99 Escort ZX2 transmission rebuild?

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The "Check Engine" light on my 1999 Ford Escort ZX2 has been coming on intermittently for several months. It has an automatice transmission (I believe it's a Mazda based transmission).

About a month ago, the car started shuddering when I was going up hill, and the engine was at ~1700 RPM, and I was moving at ~40 MPH. It doens't always happen, but it started getting worse (ie shuddering on the freeway sometimes).

I took it to a mechanic thinking it was the front end or steering linkage. He found a tie rod end that needed to be replaced, but it didn't stop the shuddering. He put the car on his diagnostic computer and it said the "Check Engine" light was a transmission problem. He also said the transmission fluid is "burned," which implies that it may need to be rebuilt.

This mechanic does not rebuild transmissions, so I don't think he was trying to sell me something I don't need. I checked the transmission fluid. It's a little more brown then red, but it doesn't smell "burned."

I talked to 2 different transmission shops, and both said it may be able to be repaired without a full rebuild, but it sounds like it's going to take a rebuilt.

Does this sound right?

[Kamakiri]

Probably needs clutch packs inside the transmission. Since it has to come out anyway, you might want to check out the price for a used complete trans.

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Now that you mention it, the 2nd shop I talked said the shuddering is probably a torque converter issue.

The thing about a used part is you don't know the history. How much would a used transmission cost?

Also, I just talked to my dad, who said he had a similiar sympton with his pickup truck. He had the fuel injectors cleaned and the problem was solved.

If I have to replace, or rebuild, the transmission, it will cost close to what the car is worth. I'm at that point where I'm wondering if I should sell the car to someone that can fix it, and buy another car.