i have already read the stickies and owners manual and i really need some advice from people regarding my situation.

i've tried cold and hot. ime, the hot after driving around for over 5 minute is very in accurate, everytime i pull the red ATF is all over the dip stick.

1) is the car supposed to be RUNNING while I ck? (nothing is mentioned in the manual)

2) when doing cold does the temp guage have to be in the middle? (again does the car have to run?)

please suggest. thanks.

 

With the car at operating temp (and tranny hot from driving several miles), on level ground, run the gear selector through all the gears. Then place it in park and leave it running. Pull the tranny dipstick, wipe clean, and re-insert. Pull it again, and read the level. Repeat the last step several times to verify your readings if you want to (I do). Level ground is a must for an accurate reading. And wiping the dipstick before checking the level is also a must, as you've found out.
If your tranny appears low, check it a few more times. Then add tranny fluid (Dexron III or Nissan's equivalent) a few ounces at a time. The tranny is very sensitive to level changes. I only add 4 ounces at a time, then run the car and re-check before adding more. 4 ounces will raise the level a bit, unlike the oil where a half quart may be needed if you're a little low. Just don't overfill your tranny, which is why you should add small amounts at a time.

Hope this helps.
Dave