Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: 95 Olds Cutlass shift problem, olds cutlass supreme, olds cutlass

Question
My son's '95 Olds Cutlass Supreme engine 3.1 has started having problems shifting out of 1st gear.  He says it won't shift automatically but most of the time will shift when he takes his foot off the gas and then accelerates again.  He has been told to check the transmission fluid.  Any other suggestions?  And will continuing to drive it this way damage it?

Answer
HI MARY TY FOR WRITEING.WELL THERE IS A CPL THINGS HE CAN CHECK.THE FLUID IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT BUT NOT USUALLY THE PROB.THERE IS A CABLE THAT COMES FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND GOES TO THE THROTTLE BODY SAME PLACE THE CABLE FROM THE GAS PEDAL GOES.THIS CABLE WILL BE THE ONE THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE THROTTLEBODY,BY A HORSESHOE TYPE CLIP.HE WILL SEE A PLASTIC PIECE ON THE CABLE JUST BEFORE THE THROTTLEBODY,HE WILL SEE AN ADJUSTMENT AT THAT POINT TO ADJUST JUST TAKE A SCREWDRIVER IN THIS AND PUSH DOWN THE CABLE CAN NOW BE MOVED FORWARD OR BACKWARD.TO INCREASE TENSION OR DECREASE TENSION FORWARS IN VERY SMALL INCREMENTS.NOW THIS MAY NOT HELP IF NOT AND IT IS FULL OF FLUID.THE OTHER POSSIBILITY IS A TRANSMISSION SERVICE,ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT THE FILTER IS PLUGGED THIS WILL HELP.AND SHOULD BE DONE FOR SAFETY REASONS BYE A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN.AND IF WHICH IS MOST LIKELY THE TRANS IS JUST GOING OUT THEN YES HE CAN DRIVE IT .BECAUSE A BAD TRANS IS A BAD TRANS LOL.SO HE MAY AS WELL USE ITWHILE HE CAN.GOOD LUCK MARY AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WRITE BACK ANYTIME.PLEASE TAKE A MIN TO RATE MY SERVICE AS NO ONE EVER DOES LOL TY BILLYMAC