Hope somebody can help me out. I have a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 35,500 miles (4.0L 6-cylinder automatic). Since Friday, I've noticed that it seems that the transmission isn't going into first. Accelerating from a stop is very very sluggish and slow. However, if I manually put it into first (when stopped) and then accelerate, it accelerates normally (I put it back into D at around 3,500 RPM).

I got home today and I checked the transmission fluid. According to the manual, I should check it after about a 15 miles drive. Well, it was only a 3 mile drive from the subway station. I did as the manual recommended (level ground, start the engine, parking brake on, foot on brake, shift into all gears, leave in N, check fluid). The fluid level was above the max for hot even though it was relatively cold (not near the 15 mile min required).

I had the 37,500 preventative mantenance done 7/27/04 at the Jeep dealer but this problem only started Friday.

Any ideas what's going on so I can call the dealer as an informed customer (or is this something I can handle myself)?

Thanks in advance.