Ford Festiva 1.3 Hatchback 1995 Manual transmission fluid change

Mee · 13-03-2016, 03:14 AM

Hello there,
i have Ford Festiva 4 door hatchback 1995 model.
i need to change its manual transmission fluid.
could someone help me, i know there is a Nut down there.
but how to put fluid back in?
does anyone have workshop manual? thanks.

peteb57 · 22-07-2016, 01:51 AM

Remove the speedo drive with a 10m spanner. You may have to replace the O Ring.
What oil are you going to use ?

Sar4890 · 22-07-2016, 06:05 PM

As above description through the speedo drive i used auto trans fluid in the manual box as that that is what the book recomended on the festi i had. I rate festi's highly bloody good cars

bionic2006xr6t · 22-07-2016, 09:19 PM

My festiva has done 500,000 trouble free Km's. I used Castrol Dex 3 (yes it's an auto trans fluid) but is what's recommended in the lube guide. I think it holds 3.4 litres from memory and I always change the alloy plug washer too.

Cheers Ryan

peteb57 · 22-07-2016, 10:11 PM

Here is what confuses me about the recommended gear oil.

I have another workshop manual for the Festiva by KIA.
Not Australian btw.

It's recommended oil is:
Grade: API Service GL-4
Viscosity: SAE 75W/90

That is a very thick gear oil.

Why does KIA recommend one oil and Ford Australia recommends another being the Dexron in both Auto and Manual ?

The manual came in a PDF download and is by KIA.
The Festiva ( Australia ) Owner's Manual says Dexron.

Sar4890 · 23-07-2016, 09:41 AM

Is the gearbox noisy? What is in there now? I changed the oil in my festi cause the gearbox was noisy and thought it might of had the wrong oil in it. It was a 2000 model and should of had auto trans oil in it not the gear oil that was in it.
Imo i would put what the handbook that come with car says as ford aus would had to warranty them back in the day so they wouldnt use something that was going to cause them grief.

peteb57 · 23-07-2016, 01:02 PM

To find the correct answer or explanation, it may go beyond the scope of DIY persons, and ask at engineering level.
What's considered is the type of gear cuts, (angles ), synchro rings and oil seal types.
Even if one tries a step down to a lighter grade of gear oil, due to the design of the box, it may have to be Dexron in Australia and proper gear oil elsewhere.
I also read somewhere, that it's rumored Ford Australia insisted KIA motor Company use Dexron from a marketing angle. If it is marketing, then I hope to get to the truth of the matter on purely engineering reason.

If, your gearbox is making noises after using gear oil when it is suggested to use Dexron, then damage is already done. If everyone else uses Dexron and there have been no issues, then maybe it is what it is, Dexron in Australia for both Manual and Auto.

Remember the Mini back in the day, it uses Motor oil for engine, gearbox and diff cos everything is in one whole unit. When the engine oil was drained, below the crankshaft is the gearbox and diff.

I think it comes down to type of gears and angles of the gears being cut to suit the oil.
Someone with engineering knowledge may be able to offer a light on this trivia

Sar4890 · 23-07-2016, 02:50 PM

Yeah peteb i hope the person who asked the question originally gets the correct oil in their gearbox. Myself im a big stickler for putting what the book in the glove box says to use.

vbvbvb088 · 24-07-2016, 08:02 PM

Have exact same car and did this...be gentle when removing the speedo cable and attached speedo gear. Place to side and fill up. The drain bolt easy as to access however mine was so tight not even a brute could not remove it. In the end used a impact wrench which zipped it off in microseconds.... also car must be perfectly flat and level.