transmission trouble

Our 1989 Corolla was accelerating sluggishly from stops, and now it won't go into reverse. Dick Tracy here suspects a transmission problem, so I thought I'd first check the fluid level -- but couldn't locate it under the hood. And there's no owner's manual to refer to (my wife got this car used). Any help in locating where I can check the fluid, and/or theories on the bigger problem, would be greatly appreciated.

manual or automatic transmission? if its an automatic it should be obvious, if its a manual, there should be a plug on the side of the transmission/trasaxle, the plug is a 24mm size, its friggin huge, its on the transmission facing the front of the car, so if u crawl under it you should see it. in either case its, there and easy to find, depending on the transmission it could be different issues.

let me know how it goes

-mike