2002 Ford Taurus Hello Just Recently Began Leaking Transmission Fluid Would

Low fluid level can cause the internal pump to suck up air instead of fluid. That will prevent the clutch packs from applying solidly resulting in slipping and overheating. That will turn a minor problem into an expensive one real quickly. If the leak is relatively slow, all you have to do is add transmission fluid to keep it full until your mechanic can look at it. There's lots of different kinds of transmission fluid with different additives for different applications. Be sure to get the right fluid for your car.

If you're feeling some slippage now, you can be safe adding an entire quart of fluid. To know exactly how low the system is you'll need to check it with the dipstick. Typically that involves warming the engine up, shifting briefly into every gear, "1", "2", "Drive", "Neutral", "Reverse", and "Park", then wipe off the dipstick, then insert it to get the level. If the procedure is different it will usually be stamped on the end of the dipstick.