VS manta T5 service / clutch adjustment help?

[bent8munro]

Hi guys..
Picked up a black VS Manta 5 speed a month ago for an absolute song ($7 grand!), its done 226k, but seemed to run tip top. still does, however i've had a little trouble selecting some gears, mainly when at rest, if i try slot it into 5th / reverse etc...

now bloke before me recently had gearbox out and bearings replaced (with receipts), and claims he put a new clutch in, but as i said i've been havin a little trouble...

Can someone tell me how I check the gearbox fluid? and where i top it up? im not an idiot, but i've done more work on bikes than cars. I ran the car up on ramps, and can see down right side of gearbox the two allen bolts, bottom for drain? top for filling?
surely there has to be an easier way to fill the freakin thing, than tryin to squeeze oil into this top allen bolt hole? or am i on the complete wrong track...?

secondly, i did help the problem a little when i realised my clutch pedal was moving side to side a little and was loose, so i tightened it, and this has obviously affected the clutch adjustment, and now the problem is not so bad. however with the side bolt which tightens the clutch pedal fully tight, the cradle that holds the clutch pedal at the top still moves around a bit, and i think maybe im still losing some clutch due to that... couldnt see where i can tighten the cradle holding the pedal to stop it moving...

sorry for the long story, any ideas on this?
(besides go buy a freakin manual! - i will when i get time)
thanks HEAPS...

Ben.

[markovr]

t5 has a female allen head plug on right hand side that you remove to fill the gearbox up with...once it runs out again as you fill it ...it is full.
Clutch adjustment is done at the clutch fork/bell housing end for a cable type so you get the right pedal height as the throwout bearing constantly runs against the pressure plate fingers...pedal height at rest hould be roughly the same as the brake pedal

[VrWagz1]

The T5 is an ordinary clunky box. At rest they all seem to be a pain at times to get 1st gear. For years now since i had mine + a second clutch, it has always been painful with getting 1st. Some weeks it is fine, then you just get those days where everytime it dosnt want to click in, usually i just fug around going for second then back to first or 3rd to first and it always goes in eventually.

[crewsy]

The T5 is an ordinary clunky box. At rest they all seem to be a pain at times to get 1st gear. For years now since i had mine + a second clutch, it has always been painful with getting 1st. Some weeks it is fine, then you just get those days where everytime it dosnt want to click in, usually i just fug around going for second then back to first or 3rd to first and it always goes in eventually.

oh man i can agree with you there. first can be annoying sometimes when it doesnt want to go in. doesnt happen as often for me now after I installed a Billet short shifter though.

[GTP 85]

Hi mate. Well i have two manual cars (v6 though) and when cold at still, they both grind reverse a bit. My method is just very slowly touching the gate and slotting it in and that stops the crunching.

to refill, just find about 1.5 meters of rubber hose that will fit in the filler hole. pass it thru the engine bay and down to the hole. chuck a funnel in the top and fill away! only takes about 2L, so dont over fill or else oil will go everywhere

[maldotcom2]

For me reverse is sometimes hard to get into, shifting into 5th and then into reverse helps.

First is also difficult sometimes particularly if i've sat in neutral for a while. Pushing the clutch in for 3 seconds then going to first helps. I think the fluid just needs time to slow down or it will grind.

[crewsy]

if you put it in 4th and then into reverse it aligns the synchros better in the box and will help with this problem