Chrysler Repair: 1996 Cirrus: trans only drives in second, chrysler cirrus, independent shop

Question
hi i have a 1996 Chrysler cirrus,i was driving it the other day and all at once it just seem to go into neutral then would go back into drive and so on,now even when i put it in reverse does the same thing will go into neural then back into reverse,my brother said its only driving in first gear.a friend said it might be the box on the side of the transmission doing it.do you know what the box is called?and do you think it could be that or the transmission is gone?i don't want to spend alot of money in it if the tranny is gone.thanks

Answer
Hi Pam,
The usual default position when the trans has a problem is to drive only in second gear, which is called limp-in mode. It does that to minimize damage until the problem can be diagnosed and repaired. It could be minor or major and the best way to find out is to have the codes readout at an Autozone parts store for free or at an independent shop for about $40. Ask for the 4-digit fault code numbers that come out of the code reader, which they will plug into the socket under the dash next to the steering column. Ask what their list says the code(s) mean. Then write back and tell me what you learned and we'll compare it to the shop manual.
The box is called the solenoid box and the problem could be there and not the internal parts of the trans, but you need the codes to determine.
Roland