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Ok so I read up on how to do the manual transmission fluid change (many thanks to Grey) and drained the fluid. No problem. I put the bottom drain plug back in (with new crush washer) and removed the filler bolt (upper). But when I put new fluid in, it starts pouring out before I finish putting in the 2nd quart! What did I do wrong? How can I make it work? I need my car to work, today if at all possible...Please reply asap, and thank a bunch!

Details: Honda civic 2002 lx (4dr sedan) 1.7L engine, manual transmission

UPDATE: I hadn't thought to measure exactly how much fluid came out; when I did this it turns out I only drained a quart and a half. That explains why I couldn't get more than a quart and a half back in, but now the question becomes how do I drain all the fluid? I left the bottom bolt open for about 30 minutes, and was certain nothing else was coming out. The rear was on jack stands, the front on wheel ramps (it looked very level). Is it because I didn't loosen the top bolt as well when I drained the fluid? Lastly, is the car is safe to drive as is, since it has a full amount of fluid? I still plan on changing the rest when I figure it out.

 
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To check if the tranny is full or not, the fluid, when the car is level, comes out the top hole. Sounds like you knew this.
When I drain the fluid, to get the most out of the tranny, I jack up the right front first, then I lower it and jack up the left front. I usually let it sit till it stops dripping out.

 
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Thanks. I'll try that this weekend and let you know what happens. I'm also going to check out the chilton's manual from the library to see if that has any bright ideas...

 
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you might want to jack up the car from where the bolt is.....if its by the left side of the pan, jack up the right side to tilt the pan....gravity is on your side

 
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I figured out the problem - manual transmission civix only takes 1.5 quarts of transmission fluid. For some reason I was convinced it needed 3 quarts, which is the amount an automatic needs, but apparently a manual only needs a quart and a half. I looked at the chilton's manual and there were the numbers...Hope that helps somebody else out when they try the same thing!