Have a 92 240 w/120k. Never towed and ran flawlessly. After sitting for 8 months, car was hesitant (1 sec) into reverse and would not shift into 3rd gear. Drained the fluid and changed the filter (neither was that bad). I noticed if I dropped it into L2 then back into drive, it would drop into 3rd gear (I never got to an OD point as the way it was acting I didn't go far). So check the fluid while hot and its barely touching the stick. Added 1/2 qt. Shifting was smoother but still would not go into 3rd w/o the detour to L2. Checked fluid again while running and it was just onto the tip and MIN. I added another 1/3 - 1/2 qt. Now it jumps into D or R....but when driving will not shift out of 1st - regardless what you do. The shift down cable is loose in the sleeve.

fwiw.....I asked a transmission shop how they check fluid levels (idle, park, neutral, etc) and he told me to 'check the fluid when its at its highest level and go by that'.

Any ideas?