How do I check the manual transmission fluid in my 2001 Mazda B2300 (Ford Ranger)?

This should be a T5 5-speed. On the PASSENGER side of the case, there are two plugs. The bottom is a drain and the top is a FILL plug. A total fluid change on this trans is 2.5 quarts of automatic transmission fluid (I use Mobil 1 synthetic ATF in my Mustang's T5). Do NOT mess with any plugs on the driver's side!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of them holds the reverse detent lever......loosen it, and your reverse lever will fall into the case and the trans will have to be disassembled for repair......

Ok if you will get a light and look real good you will see it (and its not a bolt sticking out ) its a plug in the side of the trans case and a 3/8 plug is what it is and you can remove the plug with a breaker bar ,But if you dont see a lot of wet ness around the front or the rear of the trans its proably not going to be low , And some times it will leak on top of the trans where the shifter comes out of the trans . But the noise that you are hearing is proably hearing is going to be the throw out bearing or the polit bearing ,,And for you to learn more about your car you can get a chiltons repair manual$15.00 bucks and well worth it ,and it will help you with all your questions that you have ,good luck and i hope this help ya out .

Get under the truck and look around in the tranny. Depending on the engine your ranger has, it should have two bolts. They may or may not have these letters but the one I checked had them. The bottom bolt said Drain, and the top bolt said Fill.