Does a 2001 escort zx2 need fluid for manual transmission?

A ZX2 take a full synthetic manual Transmission Fluid if you put gear oil or atf you will be replacing your tranny i talked to Ford dealer and bought it from them for almost $20 a quart there proud of it All manual transmissions use a gear oil. This oil is different from automatic transmission fluid. There is no dipstick for a manual transmission. The filler hole is on the side. Check your owner's manual for the proper grade and weight. 90 weight is pretty typical. The gear oil typically comes in a plastic bottle with a pump and a plastic tube. You would check the fluid level with your finger through the filler hole with the transmission cool. This is a pretty inexpensive job for your mechanic to help you with.