6 speed transmission bolts...
 

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1459733170
I am leaking a little bit of trans fluid. Very little.

I did a fluid change, brakes, standard stuff...

Opposing the drain plug is a hex bolt t40 in size. When removed it had a spring fall out after.

I tampered with the hex bolt in efforts to locate my leak. What is that for?

does everything work correctly still?
I heard that removing that bolt and having the spring fall out is a huge no-no, and required pulling the trans apart to "fix" the issue

Yup, thread on here: https://www.miataturbo.net/suspensio...-repair-78015/ and link from first post: 05-012/02

that's why I made this thread. Because the bolt I removed isn't the one in the link you posted.

If you look at the picture in my original post that is the underside of the transmission. The one that people generally speak about is what people mistake as the fill plug on the passenger side of the transmission.

I haven't tried to move the car yet. Thought i'd double check it with the experts first.

It is NOT the plug on the passenger SIDE. It is right next to the drain plug.

Sorry...

Looking at the 6sp Transmission Service Manual it's labeled as #15 in the diagram "Plug" which holds the #16 "Steel Ball and Short Pressure Spring", #20 "Steel Detent Ball" & #26 "Short Pressure Spring and Steel Ball" in place...

You mentioned a spring coming out.

Page with diagram attached for you.

EDIT: Here's a thread over on the 'other' site that specifically mentions the spring & ball. Doesn't sound good... http://forum.miata.net/vb/archive/in...p/t-78933.html

Yeah I found that too. I don't think any ball bearings came out but i'll double check my protective pan I leave under the car when i work on it.

I can't be the first person to mess with this bolt. googling only results in lots and lots of threads about the passenger side hex bolt. Nothing about the torex bolt on the bottom.

Which leads me to think that any schmuck that dicked with it just put it back and was fine.

I guess you'll find out soon enough.

EDIT: Looking through the repair manual for the 6sp, if you can find the spring and the steel ball, and you haven't moved the shifter at all, maybe you can put the ball then the spring back in. It isn't clear that anything beyond the 1 ball + 1 spring will come out. The installation section mentions step #34 " Install the Steel Ball and Pressure Spring into the bottom of the transmission " #35 "Apply sealant to the Plug (T-30 Torx) - Torque the plug to 13.8 to 23.5 Nm"

Page attached for you.

Gracias... guess i'll find out tonight. I was able to locate the ball I guess i missed it when it fell out.

I'll put that back in and cross my fingers I guess.

well verdict is.... I guess if you remove that bolt it's not a big deal.

The guy from mnet must have removed the side hex bolt. I came home from work and put it in, slapped my tires on and just drove it around the block. I was able to go 1-5 and reverse just fine. I struggled to get enough speed to get into 5th so I assume 6th is fine. My brakes are iffy and I'd have to go on a main road to get away from speed tables.

ok now back to some maintenance.