Volvo: heat in cabin, proper fuel, rubber plug

Question
QUESTION: Hello. i have a s40 model 2003 1.6 80.000 khm, and i am facing the following problem. in the area where the pedals are, i am feeling a great heat which is not comming from the air-intake .the same heat is also at the next to the driver's seat. when i touch the plastic near the gear box is very hot. i have noticed ,and i do not know if this has to do whith the problem, that the button which controls the air if is to come from outside or inside, is not working properly. and i mean that i can't prevent the outside air from coming in the cabin. is it something you have heard of?
in the service point they told me that the exhaust might be ''block up'', and this is why the heat is so high.!!!!!
john greece

ANSWER: John,
If that heat is not coming from the ducts or a rubber plug or panel that has been removed from the body. I would agree with the fact the exhaust system being the cause. I would drive the car until it heats up and then lift the vehicle to examine the areas of heat build up. A blocked exhaust would also begin to limit the car performance, and cause excess heat. So far I have not seen a problem like yours.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: first of all thanks for your reply. if i change the exhaust pipe, would that be a permanent solution to the problem i have? and something more, what is responsible for a blocked exhaust?

Answer
John,
If you do not change the complete system you may not solve the problem. Not using the proper fuel could damage the system, some fuel system additives may also do damage. Maybe just a bad system not made quite right, some fuel system control unit fault(s).