Folks,

My vehicle is a '91 240 DL Sedan with automatic trans.

The first symptom was spontaneous shifting from 4th to 3rd on the freeway at speeds where it would normally be in 4th.

I checked the trans fluid level. It was *below* dipstick level.

I have had my vehicle [brick? ok cool :) ] religiously serviced and maintenanced for the past two years by the same indy since we moved, and for eight years by a different indy at our previous location. It would appear that the new place hasn't been checking the fluid levels like the old place did, and I assumed (!) that's what every responsible place did as a part of the maintenance routine. It looks like the fluid just slowly leaked out. I see no evidence of sudden seal rupture.

(I am having a serious crisis of confidence in the shop over this, but I don't if I should expect them to step up and handle this, or if it's just tough luck.)

Immediately I had them fill the fluid to (I hope) the proper level.

Now it won't shift from 3rd to 4th. I pushed up the speed briefly on a test drive to 85-90 and only once it briefly shifted to 4th and immediately back. Now it won't at all.

Does this mean that the damage for sure internal to the trans itself, or could it still be the solenoid, which would be a cheap and reasonable fix?

What are my options if it is in the trans itself?

I read some of the other posts and one made me wonder if I would get this symptom if there was now too much fluid in the trans. Is that possible?

The car seems to travel fine in 3rd at 60, but with higher engine rpm of course. I'm thinking this rules out longer distances, (we occasionally need to make a 200mi jaunt), but probably not short around town stuff. What distance limit must I restrict myself to?

I realize this is a whole *bunch* of questions in one shot, and I thank in advance any kind souls who reply.

Chris