by Pete in NH » Fri Feb 28, 2014 2:20 pm
HI,
Welcome to the club!
As Gary mentioned check the fluid level first. If it is down add some Dexron type fluid. Also, if is that far down you have a leak and you need to find it and fix it.
If that's not the problem, have a helper move the shift lever through its positions while you look under the hood. As you face the engine from the front on the right side you'll see the transmission. Toward the front of the transmission you'll see a bell crank system with some cables attached. One of those should be moving as your helper shifts through the gears. You don't need the car running but you do need the key to unlock the sterring column. It could be a broken cable or the shifter end of the cable popped out. That used to happen occationally on my 84 aries and it was a real pain to get under the dash and pop it back in.
Past that if nothing is found, it's something internal to the transmission.
Good luck and let us know what you find