how to read a transmition fluid dip stick?

Question

Okay.. how do you read the fluid levels on dipsticks?? Is the level of the fluid the part where the fluid is thickest? because there always seems to be a thin thin THIN coating of the fluid above it..
My fiancee just bought a mini-van (used) and its having tranny issues.. he says it wont get in reverse (odd.. and i'm pissed he failed to mention it before!) my dad says it needs Tranny fluid, I've looked and _I_ think it needs tranny fluid.. but my darling fiancee says he doesnt know if it does so he wont add it.
Well I'm not letting him drive it till we can figure it out!
Please help >.<

Answer 1

Wipe the dipstick clean and with the engine running, trans in park (on most minivans), stick it in the filler tube. When you pull it back out, turn it horizontal, so the fluid doesn't all run to the tip. Then check it. Chances are that it is a little low on fluid, but you are most likely looking at an overhaul at this point. Add fluid through the same hole as the dipstick in 1/2 quart increments until it reads in the proper area.

Answer 2

You need to have the car on, and then after it's running is when you check the dipstick from your transmission the car has to be running, and if it's low then it needs to be added but if it's low then it won't go up to the full level, and if it's full then it will...
But really it sounds like you have a bad transmission, my friend had a mini-van and he ran it to the point where his tranmission just didn't go in reverse, and it's common for a lot of the older mini-vans, cause they take so much pulling after a long time...