Chrysler Repair: Metal pieces found in transmission pan, jeep grand cherokee, rebuildable core

Question
Hi Roland, I know you only advise up to '99 models, but I hope this is a general enough question as I have a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It has been acting oddly when I accelerate from a stop, i.e. starting slow and then jerking into gear - only sometimes.  Recently, my check engine light went on, then off. I took it in, first they said it was the cyllanoids (2), then they took the pan off to start repair and said they found metal pieces (possibly O rings) in the pan and that to go any further, it will cost $700 just to pull the tranny apart to look, but that I probably need a whole new tranny ($5,000+) I am as broke as can be right now, so I told him to close it up as I couldn't even get $5,000 if I had to. Until I can get more money together to try to fix this, what do you recommened?  Should I try having someone flush the tranny? And what is the potential danger in driving it as is?  Could it seize up and cause more problems, or is it just going to be a tranny replacement either way. Help!

Answer
Hi Tricia,
Finding debris in the pan(s) of a Chrysler trans is said in the manuals to be diagnostic of the need to open the transmission and repair what ever is damaged (rebuild). I assume that they took the debris out of the pans before putting it back together so flushing will have little value as far is I can see. It does portend further deterioration though of the trans function, but it is uncertain as to the distances that it will go before being undriveable. I don't think there is any risk of continuing to drive it, but I would avoid going on long trips away from areas where getting help to tow it or to get home might prove challenging because it could refuse to move unexpectedly. I don't think anything other than the trans would be damaged, and in most cases they don't rebuild your trans but rather get one from a trans rebuilder and trade your old one in as a "rebuildable core" which it probably will still be when it quits. I am surprised about the $5000, but that must be for a new unit. Maybe it is a 4-wheel drive model, but even so that seems high. The figure that is thrown out for a Chrysler electronic trans rebuild (not a new unit) in the car models is $1,500 to 2,000 but those are 2-wheel drive units. So before going forward you would do well to get comparision pricing and warranty length data for new and rebuilt units. I would be cautious about using a nationwide franchise type trans service as while they do have what appears to be long warranties, there is a continuing charge to periodically inspect the trans, I believe.
I would treat it gently and save up for the rebuild.
Roland