I have a '98 Protege with the 1.8L and manual transmission. I'm trying to change the manual transmission fluid. I need to be able to remove the speedmeter driven gear out so as to be able to pour the new gear lube in. I removed the one bolt, but I cannot remove the speedometer gear assembly out. Am I missing something obvious? Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Can you twist the sensor. It might take a bit of time but the sensor should come out. Be careful not to break it.

 

I might as well post in case anyone else has this issue. It turns out that the newer 3rd generation Proteges like my 98 have a check/fill plug. The Haynes manual has a generic proceedure that makes things a big hassle, but does refer to the check plug to check the level. Clearly one could have just changed the fluid by ignoring the manual and just filling through the check/fill plug.

In case no one has done this before you need to get a hand pump specifically designed for this task from your local auto parts store. Alternatively you can take an an electric air compressor (ie. one to pump up tires) and put in the needle attachement that you would use to blow up a ball. Poke a small into the side of your transmission fluid bottle closer to the top (so as to form a tight seal when you poke the compressor needle through). Attach your hose, and turn on the compressor. The fluid will come out on its own and into the check/fill hole.

To get the speedo sendor out I ended up taking a long screw driver and tapping it back and forth with a hammer. Once it would rotate freely I ended up prying underneath it with successively fatter screw drivers. It's really hard to get at the area without removing the heater hoses and the engine's wiring harness! I realize I wasn't all that carefull, but I spent a long time on it before I resort to these methods.