Manual Transaxle Fill Plug...?

[29Tudor]

Where is the manual transaxle fill plug on a 2000 XZ2? I got three different answers from Ford service departments!
If it is behind the speed sensor (black with two green wires), how do I remove the speed sensor?

Thanks in advance.

[Davescort97]

To remove the speed sensor on the top of the tranny you disconnect the elctrical connection. Remove the retaining clip and pry the speed sensor and speedometer drive gear out of the transmission. The gear is cut at an angle and is driven by the differential gear in the transmission. Since it is cut at an angle it will be difficult to get it out by simply prying up on it. One of our AF members tried to pry his out and ended up dropping the speedometer gear into the bottom of the tranny and jamming the shift rods. It will help to jack the wheel up on the left hand side and move the wheel back and forth as you try to pry the gear and speed sensor out of the transmission.. Do this with the transmission in neutral. Anyway, to make a long story short he had to shell out big bucks to get the transmission pulled and the gear retrieved from the bottom of the case. If there is any way I could talk you out of this I would. However, if you decide to procede. Good Luck!

[29Tudor]

Thanks, Dave...you talked me out of it! Is it safe to drive a short distance with no oil in the transaxle?

[Markb873]

I had a transmission that had the imput seal go bad and it left a long trail behind me. I filled it up everytime I went anywhere. The stream never stopped, so it never went dry, but the transmission only lasted about 20 miles after the leak started. Driving it dry would be bad.

When I chainged my fluid I drained my transmission and filled it with the plug on the back, near the end, where the input and output shafts are, The level with that hole must be fairly close because I have ran about another 50,000 miles with no issues.

-Mark

[Davescort97]

Yeah! Don't drive it with no tranny fluid. If it were me, I would have it towed to the shop of my choice and I would tell them that I drained the tranny but couldn't figure out how to fill it back up. Then, ask how much it would cost to get it serviced. Sure a tow is going to cost $50 but that is a far cry from spending $1000.00 or more to retrieve a speedometer gear from the bottom of the case. If they drop the gear, then that's their problem, not yours.