How do you change the transmission fluid for a manual 1997 Ford Aspire?

Answer 1

To Change the gear oil in the manual tranny was tricky for me i searched for a few days, but i did some research and found out, you need to pull the speedo cable out of the tranny, the cable acts like a dip stick. and that is where u fill it from.

It's a bit more complicated then that. You don't remove the speedo cable only but the cable spindle assembly by way of a 10 mm bolt that is on top of the transmission. It will be easier to get to it though if you do unbolt the cable line first and pull it out of the assy. I used an adjustable wrench for that so I don't know the size. You then unbolt the 10 mm bolt and gentle wiggle the spindle assembly and pull up. You find 2 very, very small fine lines near the top of the assy. and that's your low and full marks. Try not to move the spindle itself so it will line up easier when you put it back in. Clean the assy. off and put it back in briefly and take it back out and check the level. It's my understanding it holds 2.2 pints. A little over a quart. I used an (import multi vehicle automatic transmission fluid) made by Castrol. I know you would think to use a manual Transmission Fluid for a Standard trans. But every thing I looked at called for an ATF. It will take a long funnel or a funnel with a hose on it to get it in. Be careful not to over fill and if you do you need to get the excess out. Once you get the level correct. Clean and put the spindel assy. back. Tighten the bolt. (I couldn't find torque specs). Clean the end of the speedo cable and slip it in and hand screw it back in and be sure not to cross thread it. Once you're sure it's in correctly tighten it down with a wrench but don't gorilla finger it on.