Greetings all,

I'm wanting to change the gearbox oil in my wifes 1999 Mazda 323 1.8 (same as the Protege5 I believe).

My query is this: Where is the filler plug?

In the pic below I've circled 2 plugs - one of which I believe must be the filler. I've also circled what I believe to be the drain plug - which I couldn't even see when I was looking under the car, only noticed it when looking at the pic

Anyway, I got a filler plug washer and a drain plug washer from the local Mazda dealer, the drain plug washer being the biggest (incidently, the filler plug washer is identical to the washer for the sump plug) - but of the 2 plugs circled together, one looks too small and the other too big for this smaller washer



PS. Great site, but more pics would be helpful

 

Why does everyone say redline? What about Royal Purple? I just put it into my car for an oil change and it feels fine. I just put the ATF and oil in my wifes car and man did it make a diff. Her cars shifts a lot smoother now. I just did the 30k at the dealer and I'm thinking about redoing the MTF from the oem stuff to Royal Purple. I've heard some people talk about Redline but have heard anything like I have about Royal Purple. You all have a good day.

Go Steelers.

Joe

 

Help.....

Which of the two plugs/nuts that are right next to each other is the fill hole?

PS. I never mentioned Redline, but that's what I've got

 

This is very bizarre. I just called a couple of dealers. Turns out Mazda Canada says the MTF ( aka the gear oil ) does not need to be changed till 168,000 km ( about 105,000 miles ). That's why their maintenance schedule does not mention it...

 

Yeah, here in the UK, the owners manual states the gearbox oil specification and the amount to use - but no mention of how often.

But I'm wanting to change it because it's a little 'notchy' (has done 41K miles).

But what about my fill hole question in the pic? which of the two plugs/nuts that are right next to each other is the real fill hole? And why has Mazda given me a fill hole plug washer that looks too small for the big plug and too big for the small one

 

[QUOTE=JohnnyC]Greetings all,

I'm wanting to change the gearbox oil in my wifes 1999 Mazda 323 1.8 (same as the Protege5 I believe).

My query is this: Where is the filler plug?

In the pic below I've circled 2 plugs - one of which I believe must be the filler. I've also circled what I believe to be the drain plug - which I couldn't even see when I was looking under the car, only noticed it when looking at the pic

Anyway, I got a filler plug washer and a drain plug washer from the local Mazda dealer, the drain plug washer being the biggest (incidently, the filler plug washer is identical to the washer for the sump plug) - but of the 2 plugs circled together, one looks too small and the other too big for this smaller washer



On my '02 DX, both the drain and fill plugs are the same size and take the same size sealing washer. The two plugs both take a 23 mm socket. The circled plug at the front of the transmission, facing slightly downward, is the fill plug. The same size plug on the bottom of the gear box, facing straight down, is the drain plug. The smaller sealing washer you were given is probably for the engine oil drain plug in the sump.

 

Hmmm, I posted a reply thanking goldstar but it seemed to have vanished It went something like this:

Cheers goldstar, just the info I needed.
It has appeared that the Mazda dealer had infact sold me the wrong washers - as the fill hole plug is identical to the drain plug.
Well, it was a VERY easy job to do.
The only difficulty I had was getting a 23mm socket (very rare/uncommon here in the UK), and the tube I had to pour the oil down was too thin - ended up having to use a piece of (unused & completely clean) garden hose

It's been almost a week now since I did the job and the gearbox is still a little notchy - it's is *only sometimes* stiff going from 1st to 2nd gear, is there anything else it could be? I thought of the gear linkage cables or perhaps the gearstick itself (it has a ball & socket joint?).