'89 200 2WD 3 spd Auto Trans Intermittently poor Shifting

[shawn]

OK Final update, First of all and most importantly I mistakenly measured the
fluid level with the car not running.  As a physician friend says, "80% of
the diagnosis is from the history" sorry to have mislead you.  When I
measured ATF running it barely wet the bottom of the dipstick.  Clearly I
had almost run my tranny out of fluid.  I took many peoples advice and
checked the final drive oil, it seemed to be pure oil (not sure synthetic or
conventional), no ATF contamination.  I sucked it out using a little hand
pump and replaced it with Mobil 1 synthetic.  replacing the drain plug was
near impossible.  I couldn't get the 17 mm hex wrench to line up in such a
way to engage threads.  I cut through the too with a dremel cut-off wheel in
order to spin the tool 360 deg.  Still didn't work.  Started to remove the
transmission mount bracket, but couldn't get to top bolt.  Finally, I
thought to take a wooden dowel and wrap the end with duct tape, force this
in the hex and use it almost like a ball head allen wrench.  It went right
in.

I unscrewed the dipstick tube and drained what I could of the ATF.  I poured
in 3 quarts and drove it a several miles.  Checked the level and found I was
1 quart too full.  Rather than go back under and drain a quart I used the
hand pump and a long clean rubber tube and sucked a quart out the dipstick
tube.

I have refilled and things seem fine.  I may be overly optimistic, but I
think I may have averted a disaster.

I'm really not dumb, but you couldn't tell it by my efforts at maintenance
and repair.

Thanks for the help.