My 1993 Lumina won't shift down into first gear. At stoplights it starts in 2nd. Really cuts into the old fuel mileage. Great for icy roads in the winter but I'd like to fix it. Reaaly like the car. Any ideas. When it first did this I immediately changed fluid. I started shifting down then. But a couple weeks afterwards it quit working correctly. I've been running like this for years. It will NOT manually shift in either. Tried a hundred time but I swear I can hear a click coming from somewhere. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Car has 120 K on it.:crying:

Is this the only issue, you have4th and lock up convertor operation, 4sp o/d I assume?

Yes sir thats the only problem. It is a 4spd trans.

Start by checking vacuum to the modulator on the l/s front of the trans, after that it may be internal.

Is there supposed to be vacuum there all the time? What does the modulator control? Thanks

Yes vacuum is always present, controls shift points, usually this will not cause what you describe though.