I have just bought a year 2000 Felicia 1.9D

How do I check the gearbox oil level?

The haynes manual method (worked fine on my old '97 1.3i ) but doesn't seem possible with the later gearbox. The pastic cog drops off the end of the cable, and is in danger of being lost into the gearbox, without being able to measure the oil level. Any advice appreciated.

many thanks,

Sea Kayaker

I was worried about this too, so I normally take the plastic cog right out of the cable-end and use it as a dipstick. There's a recessed ring inside the gearbox that the cog normally sits in when it's in place. I clean the oil off the cog and then put it into the ring, pull it back out and check the level like that. Seems to work, but see what anyone else says.

OK, done that, being very careful. I can just see the oil surface between the cog in the opening, and the bottom of the casing, by looking into the hole with a good torch. but nothing on the speedo driven piece after wiping with a clean tissue and carefully inserting vertically.

If i nudge the car with my legs whilst leaning over and looking into the hole, the oil level easily sloshes over the shoulder and into the bottom of the locating recess for the driven piece, allowing me to get a reading (though a now incorrect reading). It is clean oil so I may have been changed.

But, what is the correct level? should it still be 4mm, as per the older Haynes manual?

advice please...

Sea Kayaker

That's what I take it to be, although I stand to be corrected.

If you're not sure when the oil was last changed, it may be a good idea to drain it and refill. The manual specifies 2.4 litres of 75/90. The dealers do Quantum Synta (synthetic base) of this grade. That's what I always use.