Mk2.5 Sport Gear Box Oil Change

[Grandad]

We've just changed the engine oil and filter and differential oil on our newly acquired 2002 1.8 Sport and we now want to change the gear box oil, which we thought would be straight forward. However there are lots of chassis braces and attached pans/trays which appear to make the gear box plugs inaccessible; we can find no mention of these in any manuals/internet threads. Do we have to remove these braces/trays to get to the gear box? The braces/trays which look as if they'd have to be removed are secured with two bolts and four nuts on studs. In that the studs are somewhat rusty its odds on that they might shear. Does anyone know, please, how would we go about replacing them if they shear? Many thanks for any help.

[Grandad]

Hi Lazza..........many thanks for your response. Will post some photographs tomorrow when we've got the car back up on axle stands. May we trouble you, please, with another couple of queries? We've been following various manuals and threads to change the fuel filter. However one of the plastic 'grommets' which secures the plastic fuel filter cover is obscured by the end of yet another brace. We cannot imagine that the brace should be removed just to get at the grommet.........should we just cut the plastic cover around the grommet? Also, every manual/thread we are aware of suggests disconnecting a yellow (fuel pump) relay positioned alongside the steering column whilst the engine is running as a means of depressurising the system. Needless to say we cannot find a yellow relay and have no idea which of the various relays which are located by the steering column controls the fuel pump. Many thanks for your help.

[Grandad]

Thanks Lazza. We gave the bolts/studs what we thought was a good soaking with plus gas and managed to remove the bolts at the front of the bracing. Unfortunately we then managed to shear the stud half way down the bracing on the passenger side. Might you have any idea, please, how we can eventually replace this stud once we've got the bracing off after much more soaking in plus gas and wire brushing?