Need Auto Tranny Advice - '90 Eclipse 1.8

[99BlownStang]

I'm looking at a friend's '90 Eclipse for a possible beater purchase. My main car is a blown 99 Mustang GT. Its down right now getting a forged shortblock. It looks like the auto tranny is toast. The engine fires up fine but when I put it in gear in doesn't move. I can freely rev it up and nothing happens. I checked the ATF and the level is fine but the fluid is brown. Is there anything I can do to get it to work, other than replacing the tranny? Will replacing the fluid do anything? Is this a common weak link? Its too bad because other than the tranny, its a nice car. I can get it for $400-$500. I looked around local junkyards and a used tranny is running $650. Sounds like I might be wasting my time with this one. Any thoughts?

I think its an SP 1.8l model.

Thanks.

 

[bobgeorge]

go to dsm trader you caan get a tranny for cheaper than 650, i bought my 2.0 for $300 with a bad tranny, had the motor rebuilt, got a tranny and 5k later its still not done, for a beater thow i think $500 is kind of high with a bad tranny and heres a pic of my car, i have done nothing to the outside of my car this is the way it came $300 i thought was a steal