O/D Off Light blinks, car drives funny

[steviep]

I have an automatic 99 Mazda Protege that has a few transmission problems. It occurs mostly on hot days (don't remember if it occurred much in the winter).

I will start the car and shift into reverse and it will immediately shift into reverse. Then when I shift into drive, it stays in neutral for a while. If I just stay in drive it will eventually get into gear but with a jerking motion and the O/D off light will blink non-stop until I restart the car. (I have my own special way of actually getting it into drive without it coming on, but it will still rarely come on after driving for a min)

If i just drive with it flashing then the car accelerates very slow and just drive in a weird way.

What could be causing this? And if it is easy to pinpoint about how much will it run me to fix? Or can I just kind of ignore it since it does not happen extremely often?

Thanks

[MaxPower]

Low ATF fluid can cause those symptoms. Start by checking the level of the automatic transmission fluid first. If the fluid level is low, you will have to a) top it off and b) find out where it's leaking from and fix that leak.

Worst case, you could get a used transmission for ~$300 and have it installed for another ~$500.

[steviep]

Well if I checked the correct dipstick (the unlabeled black one), then the fluid level is fine. I checked a dipstick that wasnt oil, thats about all I kno.

Any other suggestions? If the only answer is replacing the transmission then I think I'll pass. I have no money heh. I can just deal with it not shifting into drive immediately.