Ok.. I have updates.. lol.. I still haven't checked the VSS but seeing the amount of oil and dirt in and around the connector, I opted to spray clean the area thoroughly first. The connector was really saturated. Not brake clean but something similar but for electrical connecting areas of sensitivity. I let the removed connector air dry for about 5 min and plugged it back in. This is what I learned during the test run... first, it didn't work.. lol... but most importantly I found out I was right when I first said that it shifts into 2nd smoothly, while speeding up and driving normal, the RPM's ramps up like it slipped a gear (?)... like it's down shifting. When I press the throttle more and ramp up the RPM's (aroung 3800) it will sometimes shift into 3rd but that's it.. no more.. To me, it seems like it starving for either the VSS signal or trans fluid... or the torque converter is failing (maybe??).. dunno, I'm at a loss... I need to check the VSS signal to either rule it out or confirm, should be my next step, huh?