How do you check manual transmission fluid in a 1996 Saturn?

Answer 1

There is a dip stick on top of transmission; check as you would the engine oil. Look for dip stick directly under rear edge of battery; it has red plastic handle.

****Manual transmissions use engine oil and do not have a separate dipstick. Whomever answered this question prior did not read it closely.

The 1st answer explains how to check AUTOmatic transmission fluid. The 2nd answer makes no sense. The transmission does not use engine oil or else you would be buying 2 jugs of oil for your oil changes.

"The 2nd answer makes no sense."

Then explain why the average 4 cylinder engine (automatic) uses about 3 quarts of oil and the average 4 cylinder (manual) uses closer to 5 quarts. I have owned 2 4 cylinder 5 speed vehicles, a 1991 Honda Civic SI and a 1997 Saturn SL2, BOTH have no separate place to add "trans fluid", they only have the spot for oil on top of the engine and an oil dipstick. They also use more oil than their automatic counterparts, with the exception of the SI, which only came manual, so it's closest relative would have been the 1991 Honda Civic EX.

NONE OF YOU GUYS MAKE SENSE A A SATURN TAKES 4 QUARTS ON ENGINE OIL NO MATTER IF ITS AUTO OR NOT , AND IF YOUR SATURN IS MANUAL TRANS IT TAKES DEXRON 3 TRANNY OIL, AND THE DIP STICK IS BEHIND THE BATTERY ON THE TRANNY AND THAT IS THE SAME PLACE YOU FILL IT, JUST AS YOU WOULD YOUR AUTOMATIC

P.S THEYRE SEPERATE

The last responder is absolutely right. If you have ABS the dipstick may be hard to see unless you move the air intake hose out of the way. I am quite shocked to see a manual transmission use ATF fluid, but they are absolutely right on this. I have never checked it since owning the car and found out I was low on fluid. It is light pink (if your tranny is still in good shape) and absolutely has a dipstick. If you don't know what it looks like, the owners manual has a picture. My previous response was based on the only other car I have owned that was a 5 speed. Obviously these are 2 entirely different animals.

my bad, i just had to set the record straight, lots of cars that are 5 speed take ATF dodges, some mistus and alot of GM i beleieve