If there are no oil stains running down the sides of the transmission
then it is full.  The only way I would be able to tell if the
transmission had enough oil in it would be to drain it, measure the
amount you get out of against the mfrs. spec and then put new oil back
in.

                       ...Ron
--
68' Camaro RS
88' Firebird Formula
00' Mustang GT Vert

Fill / check is a red colored cap on the top of the trans right-side under the
exhaust
crossover.  Park it over a ditch, engine on, crawl under it, remove the plug.
If hot oil comes out, its full.

I have the same car -- a 2000 GP (GTP). It has 132000 miles on it and I've
*NEVER* changed the xmission fluid.

I know -- STUPID STUPID STUPID. There, I've now flamed myself.

Now that that's dealt with, what suggestions do any of you experts have for
dealing with this. I've never had any transmission problems, but realize
that will likely change if I don't do a f&f change soon. However, I've heard
that in cases such as this, changing the fluid can actually create problems
(or technically, make obvious problems that were already there).

I've also heard there are types of flushes that can be done to help prevent
this, but don't know much in the way of details. Any ideas?

BTW: I've looked at prices at some local shops, and there are some who
prefer not to open the pan or change the filter at all (they say leaks are
inevitable once that's done), and instead, use some type of solvent to clean
everything out. I don't understand how that would get all the metal
particulates past the filter.