Took my first long drive yesterday, at night. I placed my hand on the center console, and was surprised to find a hot spot! It was to the rear of the shift knob.

My only thought was that it was a hidden bulb to illuminate the shift positions.

Or do I have a little turbine engine down there, creating MPG out of space-time discontinuations?

Snedecor

You must of had your lights on. Yes, it is the bulb, and yes it is annoying,

I believe someone has done a mod already that replaces this bulb with another one that does not get hot.

I believe it's the squirrels. They get winded and hot in the little cage behind the shift lever

Not just Super White...Super Duper White...

snedecor, you're not alone... See an earlier thread on this: http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/s...ht=console+hot
Here are the details on which bulb was used: http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/s...t=bulb+shifter

I did not like that at first, but found it came in handy on those cold winter nights!

<EDITED 23 DEC 07)> It is from the bulb. How do I replace it?

I previously thought it was something else===>
I'm not so sure it's from the bulb. I first felt the hot spot just a few days after getting the TCH. I frequently feel the console to see if it's gotten hot again. I've driven plenty at night, and not felt the heat usually. I've felt a very hot spot in the same area of the center console, but only after hard acceleration.The dealer actually told me that the exhaust runs through there and the engines on the hybrids run hot. Seems really odd to me, not sure I buy it.

Are there any good pics on how to dismantle the center console?

That little hot spot annoyed somebody? Really? :-)