Had a GM truck (95 truck or 98 Yukon, don't remember, maybe both) that would start out in second if you put it in second. I guess by design. Had a TH350 built (1988) for a '74 CJ5 so it had the option of starting in second. Also, had a '76 Monte Carlo that would not shift into first when you came up to a stop, but would go into first manually. It was broken. Anyway, that's why I'm sugesting linkage as another diagnostic tool. To see if it has four or five detents for identification or the selector might not allow full range selection being the problem or you've got a tranny problem.  

right on bud, on the avatar I like it..so with the 999 what can i do from here pull the pan drain the fluids see what i got??
like i said before the shifts are almost non existant..if there is a third can't feel it. it's a high revver when i start off.

and i sent ya a pic of the side of hwy 1 CA..  

thanks ftgiles i'm gonna get on it today..what u suggest is the easiest to start with. since any parts store is 45 mins away..  

Most tranny shops will give you a free road test... and then make some recomendations to you. If it is reving high and not moving out, that sounds like slipping. Also, if you can't feel shifts or the shifts are slow and lazy, that sounds like pump presure and/or worn clutches. If there's been a lot of slipping going on you might be able to see it (brown not red) or smell it (burnt) in the fluid on the dip stick. Tired tranny???  

that would have been a 4l60e,the 4l80 also does it. the 999 will always start in 1st regardless and the hold the manual selection.

high reving on take of can also be a bad convertor, which plugs up the governor with metal particles and won't allow it to shift...same thing happens from nasty fluid littered with friction material.  

can ya resend that pic?
I was resizing avatars when It came so it's a tiny tiny pic!  

I DONT KNOW IF IT WAS MENTIONED, DIDNT SEE, BUT MY T350 IN MY 74 C10 WAS SLIPPING TOO AND CHECKED FLUID AND IT WAS LOW, HAD TO ADD 2 QTS, AND THAT TOOK CARE OF MY PROB...THEN REBUILT THE TRANS AND HAD NO PROBLEM SINCE, MIGHT BE THAT SIMPLE!  

hey where d my avatar go buddy..?
Looks like fluid may been low and parts store said to use ?atf +4? anyone got an opinion...
i sent the pic again too..if ya can throw that on as an avatar ur the man..  

nice, that'll do it, dextron 2,3,4 just don't use type fa in it.  

From the pic you sent, it looks like it's pretty wet. So I'm sure you'll have to keep on top of it if that fixes the shifting problems. Dexron II most likely. ATF +4 is for newer. The soft parts can't tollerate the wrong fluid.

The manual says:

Fill to "Add One Pint" mark on dipstick. Use Jeep, Dexron II, or equalivalent Automatic Transmission Fluid.

NOTE: Check fluid level with gearshift lever in N (neutral) position and with fluid at normal operating temperature.  

yep, and running, if it's shut off it'll read over full. that's where many get fouled up while checking the tranny fluid level.  

Damn it! Where's the "engine idle" in my note. I typed... I mean I cut and pasted... I mean I...

Thanks Mud, that's important. I should of said "Read the stick".  

lol, its all good!  

Right on guys and thanks for the avatar mudb8..looks good..  

no prob!