are getting a lot of exhaust smell thru the shifter hole, then you have a leak under the hood or in the first part of the exhaust pipe. If you have an oil burner, you can pull alot of smell from the end of the pipe. you will need to seal the trunk from the bumper holes to the interior. many say a down turned exhaust end helps this.

[Dougieb]

I rebuilt/replaced the manifold and down pipes with a good set that I had ceramic coated. (Another story but WELL worth the time and money.) So I do not think that I have an exhaust leak issue anymore. Just don't have a good inner boot seal to keep air from flowing up that way during driving. I am more concerned about cold air coming in during winter days, possible water intrusion, etc.
My inner boot has no lip to lock onto the tranny. It just squishes down on. And by doing that, it pushes down too far to get a good seal on top. Are there other inner boots with a ridge/lip to lock onto that groove on the tranny? Or is this it?
That is my question. To make this work or find a better one (if it exists).

[4uall]

we had the same problem, this is what we did/used and it made a huge difference and since no issues have come back

http://forum.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtop ... ot#p148879