Chrysler Repair: 2000 3.3L Grand Voyager Transmission, obd ii reader, planetary gears

Question
When driving 45mph uphill, heard a "pop" and van coasted to a stop. Would not move in forward or reverse. In park, engine runs fine but when we put it in gear and rev it up, engine "pops" and acts likes it's missing...very strange. Back to the trans problem. Checked fluid - at the mark and has good color and smells good. Front axle shaft turns with the wheels - looks okay. Dropped pan and filter looks good and only slight amount of sludge on magnet. This trans has 60k on it and had changed fluid & filter 30k ago. Friend thought maybe valve stuck in valve body so we unhooked gear shift lever, unplugged electrical coupling and unbolted valve body. Took e clip off linkage and continued to drop body when 2 pistons and 3 compression springs fell out. Now I see where the pistons and 2 of the larger compression springs go but where does the other smaller compression spring go? Does it go inside one of the larger comp springs? Dealer said maybe planetary gears failed. Haven't noticed any problems until now. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Answer
Hi Rich,
First I need to know if you have the 3- or the 4-speed (etax) transmission. The best help I can give you once I know that is to xerox and postal mail you the pages from the shop manual that illustrate the valve body and its springs/pistons. So let me know via the comment section of the "thank and rate" tab what is your address if you want these. I am unable to give you any idea of the overall problem's cause, but you might want to try an OBD-II reader on the receptacle under the dash to see if either the engine or the trans controller (if you have the 4-speed) has stored a fault code following the incident. I recall a very similar problem in the past 2-3 months, but the only way to find it would be to scan the titles of the 'previously answered questions' and then contact the questioner via the 'add to the answer' option which will be passed along to the person with a similar experience as yours.
Roland