GM / General Motors: 1995 Cutlass Ciera Tranny

My friend's father gave me a POS 1995 Ciera 3100, and it seems to be having
some tranny issues. He gave it to me in July, and I just started driving it
now full time. When I first started fixing it up a bit, I changed the fluid
and filter because it was shifting a bit late, and the fluid was black. I
just dropped the pan and did the filter, and didn't flush, but the fluid's a
bit reddish now. I've been driving it for a few weeks now, and when it gets
hot, it seems to shift from first gear right into 3rd or OD, and it won't
get out of it. It makes a shuddering grinding noise.. I'm not sure if that's
actually the engine lugging because I've never heard a GM 60 degree v-6
being lugged before(all the ones I've ever heard being attachted to
correctly functioning transmissions), and when I come to a stop, it shudders
and then releases, like it's being forced into first when I come to a stop.
At first I thought this was the ABS acting up, but it definatly seems to be
the transmission.. The service engine light is on too, and I wonder if that
would have anything to do with the tranny.. anyways, I'm just looking for
some direction to start probing in. This is one of the electronically
controlled transmissions, btw.

-Sam

>My friend's father gave me a POS 1995 Ciera 3100, and it seems to be having 

I'd say if the fluid was black it's time for a rebuild.