How to Change the Manual Transmission Fluid on a 1996 Miata

The manual transmission fluid on the 1996 Mazda Miata protects the moving parts inside the car's transmission. The gears and seals inside the manual transmission box need to be lubricated in order to perform properly. Once the manual transmission fluid breaks down, it cannot protect the moving parts as it should, and will need to be changed before major damage to the transmission can occur.

Things You'll Need

  • Jack
  • Jack stands
  • Fluid catch pan
  • 1/2-inch drive ratchet
  • 24mm socket
  • Hand held fluid pump
  • Long plastic tube
  • 75-90 gear oil
  • Drive the Miata for about ten minutes to heat up the manual transmission fluid.

  • Park the Miata on a level surface and set the emergency brake.

  • Jack the front end of the Miata up and set the jack stands under the frame rail, behind each front tire. Lower the Miata onto the jack stands.

  • Crawl under the driver's side of the Miata and locate the transmission drain plug. The transmission drain plug on the 1996 Mazda Miata is a 24mm drain plug located on the bottom of the transmission. Slide the fluid catch pan underneath the transmission drain plug.

  • Turn the drain plug counter-clockwise with a 1/2-inch drive ratchet and a 24mm socket. Finish unscrewing the drain plug with your fingers. Wait for all of the manual transmission fluid to drain out of the transmission and into the catch pan. Screw the drain pan back into the bottom of the transmission and tighten it down.

  • Locate the manual transmission fill plug on the driver's side of the transmission. The fill plug will be about half way up on the transmission. The fill plug is also a 24mm bolt head.

  • Turn the fill plug counter-clockwise with the 1/2-inch drive ratchet and the 24mm socket. Finish unscrewing the fill plug with your fingers.

  • Insert the long plastic tube into the fluid pump. Insert the other end of the plastic hose into the fill hole on the transmission. From underneath the car, pump the 75-90 gear oil into the manual transmission until the oil starts to run out of the fill hole.

  • Crank the engine and wait a few minutes to see if the fluid level goes down inside the fill hole. If so, pump more of the 75-90 oil into the manual transmission. If the oil stays at the top of the fill hole, turn the engine off.

  • Remove the plastic tube from the fill hole. Screw the fill plug back into the side of the manual transmission. Tighten the fill plug back down with the 24mm socket and the 1/2-inch drive ratchet.

  • Jack the Miata up and remove the jack stands. Lower the Miata to the ground.