how do you check/add gear oil?

[crazypete]

I dont know about you guys, but I have never been able to get that top plug out of the t5 cause the exhaust is totally in the way. You drain from the bottom plug completely and then go inside the car, remove the shifter handle, cover plate and the base of the shifter and pour exactly 3 quarts into the back and let it work it's way down. I think the spec calls for 2.8 quarts. Use redline and you wont have to change it that often.

With the problem you described: I had something similar and it turns out that some dufus had filled the tranny with heavy heavy gear oil instead of atf and when the proper fluid was in, she shifted like a charm. When I switched to redline, it got even better and seemed actually to improve a bit with time. I guess some gummed up parts came loose or something. NEVER EVER use any of that transmittion fix it fluid. Made the shifts really really hard.