[LowMilesZX2]

Just curious? How do I go about draining & filling the tranny fluid in my '99 ZRX? What type fluid...and how much? Thanks

 

[madmatt2024]

There is a drain plug on the bottom of the tranny and
a fill plug on the side of the tranny facing the front of the car. You have to remove splash shield to see/get at the fill plug. You fill it through the fill plug until fluid comes out of it. It takes 3.5 quarts of Mercon ATF but when I refilled mine it took about 3. Just buy 4 quarts.

 

[LowMilesZX2]

Automatic transmission fluid(ATF) in a manual trans? Oh good, I won't have to push in the clutch anymore, lol. Thanks

 

[mellowness65]

I use pennzoil synchromesh in mine. the way ford recommends you fill itis thru the variable speed sensor hole on the top/back of the trans. the way to tell if it's full is when the gear on the vss has fluid on it

 

[LowMilesZX2]

Thanks for info guys. But now I'm not sure, which of the two fill points you both recommended, will give the correct fill level. Please don't confuse me guys, I confuse easy. :?

 

[madmatt2024]

The one in the front is much easier to get to. I have used it to refill the tranny on 2 Escorts and both have been shifting fine for several months. The VSS also has a tendency to get stuck and you can end up destroying it trying to get it out. If you look at the VSS location and fill plug on the front you will find that they are both at about the same level.

 

[white-lightning]

The speed sensor came out of my '96 as pretty easy. At first it didn't move, but when I twisted on it in came right out.

 

[madmatt2024]

^ For some people it just comes out easy but I have read horror stories on this forum about people trying to get that sensor out. I strongly endorse the use of the fill plug on the front of the tranny.

 

[ajrn]

I'm getting ready to do this myself..

'99? ZX2 5speed. 2nd gear is difficult to enter-- and rumored to "pop out" when driving.. I'm betting (hoping) the fluid is low-- I've seen trannys do some irritating stuff, if they don't like their fluid or the volume..

I did it with my G/F's Gen 2 Escort-- using the reverse "backing light" sender as my "fill" hole.. Wasn't difficult-- just time consuming waiting for the glop in it to come out.. (It had GEAR oil in it..)

Anyone done both a GenII and ZX?? Just wondered if anything was wildly different???

Got ATF here, so I'll probably deal with it tomorrow..

Thanks in advance..

Anthony

 

[madmatt2024]

The ZX2 is the same as a 3rd gen then it comes to tranny fluid changes.

 

[ajrn]

Hmm..

The third gen Escort forum lists links to a mazda page, with a PDF repair manual-- that lists 80w/90 gear oil..


Wonder what's up with that??

 

[madmatt2024]

You can use either gear oil or ATF in these transmissions. The problem is you need GL-4 gear oil which is hard to find and when you do its expensive. I managed to find and tried 85w/90 gear oil but it was harder to shift and my gas mileage went down with it. in the end I replaced it with Mercon V ATF and now it shifts better than it ever did before.

 

[ajrn]

It's draining now..

Volume was okay-- but the stuff looked like wmo..

Smelled like ATF, and no fragments though--- so I'm hopeful, yet..

24mm socket fit on the drain and the fill plug on the front of the tranny.. It's above the level of the "reverse" switch.. On the front of the tranny...

I'll try to snap a pic this afternoon..


I work nights-- so it's BEDTIME between shifts.

AJ RN