1993 Ford Escort 93 Escort transmission

I have owned a 1995 escort for 8 years with automatic tranny. Some experts claim a "dirty valve body" is frequently responsible for tranny shifting problems and your problem appears extreme. Experts also maintain it can be risky changing tranny fluid in a car that has not been previously serviced, since you risk dislodging built up crud with a fluid change. Have someone check the tranny dipstick and look at your fluid to determine if it has been neglected. Lastly, some people don't think highly of this (mazda) transmission and depending on the mileage it might be time for an overhaul or replacement. My car has 155,000 miles and started acting up last year, about 7,000 miles ago. Spending $250 to $300 for a junk yard tranny and a few more hundred for installation is a roll of the dice.